000 02260cam a22003013u 4500
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040 _aUtSlPG
041 7 _aen
_2iso639-1
050 4 _aBL
100 1 _aSinclair, Upton,
_d1878-1968
245 1 4 _aThe Profits of Religion: An Essay in Economic Interpretation
264 1 _aSalt Lake City, UT :
_bProject Gutenberg,
_c1998
300 _a1 online resource :
_bmultiple file formats
336 _atext
_btxt
_2rdacontent
337 _acomputer
_bc
_2rdamedia
338 _aonline resource
_bcr
_2rdacarrier
500 _aRelease date is 1998-12-01
508 _aProduced by Charles Keller and David Widger
520 _a"The Profits of Religion: An Essay in Economic Interpretation" by Upton Sinclair is a critical analysis written in the early 20th century. This work examines religion from an economic perspective, arguing that it serves as both a source of income for clergy and a tool for maintaining social privilege and oppression. Sinclair uses evocative and satirical language to critique how institutionalized religion exploits its followers, connecting spiritual beliefs to financial gain and societal control. The opening of the book introduces the concept of "Bootstrap-lifting," a metaphor for how individuals labor under the illusion of spiritual elevation while being victimized by those who profit from their beliefs. Sinclair vividly describes a scene where people strain to lift themselves by their bootstraps, while a pickpocket reaps the rewards of their distraction. This introduces a series of critiques regarding various religious practices, asserting that many so-called spiritual exercises distract from the material realities of life and facilitate exploitation. Through these observations, Sinclair sets the stage for a broader examination of religious institutions as impediments to social progress, establishing a provocative foundation for his economic critique of culture. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
534 _nOriginal publication data not identified
653 _aChristianity -- Controversial literature
856 4 0 _uhttps://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1558
999 _c43674
_d43674