While I was a grad student an essay of mine was included in a special publication of the Journal of Business Ethics, published by the Philosophy Documentation Center (Stewart W. Herman & Arthur G. Schaefer, Editors).

“The essays in this collection were developed by scholars expert in their own religious traditions, and were written to explain how those traditions intersect with the practices of business. While there have been other collections that attempt to relate faith to business, none has posed a common set of questions to contributors representing such a broad set of religious traditions. These include the Buddhist, Christian (Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, African-American Protestant, Baptist, Evangelical, Lutheran, Mennonite, and Mormon), Jewish, and Muslim traditions.

“These essays helpfully present the particular sources and thought patterns of each religious tradition, and illuminate their respective values, belief structures and patterns of moral reasoning. Topics covered include: product safety and liability, downsizing and closures; the charging or receiving of interest; privacy in the workplace; contingent workers; bribery; and women in the workplace. This collection of essays will help deepen the bonds of mutual respect within increasingly diverse religious traditions in business organizations.

“The collection will serve a variety of audiences. For academic researchers the essays offer a set of historical claims and contemporary interpretations to use in formulating hypotheses about the ways believers interpret their involvement in business. For business practitioners the essays open up windows into the faith-worlds inhabited by those who work around them. And for those struggling to connect their work lives with their spiritual lives, these essays will offer resonances with organized religion to help them cope with the pressures of the business world.”

Choice, October 2001.

“Each article and religious tradition views business as a legitimate, socially useful human activity, but one that also intersects with higher spiritual and moral values. Helpful essays providing general background on each tradition and the way in which the tradition approaches the field of business are included, along with case studies of how the particular religious tradition approaches one or more issues in modern business activity. … An excellent source book for all.”

Reviews

David C. Smith, Council for Ethics in Economics

“The collection will be helpful to business people who wish to be sensitive to persons of diverse faiths amidst the globalization of capital and commerce.”

Table of Contents

• George Brenkert, Preface
• Stewart W. Herman and Arthur Gross Schaefer, Introduction
• Stewart W. Herman, “From the Truly Real to Spiritual Wisdom: Religious Perspectives on Business Practice”
• Bodhipaksa, “Reinventing the Wheel: A Buddhist Approach to Ethical Work”
• Judith White, “Interdependence: The Core of a Buddhist Perspective on Business Ethics”
• Barbara Hilkert Andolsen, “Roman Catholic Tradition and Ritual and Business Ethics: A Feminist Perspective”
• Dennis P. McCann, “Catholic Social Teaching in an Era of Downsizing: A Resource for Business Ethics”
• Manuel Velasquez, “Catholic Natural Law and Business Ethics”
• Stanley S. Harakas, “Economic Life, Property, Work, and Business Ethics in an Eastern Orthodox Perspective”
• F. Neil Brady and Warner Woodworth, “A Mormon Perspective on Business and Economics”
• Darryl M. Trimiew and Michael Greene, “How We Got Over: The Economic Ethics of the African-American Church”
• Daniel B. McGee, “Business Ethics Among Baptists: A Story of Competing Visions”
• Shirley J. Roels, “The Business Ethics of Evangelicals”
• James M. Childs, Jr., “Lutheran Perspectives on Ethical Business in an Age of Downsizing”
• James Halteman, “A Mennonite Approach to Business Ethics”
• Jamal A. Badawi, “Islamic Business Ethics”
• Abdulaziz Sachedina, “The Issue of Riba in Islamic Faith and Law”
• Elliot N. Dorff, “Judaism, Business, and Privacy”
• Ronald M.Green, “Guiding Principles of Jewish Ethics”
• Laurie Zoloth, “Her Work Sings Her Praise: A Framework for a Feminist Jewish Ethic of Economic Life”