Suchergebnisse

The Westview series Case Studies in International Affairs stems from a major project of The Pew Charitable Trusts entitled "The Pew Diplomatic Initiative." Launched in 1985, this project has sought to improve the teaching and practice of negotiation through adoption of the case method of teaching, principally in professional schools of international affairs in the United States.

This is a one-of-kind volume bringing together leading scholars in the economics of religion for the first time. The treatment of topics is interdisciplinary, comparative, as well as global in nature. Scholars apply the economics of religion approach to contemporary issues such as immigrants in the United States and ask historical questions such as why did Judaism as a religion promote investment in education? The economics of religion applies economic concepts (for example, supply and demand) and models of the market to the study of religion. Advocates of the economics of religion approach look at ways in which the religion market influences individual choices as well as institutional development. For example, economists would argue that when a large denomination declines, the religion is not supplying the right kind of religious good that appeals to the faithful. Like firms, religions compete and supply goods. The economics of religion approach using rational choice theory, assumes that all human beings, regardless of their cultural context, their socio-economic situation, act rationally to further his/her ends. The wide-ranging topics show the depth and breadth of the approach to the study of religion.

A consideration of the link between religion & economic development focuses on theologian John Wesley's (1703-1791) notion that economic growth undermined religion. At issue is whether this assertion is true &, if so, whether it is inevitable. Discussion begins with a look at the two-way causation between religion & economic development, using the indicators education, value of time, life expectancy, & urbanization. The link between economic performance & religious violence is then examined. It is argued that Wesley's conclusion need not be absolutely the case. D. Edelman