Growth in Late Modern Capitalism with Andy Root

Host Andrew Camp welcomes theologian Andy Root back to The Biggest Table to discuss Root’s recent books, especially Baal and the Gods of More, and what Christian “growth” should mean. Root argues Christianity is about “growing into someone” through relational participation in God’s life, not merely “growing something” like budgets, attendance, or resources, which can become a late-capitalist logic of escalation akin to fertility gods such as Baal or Artemis. Drawing on 1–2 Kings, Brueggemann, Hartmut Rosa, and Robert Gordon’s “special century” of American GDP growth, Root connects church expansion to economic growth and says American Protestantism now faces anxiety and nostalgia on the far side of a golden era. He critiques both techno-optimist innovation and identitarian recognition as susceptible to capitalist dynamics, and calls the church toward the theology of the cross: God’s presence “for you” in sorrow, loss, and shared burdens. Root previews a forthcoming pastoral theology of money.Andy Root is the Carrie Olson Baalson Professor of Youth and Family Ministry at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN. Lately his work has centered around the intersection of faith and our secular age, having completed his six volume series Ministry in a Secular Age. He has written a number of books and has given lectures and presentations across the country and globe both to church groups, universities/colleges, youth workers, and academic communities. He lives in St. Paul, his wife Kara is a Presbyterian minister and they have two kids (Owen and Maisy) and a dog. When he’s not teaching and writing, he watches a ton of TV.Andy Root's website: andrewroot.orgListen to my first conversation with Andy on The Biggest Table: Sacred Waiting in the Secular Age (Episode 12)Follow Andrew CampFacebook: andrew.camp.9Instagram: @andrewcamp80Substack: @thebiggesttableThis episode of the Biggest Table is brought to you in part by Wild Goose Coffee. Since 2008, Wild Goose has sought to build better communities through coffee. For our listeners, Wild Goose is offering a special promotion of 20% off a one time order using the code TABLE at checkout. To learn more and to order coffee, please visit wildgoosecoffee.com.