"Work for the Night is Coming": How Christian Hymns Frame Human Labor

We examine how popular religion portrays human labor by analyzing work themes in Christian hymns published over five centuries, from 1500 to 2000. Utilizing an emergent qualitative approach, we identify eight themes: Reward follows Work; Work with Dedication; God Provides; Work is Difficult; Work is Holy; Work is Duty; Work in Solidarity; and Witness at Work. A quantitative examination indicates that the themes of Reward follows Work, Work with Dedication, and God Provides occur most frequently. Reward follows Work and Work with Dedication decline in the second half of the twentieth century while Work in Solidarity rises, IP: 12700 1 On Tue 27 Sep 202 suggesting increased attention to globalylabor Ingentajustice. Historically, hymns broadcast the Protestant Work Ethic. Today, they herald several underexplored dimensions of workplace religion. Deivered b