Did Christianity Change as a Consequence of Industrialization?

[Sunstone]

How much of a factor has industrialization been in shaping (or reshaping) Christianity?


For the record, I am dating early industrialization a little earlier than most people. I prefer to place its beginnings in the early 1730s, rather than in the 1750s, as is more traditional The earlier date reflects the earliest productivity increasing inventions in the textile industry, while the latter date is preferred by most people because it represents the date by which time the industry was really taking off. Your call where you yourself place the dates. So (to use my dating) how has industrialization influenced Christianity over the past 290 or so years?

BONUS QUESTION: Industrialization is usually credited with causing the nuclear family to succeed the extended family. Has that changed influenced Christianity? If so how?

SECOND BONUS QUESTION: Industrialization is usually credited with creating the financial conditions necessary for people to marry primarily for love (as opposed to picking their partners primarily for financial, social, and other reasons). Has marrying for love changed Christianity?

THIRD BONUS QUESTION: Industrialization is sometimes credited as of primary importance in the rise of a consumer culture. If so, how has the rise of a consumer culture changed Christianity?




____________________________________
And now, in an effort to distract you from my clumsy and awkward OP, some music....

 

[Eddi]

How much of a factor has industrialization been in shaping (or reshaping) Christianity?


For the record, I am dating early industrialization a little earlier than most people. I prefer to place its beginnings in the early 1730s, rather than in the 1750s, as is more traditional The earlier date reflects the earliest productivity increasing inventions in the textile industry, while the latter date is preferred by most people because it represents the date by which time the industry was really taking off. Your call where you yourself place the dates. So (to use my dating) how has industrialization influenced Christianity over the past 290 or so years?

BONUS QUESTION: Industrialization is usually credited with causing the nuclear family to succeed the extended family. Has that changed influenced Christianity? If so how?

SECOND BONUS QUESTION: Industrialization is usually credited with creating the financial conditions necessary for people to marry primarily for love (as opposed to picking their partners primarily for financial, social, and other reasons). Has marrying for love changed Christianity?

THIRD BONUS QUESTION: Industrialization is sometimes credited as of primary importance in the rise of a consumer culture. If so, how has the rise of a consumer culture changed Christianity?




____________________________________
And now, in an effort to distract you from my clumsy and awkward OP, some music....

I don't think this is an answer to your question but I think it's relevant to it and needs to be brought up:

The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism - Wikipedia

 

[Cooky]

How much of a factor has industrialization been in shaping (or reshaping) Christianity?


For the record, I am dating early industrialization a little earlier than most people. I prefer to place its beginnings in the early 1730s, rather than in the 1750s, as is more traditional The earlier date reflects the earliest productivity increasing inventions in the textile industry, while the latter date is preferred by most people because it represents the date by which time the industry was really taking off. Your call where you yourself place the dates. So (to use my dating) how has industrialization influenced Christianity over the past 290 or so years?

BONUS QUESTION: Industrialization is usually credited with causing the nuclear family to succeed the extended family. Has that changed influenced Christianity? If so how?

SECOND BONUS QUESTION: Industrialization is usually credited with creating the financial conditions necessary for people to marry primarily for love (as opposed to picking their partners primarily for financial, social, and other reasons). Has marrying for love changed Christianity?

THIRD BONUS QUESTION: Industrialization is sometimes credited as of primary importance in the rise of a consumer culture. If so, how has the rise of a consumer culture changed Christianity?




____________________________________
And now, in an effort to distract you from my clumsy and awkward OP, some music....

Yes, every generation uses it's own cultural paradigm as a lens from which it views the world and religion. It's the human way.

Probably some can surpass that human tendency, but it's hard to.

BTW, the music seems violent and angry.

 

[PureX]

The greatest consequence of industrialization has been specialization, I believe; as we humans are now more dependent upon each other for nearly everything we need to live than ever before in human history. Also upon trading with each other to get those things. And this creates many opportunities for exploitation and abuse, and very serious consequences for those who get the short end of it.

But how this effects "Christianity" is hard to say, as that is a very large category of human thought and behavior. I think it makes the essential message of Christ more necessary and important then it might have been in the past (the message of love, forgiveness, kindness and generosity being the salvation of mankind) but only if one believes this to be the essential message of Christ. I suspect many Christians do not believe it to be. Even though many others, would.

 

[Sunstone]

I don't think this is an answer to your question but I think it's relevant to it and needs to be brought up:

The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism - Wikipedia

I agree. But what do you make of Weber's thesis?

 

[dianaiad]

How much of a factor has industrialization been in shaping (or reshaping) Christianity?


For the record, I am dating early industrialization a little earlier than most people. I prefer to place its beginnings in the early 1730s, rather than in the 1750s, as is more traditional The earlier date reflects the earliest productivity increasing inventions in the textile industry, while the latter date is preferred by most people because it represents the date by which time the industry was really taking off. Your call where you yourself place the dates. So (to use my dating) how has industrialization influenced Christianity over the past 290 or so years?

BONUS QUESTION: Industrialization is usually credited with causing the nuclear family to succeed the extended family. Has that changed influenced Christianity? If so how?

SECOND BONUS QUESTION: Industrialization is usually credited with creating the financial conditions necessary for people to marry primarily for love (as opposed to picking their partners primarily for financial, social, and other reasons). Has marrying for love changed Christianity?

THIRD BONUS QUESTION: Industrialization is sometimes credited as of primary importance in the rise of a consumer culture. If so, how has the rise of a consumer culture changed Christianity?




____________________________________
And now, in an effort to distract you from my clumsy and awkward OP, some music....

Wow. That's an interesting question. Are you positing the questions for a Master's theisis or a doctoral dissertation?

What hypothesis are you going to come up with? 'cause frankly, I'd REALLY like to read it.

 

[Sunstone]

Wow. That's an interesting question. Are you positing the questions for a Master's theisis or a doctoral dissertation?

What hypothesis are you going to come up with? 'cause frankly, I'd REALLY like to read it.

Thank you for the very kind words of encouragement. I have not yet settled on a hypothesis yet, but I am thinking about it.