Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Evangelical
Neoliberalism’s Demons Chapter 2: The Political and…

Neoliberalism’s Demons Chapter 2: The Political and…

Last updated on: April 7, 2025 at 10:33 am by Roger E. Olson

0 Comments

Neoliberalism’s Demons Chapter 2: The Political and… 2025-04-07T10:33:04-05:00 Roger E. Olson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Here I continue discussion of theologian Adam Kotsko’s book Neoliberalism’s Demons: On the Political Theology of Late Capital (Stanford University Press, 2018). If you have read the chapter, feel free to comment. If not, only ask a question.

This chapter contains a lot of references to other books and articles about neoliberalism but with focus on philosophers who discussed the relationship between politics and economics. Kotsko sides with those who argue that the relationship is not binary and argues that, ultimately, the political is ruled by the economic, especially in neoliberalism, but in capitalism generally.

So where does “political theology” come in? On page 62 Kotsko refers to a scholar named Goodchild who “wishes to discern the theology that is already implicit in the practice of capitalism.” Then, “He is saying that capitalism directly implies its own theology, centered on money as the Tillichian [theologian Paul Tillich’s] ‘ultimate concern.’ In a world where money is effectively God…what theology is implied?”

This is a transitional chapter; the point of the book is yet to come. But there are pointers toward it. Kotsko is likely to argue, and has already hinted, that neoliberalism interprets the human as an economic animal whose meaning is found in acquiring wealth, whether money or things. And it includes the belief that in the economic competition for limited resources, “only the weak will fail.” Neoliberalism gives ultimate, godlike status, to the economic realm, especially to money and its acquisition so that those who succeed in the competitive “game” are godlike. Shades of Ayn Rand!

But there is another strong hint of Kotsko’s critique of neoliberalism on page 65: “It does not take much critical acumen to see through the vulgar libertarianism with which neoliberal ideologues seek to veil a regime in which state action is absolutely pervasive.” What “state action?” A good guess is that Kotsko means government acting to support the “strong” and protect them from the “weak” who would hinder them from winning. Again, shades of Ayn Rand.

*Note: If you have not read the chapter, do not comment. But you may ask a question. If you have read it, feel free to comment. In any case, keep comments (and questions) relatively brief (no more than 100 words), on topic, addressed to me, civil and respectful (not hostile or argumentative), and devoid of pictures of links.*

Uncategorized

Previous Post

April 4, 2025

“Power Without Empathy Is A Sin”

Next Post

April 9, 2025 A Mysterious Topic: Mystery, Paradox, Contradiction

Recent Comments

0 | Leave a Comment

"No doubt Lewis was inspired by earlier thinkers. Ironically (or perhaps serendipitously) I am now ..."

Roger Olson

The Abolition of Man: Chapter 3: ..."

"I am sure Lewis would agree. After all, as a Christian he believed in original ..."

Roger Olson

The Abolition of Man: Chapter 3: ..."

"If I’m not mistaken, the quote from Lewis is his interpretation of the “Conditioners’” own ..."

Roger Olson

The Abolition of Man: Chapter 3: ..."

"Thank you! It's been a great re-read of a thought provoking, but somewhat dense, little ..."

Øyvind J. Karstad

The Abolition of Man: Chapter 3: ..."

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Against Liberal Theology Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which Christian holiday marks the beginning of the Lenten season?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Advent Ash Wednesday Epiphany Good Friday