On Doing the Impossible

Abstract

A first reading of the six case studies might appear to provide two broad lessons. The first is that any attempt to combine theological teachings with results from economic science will, of necessity, generate a conceptual monstrosity, a logical impossibility (the latter part of A.M.C. Waterman’s case study, ch. 3). The second lesson is that a wide range of very diverse authors do in fact combine such teachings and results (the earlier part of Waterman and the other five studies). Now, even the most dialectical and liberated of theologians might find it stressful to accept both these “lessons” at once. Either, at least one of the lessons is wrong; or, that which Waterman claims to be impossible is not exactly that which many diverse authors have actually done. Since it would indeed be fruitless to consider whether it is actually fruitful to do the impossible, we first consider briefly whether Waterman’s worries really render ridiculous the whole idea of cross-fertilization between theology and economics.