Sunday, June 23, 2013
Random thought about sweatshops
Listening to EWTN (the Hail Mary Hail Mary Hail Mary Hail Mary Hail Mary Hail Mary Hail Mary Hail Mary Hail Mary Hail Mary Hail Mary network) discussing persnickety details of required mass attendance. It took 15 minutes for them to cover all the epicycles of prohibitions and multi-layered exceptions for just one particular holy day.
Got me to thinking: Islam doesn't build such baroquely detailed castles of epicycles, but it's equally strict about praying five times a day and observing holy days.
Protestants aren't strict about observances. No firm requirements. Sing Jingle Bells at Xmas and you're saved.
Where did the first industrial sweatshop era happen? In Protestant countries where nothing interfered with 18 hours of hard uninterrupted labor for the capitalist boss. And where is the second sweatshop era happening right now? In Confucian countries, ditto.
Catholic and Muslim countries have stayed closer to the pre-1800 system of individual farmers, craftsmen, and traders. When they do participate in the industrial system, they go more for home-based piecework, which leaves more room for both religious life and private dignity.
I'd say they got the better end of the deal.
¶ 5:05 PM 
