Religion and economics, as Marshall wrote, are two main forces that moved humanity. However, it seems that theology and economics in general perception are quite disconnected. The relation historically has been recognized and present (Greek philosophers, the fathers of the Church, School of Salamanca in the XVI century). Nowdays however, the separation between these two elements is observed at least in the dominant literature. The approach to studying economics and religion could vary: presentation of the economy “revealed”, or an economy based on religion; proposals of Economy of the common good; or the explanation (attempt) of religious behavior using economic models (and specifically: neoclassical models) – “Economics of Religion”. Nevertheless in economic theory, we observe, however, a notorious lack of theoretical elements that allow the analysis of this relation. That might be the reason why for so many economist it’s difficult to find the connection, not even mentioning the possibility of “learning” something new from theology (obviously, this observation is mainly referred to the occidental culture)
Theology, referring to the “divine” affirms much, very much on a human person. And economy studies precisely human action. The connection exists, and it is evident (for whoever wants to observe) – a human person, and what we affirm or suppose about (what was called as Fundamental or underlying anthropology).
A Spanish economist, Rafael Rubio de Urquía, presents the main role that this fundamental anthropology had and has in any economic model. Thus, knowing its structure, we can perceive how a mistaken (reduced, or very reduced) vision of the human person (anthropology) conditions the explanatory capacity of those models. It is perfectly possible (as we have done in our research in doctoral thesis and following publications) to analyze what kind of human person (economic agent) is reflected, for example in the Economics of Religion models. And also why a reduced consideration of human person leads to a reduced (or absence of) understanding of religion, treating it as (and only), for example, a product or an object of choice (commodity); a system of moral norms, or a simple activity with risk or uncertainty.
Our proposal is to analyze how the religious dimension (which goes far beyond of a simple list of “moral” norms or prohibitions) can affect human action –a principal object of the study of economics as a science. It is necessary to analyze those elements that constitute human action (much of them pointed out by Rubio de Urquía), that can be used for a scientific investigation. Analyzing all the theoretical pieces of an economic model, and especially, those more directly related to human action, we can make attempts to link theology with economics precisely because their connection goes through Anthropology. It is, the first element that as economists we can learn is precisely about the nature of a human person, and therefore, about his action. Otherwise, we run a serious risk of calling “religion” or “theology” anything else, that – although related – is not religion or “theology”. And it is dangerous to talk about the relationship between economics and religion when the concept we have of the latter is limited, reduced, or simply wrong. Likewise having a limited, reduced, or erroneous concept of the economy (supposing for example an economic agent is a simply – and only – producer or consumer). We can present examples of these narrow conceptions of theology (or religion) and economics. But we can also attempt to establish a gate for a dialogue between these two sciences.
References
*** (2018) “La teoría económica y la religión – un análisis explícito de una relación implícita” published in: Ampliando los límites de la teoría económica. Mardid, Ed. Francisco de Vitoria
Buritica Zuluaga, D., (2014) “The Concept of Human Person within Christian Tradition and its Development up to Personalism”. Cuestiones Teológicas. Vol. 41. No 96, Medellín- Colombia, pp. 467-493
Rubio de Urquía, R. (2008). “Breve introducción al planteamiento y examen sistemáticos de la pregunta por la estructura de relación entre «Economía» y «Religión»”. Published in: Cabañes Argudo, M. L. (coord.). Abstracción y realidad en la economía. Madrid, Minerva Ediciones, S.A.: 167-224.
Rubio de Urquía, R. (2014) “Acción humana y Doctrina Social de la Iglesia: Un esbozo de «Economía» en la Encíclica «Caritas in Veritate»” published in: Rubio de Urquía, R., Pérez-Soba, J.J., La doctrina social de la Iglesia. Estudios a la luz de la encíclica Caritas in Veritate. Madrid. BAC
Oslington, P. (ed.) (2003) Economics and Religion. Northampton, Mass, Edward Elgar Pub.