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The Routledge Handbook of Economic Theology

Economic theology as an academic field Theology, the stranger What is economic theology – a definition A new god?Economic theology: polemic or method?House and home – concepts and practices Economic theology – a user’s guide Further sources for students of economic theology Note References I Theological concepts and their economic meaning Providence A brief history of providence in Scripture and tradition Providence and the “invisible hand”A capitalist theology of providence?Conclusions References Eschatology and eschaton Introduction Economic eschatology without eschaton Economic principles of eschatology Economic eschatology in the Old Testament: the bright future Economic eschatology in the Old Testament: doomed end-times Conclusions References Confession Introduction Confession from antiquity to modernity The production of economic subjectivity “I am living on my own credit” – Nietzsche, confession and Schuld To bear witness against oneself – Foucault on the confession Concluding remarks: balancing between moderation and desire References Purgatory Introduction The genealogy of purgatory The reincarnation of purgatory in capitalism and welfare Conclusion References Faith and trust Justification and salvation Introduction Uncovering the theological: beyond moralism in economics and ethics Justification and salvation in economics: three gospels The economy of salvation References Guilt structure The etymology of guilt Money Gift First World War, war reparations and gift Sin Conclusions References II Economic concepts and their theological anchoring Profit and interest Introduction Judaism Christianity Islam Conclusions References Money Debt and credit Introduction Genealogies of debt and credit Dynamics of debt and credit Theology of debt and credit References Free choice and consumer sovereignty Introduction Forming the “spirit” of consumer choice The market: neoliberalism’s corpus mysticum Conclusions References Property and ownership Introduction Economic theology as genealogy: theological conceptions of property in the history of Western thought Divine ownership and limits on the prerogatives of human possession Christian ambivalence: a theological synthesis Economic theology as a critical lens: modern culture The modern separation of Christianity’s suspicion of and appreciation for property Economic theology as critical lens: economic theory Economic theology as critique: aftereffects of uncoupling rights from duties Culture and popular practice: the danger of idolatrous owning Economic theory as impeding normative reflection on the political economy of property References Prosperity and wealth Christianity, prosperity, and capitalism Context and scope of the Prosperity Gospel Prosperity theology Economics of the Prosperity Gospel An African case study Broader considerations References Poverty Introduction The invention of “the poor”The dialectic of poverty in the Bible The theological affirmation of the poor The poor as objects of mercy The poor as spiritual exemplars The poor as the locus of God’s saving activity Conclusion References Corporations Introduction Economics and law Idolatry Ontologies Attributes Purposes Translation The natural and the artificial References Government The semantics of government Foucault and government Agamben, oikonomia and government Beyond oikonomia Order and providence References Markets and marketization Introduction What is a market?The market as god The limitations of the “god metaphor”“The” market: a theological innovation Conclusions References III Society, management and organization Time Introduction Time as source of ontology, epistemology, and agency Clock-time: God’s time Time in economics Reaching for immanence Immanent theology: the logos made flesh Future research References Calling, profession, and work Introduction Calling as meaningful work Profession as meaningful work An economic theology of work References Organization and management Introduction Contemporary OMT has been underpinned by a Protestant theology Theological underpinnings of OMT have long been secularized and rendered invisible Theology as key for escaping OMT’s materialistic–individualistic iron cage References The entrepreneur The entrepreneur in economic and theological literature A theology of entrepreneurship and innovation Trinity – incarnation – imago dei Liberty – community – subsidiarity Creativity – charity/generosity – judgement References Media and mediation of culture Introduction Young AmeriTowne: a case study Religion Mediation and symbols Description of Young AmeriTowne Analysis of Young AmeriTowne Conclusion References Branding and marketing Introduction Sacred brands Brands of religion References Hedonism and asceticism Traditional Western attitudes to asceticism and hedonism Weber and asceticism Economics and hedonism Traditional and modern hedonism From producers to consumers Asceticism and hedonism in contemporary society References Leadership Heroes and hierarchy Caring leadership Contemplative attention Concluding remarks References Intellectual property Introduction Religious perspectives on intellectual property Christianity Judaism Islam Buddhism The religion of intellectual property References Accounting and accountability Accountability and theology Accountability in practice Conclusion References IV Genealogy of economic theology Jewish economic theology Introduction Ownership and dominion The biblical roots of private property Wealth Conclusion References Oikonomia Introduction Pre-Christian history of oikonomia Early beginnings Second- and third-century consolidation Fourth- and fifth-century Orthodox acclamation Oikonomia in contemporary Christian theology Critical engagements References The economic theology of late antiquity Introduction Almsgiving and the poor God as economist Divine oikonomia Ransom theory Conclusions References The economic theology of the High Middle Ages Introduction The structure of medieval economy Just price Money and usury Property Conclusions References Martin Luther as economist Introduction Luther’s teachings on the economy Continuities and discontinuities in Luther’s thinking with medieval–Catholic thought Context and conclusion References The southern spirit of capitalism Introduction: the many spirits of the market Capitalism and Catholicism Economics of the Counter-Reformation Voluntarism and naturalism: one more difference between north and south References Invisible hand Introduction General discussion Adam Smith’s theory A providentialist economics The god of the invisible hand Natural versus revealed religion Stoic theology: from irregular to regular events Theodicy Teleology Concluding remarks References Adam Smith’s economics of the church Introduction Smith on theology, religion and human nature Smith and the contemporary economics of religion Economic discussion of the Church in early modern Britain Smith’s economic analysis of religion Literature on Smith’s economics of the Church Conclusions References The economic theology of Quakerism Introducing Quakerism Undivided belief and actions in life and business Quaker impact on business and management Dividing business and life Conclusions and futures Note References Neoclassical economics as theology Introduction Religious blessings as delivered by economics Doing “economic theology”Environmentalism: an anti-progressive gospel The religion of Trumpism A crisis of economic religion References Marxist economics and theology John Maynard Keynes as theologian Introduction A broad definition of religion Keynes’ religion in the first sense Keynes’ religion in the second sense Keynesian uncertainty?Conclusion References The crypto-theology of Friedrich Hayek Introduction Religion as a catalyst for civilization Catallaxy as spontaneous order in civilized communities Agamben’s alternative semantic history of “economy”New avenues for neoliberalism studies References V Exit Intellectual brokerage in economic theology: Methodological and theoretical reflections from Islamic banking and finance Introduction Critical realism, social science methodology, and economic theology What is Islamic banking and finance?Intellectual brokerage within Islamic investment banks Conclusion: decentring and reconceptualizing economic theology Notes References

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