Empires are defined here as (1) built on systemic centralizations of power, (2) secured by structures of socioeconomic and military control, (3) religiously legitimated by powerful myths and (4) sustained by a proliferation of imperial images that captivate the imagination of the population. In comparing how both the Roman and current Western empires maintain the status quo of privilege and oppression the authors give the examples of "most major corporations use the equivalent of slave labor to produce clothing, toys, tools and some foods. Most of this labor is done by people in Asia, Latin America or Africa. While cash-crops farmers include both men and women, the majority of those who work in sweatshops, on coffee plantations and in the sex trade are women and children. ... although our culture does not openly subscribe to an ethos of patriarchy, racism, and classism, the effects of the global economic market create the same kind of societal dynamic that was present in first-century Rome." (p 59-60). I want to ask the same questions the authors then ask - "In the face of an empire that rules through military and economic control, what is the shape of a community that serves a ruler who brings reconciliation and peace by sacrificial death rather than military might? If the empire elevates economic greed and avarice into civic virtues, while Paul dismisses such a way of life as idolatrous, then how does a Christian community shaped by Paul's gospel live life in the empire?" (p61).
Labels: Book Reviews, Colossians Remixed, Reflections, Theology
At 4/16/2007 03:34:00 AM, Miz Melly
Julie, great post. I haven't had the chance to read the book but am going to order it as soon as I can. The whole concept of empires and powers isn't just limited to countries. I think the new empires are in fact multi national corporations. At the Francois Houtart seminars I went to back in February he talked about capitalism as a system of death. I know it's dangerous in one way but we could think of the capitalist system as an empire rather than placing the blame squarely on a nation. It is easier then to recognise the church's complicity in a system of oppression and to focus on ways to resist it. It becomes less about fighting your own nation and more about resisting a global system - although that might be scarier but then you have the support of the the global church in resisting a system of oppression. Hope this makes sense...
Interesting and stimulating blog. You might enjoy Googling "Pretrib Rapture Diehards" which stimulated me when I read it recently. And "Roots of (Warlike) Christian Zionism" is another catchy one also. Lord bless.
Marge