In the essay “Judaism and Economic Reform”, Norman Solomon, a Jewish-American journalist, presents a compelling argument on the basis of the need for economic reform while providing simple religious base solutions. While discussing two major economic problems that plague the world’s current economy, Solomon introduces the Jewish view of the global economy and their general view on economics as a whole. With this introduction to the Jewish worldview of economics we as readers are able to transition into understanding Solomon’s solutions of education & using Jewish law to improve the current state of the global economy. Although Solomon’s ideas of education and relying on Jewish law to improve the global economy seem logical, Sallie McFague, a Christian theologian, provides a different yet similar viewpoint of improving the global economy in her essay “New House Rules: Christianity, Economics, and Planetary Living”. Her discussion of ecological and neo-classical economics forces the reader to revert back to Solomon’s essay to analyze his methods of fixing the current global economy.
Sallies McFague’s discussion of ecological and neo-classical economics from the Christian perspective is an eye-opening experience because it demonstrates the two possible dynamics of our world’s economy. The neo-classical economic dynamic “sees human beings on the planet as a collection of individuals drawn together to benefit each other by fully exploiting natural resources” while the ecological economic dynamic “sees the planet as a community that survives and prospers only through the interdependence of all its parts, human and nonhuman” (McFague 127). McFague states that the current global economy is neo-classical which is a detrimental system to ...
... middle of paper ...
...n will definitely provide a better economy for these third world countries, but the only draw back is that it will not be a short-term effect. Lastly McFague in her essay provides a reasonable solution of ecological economics where everybody on one accord forgets their self-interest and understands that everyone is dependent upon each other. In the end no solution will work unless both categories of economic countries understand their position and begin to work together.
Works Cited
1. McFague, Sallie. "New House Rules: Christianity, Economics, and Planetary Living."Subverting Greed: Religious Perspectives on the Global Economy. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 2002. 125-40. Print.
2. Solomon, Norman. "New House Rules: Christianity, Economics, and Planetary Living."Subverting Greed: Religious Perspectives on the Global Economy. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 2002. 96-117. Print.
John Stapleford’s book, Bulls, Bears, and Golden Calves, provides a thorough overview with a Christian perspective of economic and ethical analysis. He reviews the moral challenges of macro, micro, and international economic issues. Stapleford covers a variety of important public policy issues such as self-interest, economic efficiency, and private property rights. He begins the book by laying a foundation of ethical thought and an analytical framework. Stapleford provides a Biblical perspective on the practical issues facing our current society. For example, there are three billion people in the world who live on less than $2 a day (Stapleford, 2009). The wealthy Americans continue to get richer. The greed and lawlessness of America’s corporate boardrooms is increasing. Legalized gambling continues to increase every year. The expansion of pornography and its accessibility to America’s younger generations has become a rapidly growing epidemic (Stapleford, 2009). This text is grounded solidly in biblical principles. A number of the problems he discusses are not specifically addressed in the Bible, but one of the author's strengths is to develop a Christian rationale for contemporary issues, based on biblical principles. An example of this skill is found in his forceful chapter on "False Hope . . . The Boom in Legalized Gambling" (Stapleford, 2009).
In conclusion, Ewert shows rationale to why leftist Christians should not be concerned with the free market economy being detrimental to a person’s morals and ethics and possibly their religion. The free market economy allows for choice within it. The environment is not an excuse that leftist Christians to use to state the free market economy is corrupting human’s morals. Scripturally it is up to the person to allow themselves to not be morally and spiritually corrupted, not an environment or in this case an economy. Leftist Christians have the right motives, however to omit an entire system just because it has some negatives.
In the book’s introduction, Walter Rauschenbusch has written “It follows that the relation between Christianity and social crisis is one of the most pressing questions for all intelligent men who realize the power of religion, and most of all the religious leaders of the people who give direction to the forces of religion” .
The book is divided into chapters regarding idols of history, humanity, money, nature, power, and religion. Then it hesitantly offers a prediction if the current trends hold, and instruction for the Christian community whether or not the trends hold.
Michael Gold’s novel Jews Without Money is set in a slum area in the United States mainly populated by Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe. In coming to the United States, usually, it is a hardship for many immigrants. Many deal with poverty and live in impoverished communities as well as class issues, due to being the oppressed race. As shown in Michael Gold’s Jews Without Money, Gold illustrates the hardships and struggles of growing up as an immigrant in America. Jews Without Money portrays the world of poverty leads to crime, a working class struggling to keep up with the progressing industrializing era, and capitalist views, all of which have relevance in today’s society. As well as still having relevance today, had it been published
Winthrop, J. (2008). A Model for Christian Charity. In N. Baym (Ed.), The Norton Anthology of American Literature Volume 1 (pp. 82). New York: W.W. Norton & Company.
Esposito, John L., Darrell J. Fasching, and Todd Lewis. World Religions Today. 3rd ed. New
Smart, Ninian. "Blackboard, Religion 100." 6 March 2014. Seven Dimensions of Religion. Electronic Document. 6 March 2014.
The Bible clearly explains the role of government in society and the framers of our nation built America on Biblical principles. Since economics is the science that deals with production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services, Christian economics entails how men use God-given resources, ideas, and energy to meet their human needs and to glorify the Lord. Christianity produces internal liberty in man, which is the foundation for a Christian economy. The internal change of heart that Christ brings produces Christian character and self-government which is necessary for an economy to be prosperous. Christian character and self-government produce people who do not steal, who have a strong work ethic, and who save and invest to
Further to the idea of how the obedience of religious standards prevails over the materialistic impulses
While the Jewish population is small, its impact on the economy is extensive. For a group of people making up less than two percent of the United States populace, Jews are certainly a topic of much conversation and controversy. For a race so often targeted negatively and used as a scapegoat, it is surprising to realize the Jewish hand in America today. A question circulating for a while is whether or not Jews control America; Jews rule the film industry, the news and communication business is a Jewish kingdom, the American financial industry is essentially a Jewish franchise, and the professions are so dominated by Jews its shocking, so where does their influence run out? While the idea that America is run by Jews is disputed, the fact that there is a disproportionate Jewish influence on the US and global economy in comparison to their size cannot be argued against. While their effect may be small, it is surely noticeable and non-ignorable. Though the Jews have been the focus of much hate and ignorance throughout history, it is undeniable that they have had an effect on the American stock market, the real estate market, and the public school system.
Eastman, Roger. The Ways of Religion: An Introduction to the Major Traditions. Third Edition. Oxford University Press. N.Y. 1999
Oxtoby, Willard G., and Alan F. Segal. A Concise Introduction to World Religions. Oxford, Canada: Oxford University Press, 2007.
Christian Science is an idealistic and most radical form of transcendental religiosity. The study of Christian Science teaches a feeling of understanding of God's goodness and the differences between good and evil, life and death. The purpose of this paper is to address how the study of Christian Science helps us better understand the impact of globalization in America, as well as the impact of American on globalization. This paper is important because globalization features a dominant worldview. All throughout the world people believe, study and teach different types of religious movements that impact others. People need to better understand how certain religions modify, conflict with, and impact the world. First, it will discuss the life and work of the founder, Mary Baker Eddy. Secondly, it will examine the primary rituals and religious services of the Christian Science movement. Then, it will outline the precursors and history of the religion. In the conclusion, a response will be offered to the question of how Christian Science helps us better understand the impact of globalization on America and of America on globalization.
In today’s society, Christianity is plagued with many disagreements about how to deal with current issues in society. These problems arise from the fact that Christians have the same fundamental beliefs, but they often disagree on the details. This is the reason why there is a panoply of denominations in the Christian faith. The way that many of the factions in Christianity interpret the word of God can be categorized into different styles of gospel, such as evangelicalism and fundamentalism. One such category that is beginning to gain popularity in today’s society, often taught in megachurches, is Prosperity Gospel. Prosperity Gospel, also called the “Health and Wealth Gospel” by Scot McKnight’s internet article “The Problem for the Prosperity Gospel,” is the belief that if humans adhere to God’s will, then He will in turn bless them with prosperous lives (McKnight). This prosperity often comes in the form of health and wealth according to many megachurches that preach this gospel. In times of economic strife, the prosperity gospel offers comfort in the hopes of having a prosperous future. It is also suspected that Prosperity Gospel has also become an outlet for the people who have a considerable amount of money as a means to justify their wealth. Whatever the reason for believing this gospel, it is important to remember that Prosperity Gospel is just one of the many ways that we can interpret the teachings of the Bible.