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The book explains to clergy, church professionals and business
people the relationship between Christianity and capitalism. Where
is God in the business world? The problem: while the "faith at
work" movement is a burgeoning phenomenon giving rise to a plethora
of books for business people seeking to apply their Christian faith
at their job, nowhere is there a book serving as a resource to
clergy in the specific task of ministering to business people in
their congregations. The solution: this book provides the missing
link, equipping clergy with a better understanding of the world of
business and the capitalistic economic system in the context of
Christianity, enabling them to minister more empathetically to
people in business. Benefits of the book: After reading Closing the
Sunday - Monday Gap, the reader will possess: 1. the analytical
tools for rational thinking about economic issues of particular
interest to the church: economic justice, globalization, inflation,
poverty, environmental protection, housing, money, and
philanthropy; 2. a clearer understanding of the role of the
business firm in society and how the behavior of the business firm
relates to the values, interests and priorities of the church; 3.
insights into the perspectives held by business people to assist
them in more effectively applying their faith to their daily lives.
The overall purpose of this book is to provide clergy and church
professionals with the knowledge and analytical tools of economics
and business to enable more effective communication with and
counseling to people in business. Overview: The book is divided
into the following nine topics designed to discuss both (1) the
economic system and (2) the functioning of the business firm,
presenting both economic concepts and business examples in order to
provide the reader with a full understanding of the business world
and its relationship to Christianity. 1. The Big Picture: Our
Economy: Capitalism and Christianity: Compatible or Conflicting? 2.
The Small Picture: The Business Firm: Profits, Ethics, Competition,
Community 3. Economic Issues Important to the Church: Poverty,
Housing, Environment and Energy 4. Money: Micro-lending: bringing
the world's poor into the game 5. Globalization: International
Trade: Discord or Harmony? War or Peace? 6. Stewardship of Natural
Resources: Environmental Economics: Protecting God's Creations 7.
Stewardship of Financial Resources: Generosity, Philanthropy, Love
8. Economic Justice: Egalitarianism, Wealth Disparities 9. Human
Effects of Private Enterprise: Materialism or Meaning? Why This
Book? The impetus to write this book came largely from the findings
of scholars Laura Nash of Harvard and Scotty McLennan of Stanford,
published in their book "Church on Sunday, Work on Monday" (San
Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2001) in which they observe "a pervasive
feeling of inadequacy on the part of clergy and church leaders to
substantively address issues facing business people." They further
observe that seminarians report a "disappointing lack of training
on contemporary economic institutions." Further, with the
accelerating "faith at work" movement, more and more clergy are
becoming concerned that this movement is based on a flawed
superficial "prosperity" theology. Therefore, there is a desire for
the tools to relate sound theology to sound economics. This book
connects sound theology to sound economics, providing both church
professionals and business people with a clear understanding of the
relationship between capitalism and Christianity.
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