May I recommend Michael Sandel’s Theos lecture, just given, critiquing meritocracy and tracing its ‘moral archaeology’ via Weber back to Luther, Calvin, Augustine, and Job.

The full lecture is here
https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=5LMKg06ndU0 and the book (same title) is just published.

For Sandel, meritocracy - a belief that the successful owe their success to their own striving - is an appealing narrative with deep historical roots. But it creates hubris for those at the top and humiliation and resentment for the rest. Cue Trump’s base, Brexit, etc.

Sandel argues that the ‘allure’ of meritocracy as freedom and self-making is corrosive of the common good. He is fascinating on how an essentially religious puritanism has, over the centuries, morphed into a secular political-economic ideology (which some call neo-liberalism).

Big thanks to @Theosthinktank & @TheosElizabeth Oldfield for giving Michael Sandel this platform free for everyone. The argument is highly relevant to teachers working with religion and worldviews. @NATREupdate @areiac @RECouncil Watch the lecture here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=5LMKg06ndU0