The Marketplace of Christianity - Hardcover

Ekelund, Robert B.; Hebert, Robert F.; Tollison, Robert D.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 026205082X ISBN 13: 9780262050821

Publisher: Mit Pr, 2006

Synopsis

Economics can help us understand the evolution and development of religion, from the market penetration of the Reformation to an exploration of today's hot-button issues including evolution and gay marriage.

This startlingly original (and sure to be controversial) account of the evolution of Christianity shows that the economics of religion has little to do with counting the money in the collection basket and much to do with understanding the background of today's religious and political divisions. Since religion is a set of organized beliefs, and a church is an organized body of worshippers, it's natural to use a science that seeks to explain the behavior of organizations -- economics -- to understand the development of organized religion. The Marketplace of Christianity applies the tools of economic theory to illuminate the emergence of Protestantism in the sixteenth century and to examine contemporary religion-influenced issues, including evolution and gay marriage.

The Protestant Reformation, the authors argue, can be seen as a successful penetration of a religious market dominated by a monopoly firm -- the Catholic Church. The Ninety-five Theses nailed to the church door in Wittenberg by Martin Luther raised the level of competition within Christianity to a breaking point. The Counter-Reformation, the Catholic reaction, continued the competitive process, which came to include "product differentiation" in the form of doctrinal and organizational innovation. Economic theory shows us how Christianity evolved to satisfy the changing demands of consumers--worshippers.

The authors of The Marketplace of Christianity avoid value judgments about religion. They take preferences for religion as given and analyze its observable effects on society and the individual. They provide the reader with clear and nontechnical background information on economics and the economics of religion before focusing on the Reformation and its aftermath. Their analysis of contemporary hot-button issues -- science vs. religion, liberal vs. conservative, clerical celibacy, women and gay clergy, gay marriage -- offers a vivid illustration of the potential of economic analysis to contribute to our understanding of religion.

About this title

About the Author

Robert D. Tollison is Professor of Economics and BB&T Senior Fellow at Clemson University. Ekelund, Tollison, and Hébert are coauthors of Sacred Trust: The Medieval Church as an Economic Firm.

Reviews

Taking a page from 18th-century economic theorist Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations, the authors (all economists) provocatively develop an economic theory of religion, especially Christianity. In the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church had established a monopoly and controlled the market of belief, not allowing for competition to fulfill the demand of disparate believers. The Protestant Reformation introduced competition to the religion market, so Christians for the first time could determine which "product" (Catholicism or Protestantism) was most beneficial to them. The Catholic Counter-Reformation, in turn, introduced "product differentiation" as manifested in the development of doctrinal differences. For example, from the rituals of the Eucharist sacrament, Christians could choose either the real blood and body of Christ (Catholic) or the symbolic blood and body of Christ (Lutheran). The advent of denominationalism in the 19th century simply opened the free market of religion even more. Although the book requires some familiarity with economics, the authors supply a helpful glossary that briefly explains the more difficult terms. The authors' controversial ideas are sure to arouse some debate about the nature of the Christian religion. (Nov.)
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Edition details

• Publisher: Mit Pr
• Publication date: 2006
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 026205082X
• ISBN 13: 9780262050821
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 355