Coffee shop crackdown on consumerism
Leading Christian thinkers have backed a crackdown on consumer culture from A Rocha UK’s Churches And Theology Director Dr Ruth Valerio.
They have endorsed her new book Just Living: Faith And Community In An Age Of Consumerism – which will be launched on 17th March at London’s Kahaila Café – a ‘coffee shop with a conscience’.
COMPELLING GUIDE
‘Just Living is a lively, compelling guide to a generous and faithful way of being alive,’ said Luke Bretherton, Professor of Theological Ethics at Duke University.
President of London School of Theology Dr Krish Kandiah described Ruth’s work as ‘a book about justice – from the heart of a writer who’s worked hard to live it out’.
Just Living is about more than just shopping. The result of years of study – and family trips to remote Bardsey Island – Ruth’s work looks at how globalisation and consumerism shape people’s lives.
‘These forces are having a seriously detrimental impact both on the lives of the global poor – and on the health of the planet itself,’ she said.
She explained that every Christian throughout church history has had to work out the idea of following Jesus in their culture. ‘For us in the 21st century, we must think about discipleship in a globalised, consumerist context,’ added Ruth (pictured).
CULTURAL CONTEXT
‘My hope is that people will discover a life where we may learn to say “no” to some things we’ve previously enjoyed – and say “yes” to a whole lot more,’ she said. ‘I want to help people join the dots between lifestyle, our cultural context, our Christian faith – and the issues of our world.’
Ruth will use material from her book at the launch, which takes place at Kahaila, 135 Brick Lane, London, on 17th March from 7.30-9.30pm. Those interested can book here.