Outside Reading- Davis Barnhill Article- Ryan Webb

I recently read an article by Davis Barnhill called, "Good Work: An Engaged Buddhist Response to the Dilemmas of Consumerism." I was struck by some of the comments Barnhill wrote about within his article. Here is one that I would like to share and ask a question to the class about. Barnhill believes that although there is a problem of consumerism in the world today, there is not "much prospect of successfully stopping or significantly turning around this growth monster." He goes on to say that he believes there is no hope and that although he is "not hopeful," he is "heartened" by the possibility of "good work." Good work, as he explains, manifests itself in many ways, including making political choices spiritual choices. All throughout the Chronicles of Narnia, and in this sense, all of Lewis' writings, there is a deep sense of hope. Do you think it is possible for a spiritual act, rather than a rational act, to be made without the feeling of hope?