Vocation And The Politics Of Work Popular Theology In Consumer Culture

By Jeffrey Scholes

Book Description

In a culture where spiritual calling has become another consumer choice, theologian Jeffrey Scholes exposes how modern interpretations of vocation have lost their transformative power. This incisive examination reveals how contemporary religious teachings about work and purpose, including popular approaches like those found in bestselling spiritual guides, have been quietly reshaped by market forces.

Scholes demonstrates that when vocation becomes disconnected from the actual realities of workplace conditions, it transforms into a spiritualized product that fails to address the deeper challenges workers face. Rather than empowering believers to confront injustice or advocate for meaningful change in their professional environments, this consumer-friendly version of calling becomes a passive concept that accommodates existing power structures.

Drawing from political theology and consumer culture analysis, the author charts a path toward reclaiming vocation as a force for workplace transformation. He argues that authentic spiritual calling must resist commodification and engage directly with the political dimensions of work life. Only then can vocation fulfill its potential to challenge systems that undermine justice and human dignity in professional settings.

This scholarly yet accessible work offers essential insights for anyone seeking to understand how spiritual concepts evolve within consumer culture and how believers might reclaim vocation as a tool for meaningful social engagement rather than personal comfort.