Zadok Paper S98 Autumn 1999
Christian Theology and Economics: a Reading Guide
by Paul Oslington

Theology and economics

COMING TO AN UNDERSTANDING of the interrelationship of economics and theology requires a deep understanding of both. In my own attempts so far, I have found Augustine, Calvin and John Henry Newman helpful theological guides, but each of us will have our own theological traditions and inclinations. An introductory text on theology I would recommend is Alister McGrath's Christian Theology: An Introduction.96 The role and interpretation of the scriptures is given an introductory discussion in John Stott's Issues Facing Christians Today,96 while Anthony Thiselton's New Horizons in Hermeneutics98 deals with more complex issues. Different approaches to scripture, specifically in relation to economics, are considered by Nicholas Wolterstorff in Until Justice and Peace Embrace99 and Ian Smith's chapter in God and Culture.100

Economists are not the only ones struggling to relate their faith and discipline. General works on these issues I have found helpful are Harry Blamires' The Christian Mind,101 Francis Schaeffer's How Should we then Live?,102 Robert Banks' All the Business of Life,103 John Milbank's Theology and Social Theory,104 and Craig Gay's The Way of the Modern World.105
The difficulties created by the secularisation of Western society, and particularly academia, are discussed in Mark Noll's The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind,106 and the writings of George Marsden106 and Lesslie Newbigin.108 An interesting article on the practical difficulties of Christian reflection on academic disciplines is John Stackhouse's "Why Johnny Can't Produce Christian Scholarship".109

Theological reflection is particularly scarce within economics, and most of what goes on is outside the professional mainstream. This was not always so. Even a little reading of the history of economic thought will show how economics, until the mid-19th century, was more closely and explicitly linked with theology. Even fairly recently, the major professional association of economists (the Organisation of the American Economic Association) began with an explicit reference to Christianity.110

To: A bridge named "ethics"

Paul Oslington has been lecturer in economics at Deakin University Geelong since January 1998, after completing a Ph.D. in Economics at the University of Sydney on the relationship between trade and unemployment, and a Bachelor of Divinity from Melbourne College of Divinity. Comments and suggestions on the guide are welcome and he can be contacted at School of Economics, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia 3217. E-mail: osling@deakin.edu.au