A Quaker Approach to Capitalism and Climate Justice

Today, we are faced with the deep truth, that capitalism is destroying the climate and the biosphere. There are physical limits to global economic growth, and the capitalism’s disregard for the planet’s multidimensional boundaries is impacting the well-being of people, ecosystems, and is exacerbating inequalities.

If capitalism is not sustainable and we are facing collapse, what does Truth demand? Quaker values of truth, simplicity, peace and equality can be seen as being at odds with capitalism. At times Quakers have struggled to tolerate its worst effects, whilst profiting from its growth. These awkward compromises were literally and metaphorically ‘oiled’ by the increasing use of fossil fuels and the growing prosperity of the global north. Today Earth systems are imposing implacable limits on capitalism’s requirement for growth and resources.

This course asks what are the essential features of capitalism? Is it all or nothing? Do alternatives infringe freedom? What choices do we have, as a nation, as a Society and as individuals?

Initial session
We will begin by summarising our Quaker history regarding this concern, attempting to crystallise and define the concern further with an emphasis on how we experience this rather than theory, and offering space to explore our discomfort in a non-judgmental spirit of worship.

Further sessions
We will explore whether our faithfulness to the truth requires a new discernment about our economic practices and systems. We will ask whether the time is right to move forward with this and if so in what way, and what the implications for Quakerism may be.

A new way of interacting with the natural world and other human beings is essential to creating a future where we can survive and perhaps thrive in alternative ways. But in what ways, and how?

Throughout this course we will be trusting our leadings, acknowledging that we do not yet know where we may be led.

Join Paul Hodgkin (author of articles on this topic in the Friend and Friends Quarterly and retired social entrepreneur) and Gill Westcott (one of the authors of Quaker New Economy booklets) will facilitate this timely exploration of capitalism and our Quaker values.

This course is part of a series exploring re-visioning, click here to discover other courses in this series.