A Market Place of Corruption

The market place can often be a place full of distraction, corruption, and will take advantage of one’s life if it allows them to. In fact, Turner (1978) states that “faith is often manipulated for political and economic ends” (Image and Pilgrimage in Christian Culture, pp26) which becomes a great distraction to many people that live in a society that praises the market place. I believe that one of the biggest reasons that the pilgrims decide to go on the Appalachian Trail or the El Camino all stems from the desire to escape the market place. Growing up, from a child to an adult the pressures of life never seem to truly leave; however, when one is able to isolate themselves from all of that they, for possibility the first time in their entire lives, feel a sense of freedom. Turner talks about faith being manipulated by political and economics and I think that is because the society now days tells us  through its never ending pressures that those things come across as more important that one’s faith. In fact, so often people state that they will hold off on their faith till they get settled in to a job and a family and then they will make time for it; however, I argue that their excuse to put their faith off is simply another way to say that their work, their economics and politics are more important than their faith. We allow the market place to become so important in our daily lives that it overshadows everything else including our faith. When one is out on the trail they are able to escape that pressure of the market place and finally get to spend a time of spirituality with their true creator. Turner does a great job of boldly proclaiming that the market place does substitute for our faith which is why one would say we live in a broken world.