Marketplace of Christianity (The MIT Press) - Softcover

Ekelund; Robert B; Jr

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0262550717 ISBN 13: 9780262550710

Publisher: The MIT Press, 2008

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

Review:

"Consistently insightful and provocative,

"Ekelund, Hebert, and Tollison have written a lucid, cutting-edge treatment of religion and economics. An accessible book for students in a variety of disciplines and for readers with a wide range of interests."--Robert Barro and Rachel McCleary, Harvard University

"This book will be interesting and informative, both for atheists like myself and for religious believers, regardless of their denomination."--Gordon Tullock, University Professor of Law and Economics, George Mason University

"Consistently insightful and provocative, "The Marketplace of Christianity" demonstrates the catholicity of the economic model of rational human behavior by applying it to the consumers and suppliers of religious beliefs. Illuminating the history of the Church and the evolution of its central doctrines from the Reformation to modern times, Ekelund, Hebert, and Tollison make an original and important contribution to the literature of the social sciences, one that is accessible to economists and noneconomists alike."--William F. Shughart II, F.A.P. Barnard Distinguished Professor of Economics and holder of the Robert M. Hearin Chair, University of Mississippi

Synopsis:

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. "The Marketplace of Christianity" applies the tools of economic theory (first providing the reader with clear and nontechnical background information on economics and the economics of religion) 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.

About this edition

• Publisher: The MIT Press
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0262550717
• ISBN 13: 9780262550710
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 368