I think this is a very fair challenge. Moreover, I think the issue goes well beyond contemplative spirituality: much of Christian spirituality as a whole has been subverted by consumer capitalism. I'm becoming increasingly aware of just how much subtle pressure there is to buy the latest book, sign up for the latest online course or conference, etc. It may all be offered with the best of intentions but somehow it ends up creating and nourishing a consumerist culture of spirituality that inevitably creates a class of "haves" (those who have the time and money to be able to access the latest books, resources, etc.) and a class of "have nots".
Not to toot my horn here, but this is one of the reasons I've refused to monetize this newsletter. I find it strange how so many Christian writers rage about the pernicious effects of capitalism and neoliberalism, etc. who then rush to monetize their online spaces, reducing themselves to yet another commodity to be bought and sold.
I went to comment and was sent a link that took me to a place where I could pay $$ to support this newsletter. There was a "no pledge" option which I appreciate. Just wondering - Is signing up and paying different than monetizing? I may have missed the point here. Sorry if I did..
What I was going to say before I had to go through the process above was that there is some very good material to read out there and it takes a good staff to put it all together so I don't mind paying for it. I love your Experimental Theology site
By "signing up" you share your email and will get this newsletter sent to your inbox. By "monetizing" some writers have people pay for access to content, and I don't do that. But Substack, expecting me to monetize, as that's how they make money, always puts that pledge link in front of people. And people do pledge, but I never activate that collection.
Richard, I wonder if the publishing/writing/media ecosystem (particularly for Christ-inspired writers) is ripe for an apocalyptic moment, a disorientation and reorientation to the gift economy rather than the market/mammon economy. What do you think? I too feel the "ick" each time I'm asked to subscribe to a Substack, join a book launch, or hear a monetized ad on a podcast. FOMO presses the gas; my budget and discretion presses the brakes. And, yet, I *get it* that authors and artists working the soil in these fields need an income. Is the worker worth his wages in these instances? I feel compassion there, and I feel a prophetic urge to speak and pursue a different way of being in the world. And, I among the boujie who go on retreats, read poetry, contemplate the divine in a Van Gogh painting, and savor thoughtful spiritual formation writing. The consumerist, arms-length, dualist nature of it all grates on my soul and beckons another kind of life. The words of Amos and Jesus call us forth to see the effect upon the poor. Are we trading the poor for a leather-sandaled-retreat?
Thanks for the clarification. I do appreciate your approach. Is there any way to donate to this newsletter? I receive a number of them and they almost always have a point in the year when they ask for support. I would be more than happy to do that as you have brought so much thoughtful faith into my life.
Agree. Richard,. and worth looking closely at! The wellness field, the "spiritual" field, the new age field and a good deal of the mindfulness field, has become bougie and usurped by capitalism. Not to say, as you noted, that it isn't a pleasure to participate in... but it does cater to those with resources. And, worse I would argue, is that it seems to be the answer to those that want to be spiritual without the burden of being involved in the dirtier side... the one that cares about the poor and downtrodden, the one that takes time to volunteer in places that are not pretty... the one that defines being spiritual in terms of creating the Kingdom of God here on earth and that takes a serious committment that is hard and takes time and conviction. Individualism found its way into spirituality... sadly. Again, what did Jesus do?
I hear what you are saying but I think you are painting too broad a brush. The scenarios you describe exist, but most of my contemplative experience has been within the Catholic tradition, and more specifically the Ignatian tradition. Within these circles, it’s part of the Catholic way of doing things to create quiet space for reflection. I remember in my 20s and poor, working in social services in Portland going to a place called The Grotto. It was an outdoor, contemplative space in the city that anyone could spend time at for free. A lot of Catholic contemplative spaces and opportunities are free or by donation.
When I went back to school to go to seminary and had no money, I went to a Trappist monastery for a four day silent retreat. It was run by donation and all I was able to give was $100 for the entire stay.
After I was trained by Catholic sisters as a spiritual director, I served as a spiritual director for free for five years. After that I decided to charge. It was difficult to come to a place of introducing a sliding fee scale. But I realized I wouldn’t be able to do the work if I had to take another job. And I began to see that the reason so many lower class people could not become spiritual directors is because of an elitist expectation that it was more godly to minister for free. So the result was mostly financially independent or retired folk were the only ones who could afford to serve in that ministerial role.
You mentioned not understanding why people might monetize their Substack, but if I can challenge you a little, I would ask you to consider if that’s because you have the privilege of a stable decent paying job and so you have the privilege of not monetizing.
Perhaps, your experience with contemplative practices is the privileged experiences you have had. As someone who left job security to work in ministry and live on very little for the past 15 years, my experience in the contemplative world has been very different from what you describe. Some of that is because I came to contemplative practices as a person with little means, but also because my immersion has been in connection to the Catholic Church and religious orders rather than the pop culture version of spirituality you describe. I think it’s important to recognize the difference lest you falsely give people the impression that contemplative spirituality is elitist, when it’s not. Just the pop culture version.
Great insights. Its good to know that these practices are not required by God. They are burdens too hard to bear for children, the old, the sick, the imprisoned, and the poor. Jesus is more likely to meet them in their misery than in the calm of contemplation.
Good feedback, thank you! I can be too much of a critic at times, and do appreciate Dr. Beck’s writing. Loved his books “Hunting Magic Eels” and “Slavery of Death” and have read all of them I believe. As an academic myself, I do stand by my critique of his articles sounding a bit too patronizing at times. Perhaps I’m overly sensitive after being around so many western psychologists wanting to “help” the downtrodden indigenous people, a world for which I’m far too familiar. I do respect Dr. Beck’s work though.
I like how Karen Keen ended her comment, “I think it’s important to recognize the difference lest you falsely give people the impression that contemplative spirituality is elitist, when it’s not. Just the pop culture version.”
I was told by every supervisor early in my career as a psychologist working in public psych hospitals that using my existential approach with “these people” was inappropriate because it was better suited for “bougie white women.” Ha! There is nothing farther from the truth. These were the souls who wrestled daily with death and meaninglessness, and struggled to find a way to make choices while having very few freedoms. They understood an existential crisis better than most in suburbia for sure.
My point is that as much as I like your writing, and do in fact get many good things to chew on from your words, I also cringe a bit. You are brilliant in many ways, but your college-professor-elitism screams from your work. I grew up poor, homeless at times. I am now closer to the elite class. Whenever there is self-deprecation connected to elitism, the non-bougie class rolls their eyes. Every….single…time.
I understand you’re talking about the formal Contemplative Movement if you will, but we poor folk can think deeply and contemplate with the best of them. We show up in total humiliation and cry at the feet of many a crucifix or statue of Mary. We have sat in the woods and deeply contemplated the Words of God without distraction because we were broken, hungry, and didn’t have a chance to distract ourselves with yoga or a message. Tread lightly on the things you don’t know deep in your soul, but have only witnessed by hanging with the poor or undereducated.
Corene, it sounds like we both have found nurturance in contemplative practice during times of little means. I thank God for that. But as I read the quote you clipped from me, I’m concerned it comes across more stern than I intended. I do not in any way want to imply something negative about Richard Beck’s character. And I feel your comment does begin to do that. I have a lot of respect for Richard and I know that he gives of himself tirelessly in ministry in the community he lives in. I don’t see him personally as elitist. Nor do I think academics are elitist simply by being scholars. Rather, I’m only concerned that the good of contemplative practices not be dismissed because of a misunderstanding. Contemplative practices saved my faith.
There are plenty of examples of contemplative practices in scripture, but none I can think of that included yoga or massages. In fact, none that I can think of that didn’t include suffering in some form.
I'm afraid you're right! As well as the lush countryside escapes, there's a need for day/overnight retreats at easily accessible, inner-city monasteries which won't charge much, and for parishes to subsidise even what little it does cost for those who need it. Making the parish retreat free to all and inviting donations to cover costs is one way of approaching it.
Maybe it is exactly we. the folk who read your excellent daily observations, who are quite "bougie." You've hit on this before in numerous postings. Personally, I'm all for hitting the "Camino de Santiago" but you are totally correct - and I think that my $2000 could better go to your weekly prison ministry (or even better yet, to begin to minister myself in a nearby prison!). A spiritual retreat ever so often is necessary and vital. But how often and how much should we spend? All of this smacks of consumerism and individualism. Isn't it "better to give than to receive"?
Walking the Camino is on my bucket list. And I don't want to diminish the transformative impact that pligramage has had upon people. I want to walk it to have that sort of experience. That said, I'm very alert to setting up a situation where certian spiritual transformations are availble only to the few who have the financial rescoures to access them.
So, my concern isn't that people spend $2,000 on the Camino. If you have the resources, have a lovely, impactful time. I hope to join you one day! My concern, rather, is creating a "two-tiered" system of spiritual transformation, transformations for the haves and the have-nots. If we have to spend $$$ to become like Christ, I've got some concerns....
Exactly!! I've spent decades living overseas. The "have-nots" outnumber the "haves." Money cannot be a limiting factor in spiritual transformation! God forbid (and I think He has)! Thank you for your ministry to the bougie!
Well… I guess I see your point. I will say, though I am a retired pastor living modestly and I consider myself a contemplative. I’ve never attended a retreat like you describe and doubt I could afford it if I wanted to. I concern myself more with deepening my faith and following Christ than attending a bougie retreat. One person does not disprove a generalization, I’m just sharing how I’ve experienced the contemplative movement.
I think this is a very fair challenge. Moreover, I think the issue goes well beyond contemplative spirituality: much of Christian spirituality as a whole has been subverted by consumer capitalism. I'm becoming increasingly aware of just how much subtle pressure there is to buy the latest book, sign up for the latest online course or conference, etc. It may all be offered with the best of intentions but somehow it ends up creating and nourishing a consumerist culture of spirituality that inevitably creates a class of "haves" (those who have the time and money to be able to access the latest books, resources, etc.) and a class of "have nots".
Not to toot my horn here, but this is one of the reasons I've refused to monetize this newsletter. I find it strange how so many Christian writers rage about the pernicious effects of capitalism and neoliberalism, etc. who then rush to monetize their online spaces, reducing themselves to yet another commodity to be bought and sold.
This perpetually puzzles me.
I went to comment and was sent a link that took me to a place where I could pay $$ to support this newsletter. There was a "no pledge" option which I appreciate. Just wondering - Is signing up and paying different than monetizing? I may have missed the point here. Sorry if I did..
What I was going to say before I had to go through the process above was that there is some very good material to read out there and it takes a good staff to put it all together so I don't mind paying for it. I love your Experimental Theology site
Hi Murray,
By "signing up" you share your email and will get this newsletter sent to your inbox. By "monetizing" some writers have people pay for access to content, and I don't do that. But Substack, expecting me to monetize, as that's how they make money, always puts that pledge link in front of people. And people do pledge, but I never activate that collection.
Richard, I wonder if the publishing/writing/media ecosystem (particularly for Christ-inspired writers) is ripe for an apocalyptic moment, a disorientation and reorientation to the gift economy rather than the market/mammon economy. What do you think? I too feel the "ick" each time I'm asked to subscribe to a Substack, join a book launch, or hear a monetized ad on a podcast. FOMO presses the gas; my budget and discretion presses the brakes. And, yet, I *get it* that authors and artists working the soil in these fields need an income. Is the worker worth his wages in these instances? I feel compassion there, and I feel a prophetic urge to speak and pursue a different way of being in the world. And, I among the boujie who go on retreats, read poetry, contemplate the divine in a Van Gogh painting, and savor thoughtful spiritual formation writing. The consumerist, arms-length, dualist nature of it all grates on my soul and beckons another kind of life. The words of Amos and Jesus call us forth to see the effect upon the poor. Are we trading the poor for a leather-sandaled-retreat?
Thanks for the clarification. I do appreciate your approach. Is there any way to donate to this newsletter? I receive a number of them and they almost always have a point in the year when they ask for support. I would be more than happy to do that as you have brought so much thoughtful faith into my life.
I just noticed the "pledge your support" button above. Don't know how I missed that all these years:). Is that the way you cover your expenses?
Bingo.
I suppose we shouldn't really be puzzled, human nature being what it is, and consumer capitalism being as all-pervasive as it is.
Agree. Richard,. and worth looking closely at! The wellness field, the "spiritual" field, the new age field and a good deal of the mindfulness field, has become bougie and usurped by capitalism. Not to say, as you noted, that it isn't a pleasure to participate in... but it does cater to those with resources. And, worse I would argue, is that it seems to be the answer to those that want to be spiritual without the burden of being involved in the dirtier side... the one that cares about the poor and downtrodden, the one that takes time to volunteer in places that are not pretty... the one that defines being spiritual in terms of creating the Kingdom of God here on earth and that takes a serious committment that is hard and takes time and conviction. Individualism found its way into spirituality... sadly. Again, what did Jesus do?
I hear what you are saying but I think you are painting too broad a brush. The scenarios you describe exist, but most of my contemplative experience has been within the Catholic tradition, and more specifically the Ignatian tradition. Within these circles, it’s part of the Catholic way of doing things to create quiet space for reflection. I remember in my 20s and poor, working in social services in Portland going to a place called The Grotto. It was an outdoor, contemplative space in the city that anyone could spend time at for free. A lot of Catholic contemplative spaces and opportunities are free or by donation.
When I went back to school to go to seminary and had no money, I went to a Trappist monastery for a four day silent retreat. It was run by donation and all I was able to give was $100 for the entire stay.
After I was trained by Catholic sisters as a spiritual director, I served as a spiritual director for free for five years. After that I decided to charge. It was difficult to come to a place of introducing a sliding fee scale. But I realized I wouldn’t be able to do the work if I had to take another job. And I began to see that the reason so many lower class people could not become spiritual directors is because of an elitist expectation that it was more godly to minister for free. So the result was mostly financially independent or retired folk were the only ones who could afford to serve in that ministerial role.
You mentioned not understanding why people might monetize their Substack, but if I can challenge you a little, I would ask you to consider if that’s because you have the privilege of a stable decent paying job and so you have the privilege of not monetizing.
Perhaps, your experience with contemplative practices is the privileged experiences you have had. As someone who left job security to work in ministry and live on very little for the past 15 years, my experience in the contemplative world has been very different from what you describe. Some of that is because I came to contemplative practices as a person with little means, but also because my immersion has been in connection to the Catholic Church and religious orders rather than the pop culture version of spirituality you describe. I think it’s important to recognize the difference lest you falsely give people the impression that contemplative spirituality is elitist, when it’s not. Just the pop culture version.
Great insights. Its good to know that these practices are not required by God. They are burdens too hard to bear for children, the old, the sick, the imprisoned, and the poor. Jesus is more likely to meet them in their misery than in the calm of contemplation.
Sounds all too familiar. I look forward to your next posts in this series. Thank you!
Good feedback, thank you! I can be too much of a critic at times, and do appreciate Dr. Beck’s writing. Loved his books “Hunting Magic Eels” and “Slavery of Death” and have read all of them I believe. As an academic myself, I do stand by my critique of his articles sounding a bit too patronizing at times. Perhaps I’m overly sensitive after being around so many western psychologists wanting to “help” the downtrodden indigenous people, a world for which I’m far too familiar. I do respect Dr. Beck’s work though.
I like how Karen Keen ended her comment, “I think it’s important to recognize the difference lest you falsely give people the impression that contemplative spirituality is elitist, when it’s not. Just the pop culture version.”
I was told by every supervisor early in my career as a psychologist working in public psych hospitals that using my existential approach with “these people” was inappropriate because it was better suited for “bougie white women.” Ha! There is nothing farther from the truth. These were the souls who wrestled daily with death and meaninglessness, and struggled to find a way to make choices while having very few freedoms. They understood an existential crisis better than most in suburbia for sure.
My point is that as much as I like your writing, and do in fact get many good things to chew on from your words, I also cringe a bit. You are brilliant in many ways, but your college-professor-elitism screams from your work. I grew up poor, homeless at times. I am now closer to the elite class. Whenever there is self-deprecation connected to elitism, the non-bougie class rolls their eyes. Every….single…time.
I understand you’re talking about the formal Contemplative Movement if you will, but we poor folk can think deeply and contemplate with the best of them. We show up in total humiliation and cry at the feet of many a crucifix or statue of Mary. We have sat in the woods and deeply contemplated the Words of God without distraction because we were broken, hungry, and didn’t have a chance to distract ourselves with yoga or a message. Tread lightly on the things you don’t know deep in your soul, but have only witnessed by hanging with the poor or undereducated.
Corene, it sounds like we both have found nurturance in contemplative practice during times of little means. I thank God for that. But as I read the quote you clipped from me, I’m concerned it comes across more stern than I intended. I do not in any way want to imply something negative about Richard Beck’s character. And I feel your comment does begin to do that. I have a lot of respect for Richard and I know that he gives of himself tirelessly in ministry in the community he lives in. I don’t see him personally as elitist. Nor do I think academics are elitist simply by being scholars. Rather, I’m only concerned that the good of contemplative practices not be dismissed because of a misunderstanding. Contemplative practices saved my faith.
There are plenty of examples of contemplative practices in scripture, but none I can think of that included yoga or massages. In fact, none that I can think of that didn’t include suffering in some form.
Reminds me of an item I wrote back when Richard Foster's _Sanctuary of the Soul_ was published. (Scroll down past the _Einstein and Eddington_ item.) https://blog.canyoubelieve.me/2012/02/einstein-and-eddington.html
I'm afraid you're right! As well as the lush countryside escapes, there's a need for day/overnight retreats at easily accessible, inner-city monasteries which won't charge much, and for parishes to subsidise even what little it does cost for those who need it. Making the parish retreat free to all and inviting donations to cover costs is one way of approaching it.
Looking forward to the rest of this series. Richard have you read Domestic Monastery? Super short.
Maybe it is exactly we. the folk who read your excellent daily observations, who are quite "bougie." You've hit on this before in numerous postings. Personally, I'm all for hitting the "Camino de Santiago" but you are totally correct - and I think that my $2000 could better go to your weekly prison ministry (or even better yet, to begin to minister myself in a nearby prison!). A spiritual retreat ever so often is necessary and vital. But how often and how much should we spend? All of this smacks of consumerism and individualism. Isn't it "better to give than to receive"?
Walking the Camino is on my bucket list. And I don't want to diminish the transformative impact that pligramage has had upon people. I want to walk it to have that sort of experience. That said, I'm very alert to setting up a situation where certian spiritual transformations are availble only to the few who have the financial rescoures to access them.
So, my concern isn't that people spend $2,000 on the Camino. If you have the resources, have a lovely, impactful time. I hope to join you one day! My concern, rather, is creating a "two-tiered" system of spiritual transformation, transformations for the haves and the have-nots. If we have to spend $$$ to become like Christ, I've got some concerns....
Exactly!! I've spent decades living overseas. The "have-nots" outnumber the "haves." Money cannot be a limiting factor in spiritual transformation! God forbid (and I think He has)! Thank you for your ministry to the bougie!
Well… I guess I see your point. I will say, though I am a retired pastor living modestly and I consider myself a contemplative. I’ve never attended a retreat like you describe and doubt I could afford it if I wanted to. I concern myself more with deepening my faith and following Christ than attending a bougie retreat. One person does not disprove a generalization, I’m just sharing how I’ve experienced the contemplative movement.
"Get up on the floor 'cause we're gonna bougie oogie oogie 'til you just can't bougie no more!"
Sorry, but you had to know that someone was gonna remember A Taste of Honey. https://youtu.be/c3e0cuDoX_0?si=4c_Up5knFWijIcJR