2004 Colloquy on “Christian Faith and Economic Life”
Institute for Reformed Theology
Union Theological Seminary and Presbyterian School of Christian Education

Course Topics and Readings:

Session 1: Theological and Moral Challenges of the Economy

• Charles E. Lindblom, The Market System
• Max Stackhouse, “What Then Shall We Do?: On Using Scripture in Economic Ethics,” Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology 41 (1987) pp. 382-97
• Karen Lebacqz, Justice in an Unjust World: Foundations for a Christian Approach to Justice (selections)

Session 2: Vocation, Work, and Business

• Max Weber, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism (Author’s Introduction [pp. 13-31], Part II [pp. 95-183])
• Mark Valeri, “Robert Keayne’s Gift” (unpublished)
• Laura Nash and Scotty McClennan, Church on Sunday, Work on Monday (Preface, Introduction, Chapters 1, 7, and 8)
• Douglas Schuurman, “Protestant Vocation Under Assault: Can it be Salvaged?” (SCE Annual 1994)
  

Session 3: The Market Ethic from Smith to Samuelson and Sen

• Emma Rothschild, Economic Sentiments: Adam Smith, Condorcet, and the Enlightenment
• Robert H. Nelson, “What is ‘Economic Theology?” (Speech delivered to the Second Abraham Kuyper Consultation on "Theology and Economic Life: Exploring Hidden Links," Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ, March 22, 2003)
• Amartya Sen, “Rational Fools: A Critique of the Behavioural Foundations of Economics,” Philosophy and Public Affairs 6 (1977): 317-344
• Paula England, “Separative and Soluble Selves: Dichotomous Thinking in Economics,” in Marianne A. Ferber and Julie A. Nelson, eds., Feminist Economics Today: Beyond Economic Man
• Harvey Cox, “The Market as God,” The Atlantic (March 1999)

Session 4: Globalization, Poverty, Justice

• Peter Singer, One World: The Ethics of Globalization (Preface, Chapters 1-3, 6 [For those interested in the political and human rights aspects of globalization, read chapters 4-5])
• Douglas Hicks, Inequality and Christian Ethics (Chapters 1, 5-8, 11 [For those interested in more economic chapters, also read chapters 3, 4, 9. 10])
• Rebecca Todd Peters, “The Future of Globalization: Seeking Pathways of Transformation,” Journal of the Society of Christian Ethics, vol. 24 (2004): 105-133.
• Rebecca M. Blank, It Takes a Nation: A New Agenda for Fighting Poverty (Introduction, Chapters 2 & 5)
• Rebecca M. Blank and William McGurn, Is the Market Moral? A Dialogue on Religion, Economics & Justice (pp. 11-56)

Session 5: Consumerism and the Church as Economic Actor

• Robert H. Frank, Luxury Fever: Money and Happiness in an Era of Excess (Chapters 1, 5, 6, 14-17)
• Vincent J. Miller, Consuming Religion: Christian Faith and Practice in a Consumer Culture (Introduction, Chapters, 2, 4, 5, 7)
• Jean-Christophe Agnew, “Coming up for air: consumer culture in historical perspective” in John Brewer and Roy Porter, eds., Consumption and the World of Goods
• Leigh Eric Schmidt, Consumer Rites: The Buying and Selling of American Holidays (pp. 106-191, 328-341)
• Leigh Eric Schmidt, “Christianity in the Marketplace: Christmas and the Consumer Culture,” in Cross Currents 42, Fall 1992