Christian Critiques of the American Dream

Benne, Robert, and Philip Hefner. Defining America: A Christian Critique of the American Dream. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 1974.

Clouse, Robert. Wealth and Poverty: Four Christian Views of Economics. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1984. William E. Diehl (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America–liberal), Arthur Gish (Church of the Brethren), John Gladwin (Anglican, Church of England), and Gary North (PresbyterianChurch in America).

De Graaf, John, David Wann, and Thomas Naylor. Affluenza: The All-Consuming Epidemic. San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2001. Based on a secular PBS documentary, but has some Biblical references.

Hatmaker, Jen. Interrupted: An Adventure in Relearning the Essentials of Faith. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2009.

Platt, David. Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream. Colorado Springs, CO: Multnomah Books, 2010.

The Simple Life (Avoid Materialism, Be Generous) – Mennonite Church USA

Blomberg, Craig. Neither Poverty nor Riches: A Biblical Theology of Possessions. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999.

Eller, Vernard. The Simple Life: The Christian Stance Toward Possessions. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1973. Church of the Brethren/Anabaptist roots; like Mennonite Church USA.

Foster, Richard. Freedom of Simplicity. New York: HarperCollins, 1981. Quaker, like Mennonite Church USA.

________. Celebration of Discipline. 3rd ed. New York: HarperCollins, 1998. Chapter 6: “Simplicity.” Quaker, like Mennonite Church USA.

Gish, Arthur. Beyond the Rat Race. New Canaan, CT: Keats, 1973. Church of the Brethren, Anabaptist roots; just like Vernard Eller.

Sider, Ronald. Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1977. Mennonite Church USA, Anabaptist roots.

Wesley, John. “The Use of Money” and “The Danger of Riches.”

Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology. “Wealth.” See: Bibliography. J. Ellul, Money and Power; G. A. Getz, A Biblical Theology of Material Possessions; N. K. Gottwald, The Tribes of Yahweh; G. Gutierrez, A Theology of Liberation; T. D. Hanks, God So Loved the Third World; M. Hengel, Property and Riches in the Early Church; R. M. Kidd, Wealth and Beneficence in the Pastoral Epistles; P. U. Maynard-Reid, Poverty and Wealth in James; R. H. Nash, Poverty and Wealth; D. E. Oakman, Jesus and the Economic Questions of His Day; R. J. Sider, Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger; T. E. Schmidt, Hostility to Wealth in the Synoptic Gospels; D. P. Seccombe, Possessions and the Poor in Luke-Acts; C. J. Vos, ISBE, 4:185-90; R. N. Whybray, Wealth and Poverty in the Book of Proverbs; H. G. M. Williamson, EQ 57 (1985): 5-22.

Movies

Little House on the Prairie

It’s a Wonderful Life!

Scrooge

Brother Sun, Sister Moon