“Economy of Life” versus “Economy of Greed”: The World Council of Churches Promoting Sustainability
Abstract
The article describes one of the key social documents of the World Council of Churches: Economy of Life, Justice, and Peace for All: A Call to Action. The document issued in 2012 is a crowning of six-years process of studies called AGAPE (Alternative Globalization Addressing People and Earth). At the basis of the document lies the conviction about the necessity to confront the unjust world economic system. Neoliberal fundamentalism of the free market creates the “structures of sin” based on the economy of greed and egotism. Economical growth in these structures brings benefits only to the rich, leaving the poor even poorer.
The study group of the WCC proposes to reverse the neoliberal paradigm by “affirmation of life” and “transformative spirituality.” “Economy of life” should lead to sustainability, through which everyone’s basic needs will be met. The Churches are called to join and promote the “economy of life” by various means, e.g. by promoting the idea of the “fair trade.”
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