RT Article
T1 Declaring the Global Economy a Status Confessionis?
JF Philosophia reformata
VO 84
IS 2
SP 194
OP 219
A1 Kamminga, Menno 1962-
LA English
PB Brill
YR 2019
UL https://ixtheo.de/Record/1683886429
AB This article revisits theologian Ulrich Duchrow's three-decade-old use of the Protestant notion of status confessionis to denounce the capitalist global economy. Scholars quickly dismissed Duchrow's argument; however, philosopher Thomas Pogge has developed a remarkable "negative duty"—based critique of the current global economic order that might help revitalize Duchrow's position. The article argues that sound reasons exist for the churches to declare the contemporary world economy a—provisionally termed—status confessionis minor. After explaining the inadequacy of Duchrow's original position and summarizing Pogge's account, the article develops a twofold argument. First, Pogge's in-depth inquiry into the world economy gives Duchrow's call for a status confessionis a strong yet narrowing economic foundation. Second, to declare the world economy a status confessionis minor is theological-ethically justifiable if the limited though indispensable "prophetic" significance of doing so is acknowledged. Thus, Duchrow's approach is justified, but only partially.
K1 Thomas Pogge
K1 Ulrich Duchrow
K1 World Council of Churches
K1 Global Poverty
DO 10.1163/23528230-08402002