The Association of Christian Economists

An Academic Society for Christians in the Economics Profession

  • Home
  • About ACE
    • Donate to ACE
  • Faith & Economics
    • Aims and Scope
    • Instructions for Authors
    • Archives
  • Podcast
  • Membership
    • My Account
    • Join ACE
  • Log In

ACE Event: Paul Oslington on Adam Smith’s Economics of Religion

This week we have a recording of a lecture delivered at the 2020 ASSA meetings in San Diego. At that conference, the association of Christian economists sponsored two sessions, and the one I will highlight here was a series of talks on Adam Smith and religion. In this episode, Paul Oslington gives a short talk about Adam Smith’s writing on the economics of religion. 

Oslington argues that while Smith did not formulate a comprehensive theory of the economics of religion, that if you gather his writing about the state church, religious competition, clergy pay, and related topics, a surprisingly sophisticated account emerges. For those of you who are interested in Adam Smith’s thinking, or in the economics of religion, this short talk will be intriguing.

Paul Oslington is a longtime member of the Association of Christian Economics, is a member of the editorial board for Faith & Economics, and is an important name for those working at the intersection of economics and theology. He is currently Dean of business and professor of economics at Alphacrucis College in Sydney, Australia. 

This lecture comes out of a chapter that was written for the Routledge Handbook of Economic Theology.

An early draft of this chapter can be found here.

Abstract:
Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations provides an economic analysis of the provision of religious education and aspects of the church, picking up on his friend David Hume’s discussion of church establishment in his History of England.  Smith and Hume of course are not alone, for economic arguments about church establishment, toleration of other religious groups, financial support of clergy, and related issues, were deployed by Richard Hooker, William Warburton, William Paley, Josiah Tucker, Jeremy Bentham, Edmund Burke, Richard Whately, Thomas Chalmers, and others.  Their philosophical framework and arguments, however are quite different to those employed in the contemporary rational choice economics of religion.  Smith argues, against Hume, for the virtues of religious competition, for voluntary contributions alongside state support of religion, and limited democracy in relation to church appointments.  A properly constituted religious market Smith suggests will generate benefits for society.  Smith’s arguments about religious competition are connected to his larger philosophical framework, in particular his understanding of the fall and divine providence.

Listen Here

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Tumblr
  • Pocket
  • Print
December 2, 2020

Post navigation

ACE Event: Edd Noell on Smith and the Scholastics on the Morality of Markets → ← Denise Daniels on Christian Higher Education

Journal and Website Search

Browse Recent Articles

Editor’s Introduction: COVID-19 and Economic Calculation

Faith & EconomicsNUMBER 75, Spring 2020 Editor’s Introduction: COVID-19 and Economic Calculation Steven McMullenHope CollegeExecutive Editor, Faith & Economics Full-Text PDF

More Info

“Ye Cannot Serve God and Mammon”: An Institutional Interpretation of the Gospels – Walker Wright

FAITH & ECONOMICSNUMBER 74, Fall 2019 “Ye Cannot Serve God and Mammon”: An Institutional Interpretation of the Gospels Walker WrightJohns Hopkins University Abstract: Jesus’ [...]

More Info

Symposium on Aquinas and the Market

FAITH & ECONOMICSNUMBER 74, Fall 2019 SYMPOSIUM ON AQUINAS AND THE MARKET: TOWARD A HUMANE ECONOMY BY MARY HIRSCHFELD Complete Symposium PDF Prudently Preserving the Rational Choice [...]

More Info

A Conversation with Brian Griffiths – Smith and Smith

FAITH & ECONOMICSNUMBER 74, Fall 2019 A Conversation with Brian Griffiths Stephen L. S. Smith and Thomas M. Smith Hope College This is a lightly edited transcript of an interview […]

More Info

The Political Economy of Brexit – Griffiths

FAITH & ECONOMICSNUMBER 74, Fall 2019 The Political Economy of Brexit Brian GriffithsGoldman Sachs This is an extended written version of an address given to guests of Lord Griffiths at […]

More Info

Review of: Discrimination and Disparities – Principe

FAITH & ECONOMICSNUMBER 74, Fall 2019 Book Review Discrimination and DisparitiesBy Thomas Sowell Reviewed by Kristine PrincipeNiagara University Full Text PDF

More Info

Review of: Missional Economics – Hao

FAITH & ECONOMICSNUMBER 74, Fall 2019 Book Review Missional Economics: Biblical Justice and Christian FormationBy Michael Barram Reviewed by Henry HaoGordon College Full Text PDF

More Info

Review of: An Economics of Justice & Charity – Dadzie

FAITH & ECONOMICSNUMBER 74, Fall 2019 Book Review An Economics of Justice & Charity: Catholic Social Teaching, Its Development and Contemporary RelevanceBy Thomas Storck Reviewed by [...]

More Info

Feedback

Any questions or feedback regarding site content or your membership account can be sent to the ACE webmaster.

Navigation

  • My Account
    • Membership Billing
    • Membership Cancel
    • Membership Checkout
    • Membership Confirmation
    • Membership Invoice
    • Join ACE
  • About ACE
    • Donate to ACE
  • Faith & Economics
    • Aims and Scope
    • Archives
    • Instructions for Authors
  • Membership
  • Home
  • Archives – Old Issues
  • Podcast

Connect with ACE

Powered by WordPress | theme SG Double