This article deals with
the question if and how far religious points of view and messages of churches
involved matter in the analysis of the roots of the present global economic
crisis, and even more in the discussion about how to overcome the crisis itself.
Economic experts such as Stiglitz point to the presence of factors such as
greed, fear and utmost selfish behaviour. It inevitably leads to the ethical,
but in fact also the religious question of how far people, especially economic
agents, can go in the pursuit of their own economic interests without doing
harm to others. Jesus asked his disciples to follow him: with Bonhoeffer, we
could call that a Way-orientation.
Where and how far can a conflict therefore
arise between human goal-orientations, on the one hand, and a biblical
Way-orientation, on the other hand? And is it indeed relevant when considering
our present economic crisis? This article defends the last position, describing
some categories (such as the choice of ultimate meaning, the sacro-sanctity of
chosen instruments, and the demonisation of opponents) which indicate that the
borderline has been passed between responsible and irresponsible
goal-orientations.
The glorification of greed and the delegation of ultimate
power to financial markets indicate that at this moment elements of idolatry
(or the obedience to Mammon) are at hand. They are also aggravating the present
economic crisis. This implies that returning to the choice for decisive
normative Way-orientations in economic life is possibly the only true way out
of the present economic crisis.
Goudzwaard, Bob - Free
University, The Netherlands
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