Sweating It Out: What the 'Experts' Say Causes Poverty

by Michael L. Landon

Overview

Sweating it Out explores poverty in the United States through the viewpoints and arguments of academic and political 'experts,' low-income adults from Louisiana, and the Bible and Christian theologians. Each group presents their theories on poverty, the groups affected by poverty, and how the problem of poverty should be addressed. In detailed chapters, Michael Landon presents each group's opinion on the causes of poverty, which include stress or mental illness, personal irresponsibility, social injustice, and family upbringing, among others. Sweating it Out is not only an investigation of poverty in America, but a resource for people of faith, academics, politicians, social workers, and low-income Americans on how to combat poverty.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780761835219
Publisher:	University Press of America
Publication date:	08/30/2006
Pages:	206
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.58(h) x 0.65(d)

About the Author

Michael Lee Landon is Minister of the Groton Church of Christ in Groton, Connecticut. He received his M.A. in Ministry from the Harding Graduate School of Religion, and his Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. In addition, he studied at Faculdade de Teologia Nossa Senhora de Assuncao (Our Lady of Assumption Seminary) in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He is the author of numerous scholarly articles addressing poverty, community development and outreach, and the responsibility of Christians.

Table of Contents

Part 1 Introduction Part 2 Section I: What the Experts Say Causes Poverty Chapter 3 1. The Culture of Poverty Chapter 4 2. Economic Ethos Chapter 5 3. Personal Irresponsibility Chapter 6 4. Dependency Theory Chapter 7 5. U.S. Adaptations of Culture of Poverty Chapter 8 6. U.S. Structural Problems Chapter 9 7. Stress Model Chapter 10 8. Summary of Experts' Explanations Part 11 Section II: What Low Income Adults Say Causes Poverty Chapter 12 9. The Context of Hammond, LA Chapter 13 10. Bob and Carla's Story Chapter 14 11. Don's Story Chapter 15 12. Evelyn's Story Chapter 16 13. Mary's Story Chapter 17 14. Olivia's Story Chapter 18 15. Conclusions about Informants' Explanations for Poverty Part 19 Section III: Biblical & Theological Reflections on Poverty Chapter 20 16. Biblical Definitions and Presuppositions about Poverty Chapter 21 17. The Old Testament on Poverty Chapter 22 18. The New Testament on Poverty Chapter 23 19. Christian Reflections on Poverty Part 24 Section IV: Implications & Suggestions for Action Chapter 25 20. Implications for Christians Chapter 26 21. Suggestions for Christian Action Part 27 Author's Biographical Sketch Part 28 Index

Editorial Reviews

The way one understands poverty is a major influence on how one responds to it. Landon…provides a useful analysis and summary of a wide range of biblical perspectives on poverty and our response as Christians.

Bryan Myers

Anyone desiring or needing to understand…the causes of poverty should read Sweating it Out. Michael Landon combines rigorous scholarship, fluid style, and common sense practicality in his very useful study of the forces driving the growth and persistence of poverty. Best of all, he offers a helpful challenge to people of faith to become involved in a movement of renewal and community development aimed at the elimination of the curse of poverty.

Larry James

This book is unique and important because it combines the insight of a cross-cultural perspective, personal field research, and biblical [references]…I highly recommend it.

John M. Perkins

The way one understands poverty is a major influence on how one responds to it. Landon...provides a useful analysis and summary of a wide range of biblical perspectives on poverty and our response as Christians.--Bryan Myers, VP of World Vision International, Editor of MARC Newsletter, and author of Walking with the Poor: Principles and Practices of Tr

This book is unique and important because it combines the insight of a cross-cultural perspective, personal field research, and biblical [references]...I highly recommend it.--John M. Perkins, Founder, The John M. Perkins Foundation for Reconciliation & Development

Anyone desiring or needing to understand...the causes of poverty should read Sweating it Out. Michael Landon combines rigorous scholarship, fluid style, and common sense practicality in his very useful study of the forces driving the growth and persistence of poverty. Best of all, he offers a helpful challenge to people of faith to become involved in a movement of renewal and community development aimed at the elimination of the curse of poverty.--Larry James, President and CEO, Central Dallas Ministries

From the Publisher