Social Factors in Religion and Economics

Abstract

Combining the (putative) insights of theology with the (putative) scientific insights supplied by economics is not easy. Some theologians are not comfortable with the knowledge supplied by economics and want to redirect economics to better serve their goals. It is not surprising that they find some economics questionable. Not all of economics is useful to theologians, as not all is useful to capitalists or socialists. There is, however, much that can be useful in addressing the questions that theologians consider important. In particular, the focus on collective and social relations, which all the case studies express, is a topic of considerable research in economics. The scientific knowledge may not always be what theologians expect, but it has an empirical basis that suggests it deserves a hearing.