Economics for Prophets: A Primer on Concepts, Realities, and Values in Our Economic System - Softcover

Owensby, Walter L.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0802803571 ISBN 13: 9780802803573

Publisher: Ethics & Public Policy Center Inc.,U.S., 1988

Synopsis

This is a print on demand book and is therefore non- returnable.

While many people think that the role of the biblical prophets was foretelling the future, the biblical emphasis, says Walter Owenbsy, was clearly much more on their role as forthtellers of God's message in troubled times. Indeed, much of their message had to do with how economic realities of the day affected the lives of people and the nation.

In our time as well, faith has something to say about such things. That does not mean posing as economists when we are not. But it does mean knowing enough about the way our economic system functions to be able to identify the moral issues at stake within it and to enter responsibly into the public debate about the economic choices that lie before us.

Owensby has written this book to help Christians take part more confidently and effectively in the dialogue on ethics and economics. Economics for Prophets is an introduction to the subject (it assumes no previous exposure to economics studies or jargon) that takes a helpful three-step approach. It explains some of the basic concepts of our economic system, explores how these concepts function in the real world, and critiques both the concepts and their practical working out from a biblical-theological-ethical perspective.

Understanding economics can help Christians function as prophets in the true biblical sense, says Owensby — as socially aware believers who emphasize not foretelling the future, but forthtelling God's message to the world.

About this title

About the Author

Owensby is Associate Director of the public policy office of the Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C. Before assuming that post in 1985, he was director of Inter-American Designs for Economic Awareness, a program focusing on the moral issues in U.S. - Latin American relations.

Robert McAfee Brown was a well-known theologian, writer, teacher, and social activist. He authored many books, including "The Bible Speaks to You"; "Liberation Theology: An Introductory Guide"; "Reclaiming the Bible"; "Religion and Violence"; "Theology in a New Key"; and, a novel, "Dark the Night, Wild the Sea", all published by Westminster John Knox Press.

Edition details

• Publisher: Ethics & Public Policy Center Inc.,U.S.
• Publication date: 1988
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0802803571
• ISBN 13: 9780802803573
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 220