This is an author I recommend everyone read. He has written some good books, and one of my favorites is Race and Culture. It's an analysis of what happens when a minority group moves into a society, and either succeeds or fails. When they are successful, the dominant culture views certain occupations and lifestyles as below them while the minority group has no such restrictions, and their willingness to take on those activities shunned by the larger culture often results in a substantial financial foothold within just a few years. For example, they might be willing to live in more crowded conditions, and/or pool their finances. They might be eager to work in an occupation that has no status in that society. The values of their particular subculture can be a key to financial freedom, or financial bondage. He analyzes cultures around the world, including some strong opinions about the failure of the descendents of the African slaves to rise out of poverty in the United States. He's not very popular in some circles. I think those that don't want to take responsibility for their own actions have the hardest time accepting his viewpoint. Take a look at his writings, and give me some feedback.
3 comments:
I found the quote link on Sowell's site insightful.
Telling it "like it is" isn't very popular these days...politically correct persons learn quickly to dance to the right tunes, perpetuate the same ol myths, and never talk about the naked emperor's lack of clothes. Lin
His wrtings are too impersonal for me. Now, maybe if he wrote from a missionary point of view of different cultures it would be more of a teaching tool.
The world is too large for one person to know of every culture without neglecting God's teaching for bringing the all peoples to Himself.
Do I make it too simple??
Betty G
Hi Betty, thanks for your comment.
I think his analysis of cultural differences are independent of religious beliefs. For example, I know lazy Christians. That doesn't mean they have less value as human beings, or that God thinks any less of them. It just means that they won't be as financially successful as they could be if they took Proverbs to heart with everything it says about hard work and laziness.
Conversely, an atheist who follows Biblical principles of honesty and hard work will reap those benefits, even though they reject the source of the truth they follow.
I don't know Sowell's personal beliefs, but it appears that he is applying Biblical truth to his analysis of culture.
I believe that personal happiness is directly proportional to our acceptance of Truth. It is less so with financial success, because the culture we live in has such an impact.
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