Theory & Practice
Kinsler Jubilee Workbook VII
Ross and Gloria Kinsler, the authors of The Biblical Jubilee and the Struggle for Life: An Invitation to Personal, Ecclesial, and Social Transformation, continue to discover useful materials for understanding the global economy, biblical teachings about economics, and attempts to practice economic justice. The following worksheets are bite-sized summaries to facilitate individual and group reflection and action. Each worksheet, which can be photocopied for all participants, provides stimulus for discussion. The sheets are organized under three very general headings: TODAY'S WORLD, BIBLICAL FAITH, and RESPONSIBLE DISCIPLESHIP. Jubilee spirituality requires critical thinking in all three dimensions. These materials may be reproduced or published with credit to the authors, who are members of the Sabbath Economics Collaborative: Educating and Animating for Jubilee Justice.
Jubilee Workbook Memo - Introduction
http://www.sabbatheconomics.org/downloads/1638Jubilee Memo 2005-1.doc
Section 1 - TODAY'S WORLD
1. The Global Food Gap. Grain production almost tripled between 1950 and 1996, but large shortfalls began in 2002, while population continues to grow by 76 million yearly.http://www.sabbatheconomics.org/downloads/3282THE GLOBAL FOOD GAP.doc
2. Poverty and Children. UNICEF reports that 640 million of the world's 2.2 billion children lack adequate shelter, 500 million lack sanitation, 400 million lack safe water, and 270 million receive no health care. http://www.sabbatheconomics.org/downloads/3211POVERTY AND CHILDREN.doc
3. US Racial and Economic Inequality. United for a Fair Economy offers striking statistics on continuing racial inequality and growing disparity between rich and poor in general. http://www.sabbatheconomics.org/downloads/4727US RACIAL AND ECONOMIC INEQUALITY.doc
4. Globalization and Imperialism. Chalmers Johnson's book, The Sorrows of Empire, provides an analysis of economic globalization as a strategy of U.S. imperialism. http://www.sabbatheconomics.org/downloads/8051GLOBALIZATION AND IMPERIALISM.doc
5. Property for People, Not for Profit. This book offers a penetrating analysis of the roots and current state of global capitalism. http://www.sabbatheconomics.org/downloads/8780PROPERTY FOR PEOPLE, NOT FOR PROFIT.doc
Section II - BIBLICAL FAITH
1. True Fasting, True Spirituality. Isaiah 58:1-12 offers a useful study of the failings of spiritual exercises divorced from the practice of justice. http://www.sabbatheconomics.org/downloads/3443TRUE FASTING, TRUE SPIRITUALITY.doc
2. New Heavens and a New Earth. Isaiah 65:17-25 is a beautiful poem that evokes the Jubilee vision of economic justice and ecological peace within history. http://www.sabbatheconomics.org/downloads/4821NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH.doc
3. Not By Bread Alone. This phrase from the first temptation of Jesus in Matthew 4:1-4 is best understood as a reference to the lesson of the manna. http://www.sabbatheconomics.org/downloads/2740NOT BY BREAD ALONE.doc
4. You Always Have the Poor with You. In Mark 14:3-9 Jesus cites a key text about the Sabbath Year mandates to cancel debts and free slaves. http://www.sabbatheconomics.org/downloads/8391YOU ALWAYS HAVE THE POOR WITH YOU.doc
5. Justice: A Global Adventure. Walter Burghardt, S. J., provides a Roman Catholic understanding of biblical justice. http://www.sabbatheconomics.org/downloads/8542JUSTICE, A GLOBAL ADVENTURE.doc
Section III - RESPONSIBLE DISCIPLESHIP
1. Monsenor Oscar Romero -- 25 Years Later. Jesuit Jon Sobrino recommends that we celebrate the life of Romero by following him with our own lives. http://www.sabbatheconomics.org/downloads/8994MONSENOR OSCAR ROMERO.doc
2. Social Movements in Latin America. Movements for social justice are having a remarkable impact throughout the region, even to the extent of changing governments. http://www.sabbatheconomics.org/downloads/9351SOCIAL MOVEMENTS IN LATIN AMERICA.doc
3. World Social Forum 2005. 150,000 people from around the world gathered in Puerto Alegre to point the way forward under the slogan, "Another World is Possible." http://www.sabbatheconomics.org/downloads/4754WORLD SOCIAL FORUM 2005.doc
4. Alliance to End Hunger. Bread for the World and a growing coalition of partners are convenced that hunger can be eliminated. http://www.sabbatheconomics.org/downloads/1084ALLIANCE TO END HUNGER.doc
5. Ecological Economics. The world's economy is shaped by market forces; it must rather be shaped by ecological principles in order to become sustainable. http://www.sabbatheconomics.org/downloads/8697ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS.doc
