Description
There are few things more devastating to the long-term health of society than war. Ethnic tensions can become entrenched for centuries; economics and infrastructure can be set back decades; and the next generation of children are left to lead from the trauma created or passed on by the wars of their fathers. Entire cohorts of individuals are destroyed, whether literally (through genocide) or psychologically (in the case of veterans and child soldiers).
And however much war may be national or international in scope, ultimately war is relational—between calculating politicians, enlisted soldiers, audience-building media, and engaged citizens. We’re interested in ventures preventing war through peacemaking and disarmament as well as working in war’s aftermath (trauma therapy, economic support).
We’re also interested in conversations about the role that defense technologies and cyberwarfare will play in our collective future. The world needs ventures with a distinctly Christian presence in these fields to navigate the ethical landmines involved in conflicts that are increasingly fought through technology.
In today’s commercially-driven world people are more likely to be seen and referred to as 'consumers' than anything else. Instead of being met with resistance, this shift has often meant that individuals have formed their identity through a composite of brands, and product purchasing can be guided more by the desire to make a statement about one’s identity and values than strict utility. As a result, the lines between social movement, capitalism, and community are increasingly blurry (see: Nike, Whole Foods, and Patagonia).
Given this reality (which is with us for both better and worse), we’d like to support entrepreneurs with a vision for building brands with a counter-culturally virtuous and optimistic view of the world, spreading hope and beauty, eliminating stigma, and most fundamentally, redirecting our identity away from materialistic consumption and toward lasting contentment.
