Religion and the Rise of Capitalism is a financial book by author Benjamin M. Friedman.
From one of the nation’s preeminent experts on economic policy, a critical reassessment of the foundations of modern economic thinking explores the profound influence of a hitherto unseen force. admit – religion.

Contemporary critics of economics complain that belief in the free market – among economists as well as many ordinary citizens – is a form of religion. And, it turns out, in a deeper, more grounded sense, there’s something to that idea.

Contrary to the conventional historical view of economics as a purely secular product of the Enlightenment, Benjamin M. Friedman demonstrates that religion was powerful from the start. Friedman makes it clear how the fundamental shift in thinking about what we now call economics, beginning in the 18th century, was definitively shaped by currents of religious thought. Catholicism is hotly contested in the English-speaking Protestant world. Beliefs about our God-given character, our afterlife, and our purpose in existence are all scrutinized in the world in which Adam Smith and his contemporaries lived.

Friedman explores how far those debates go in explaining the puzzling behavior of so many of our compatriots who take a stance on economic policy – and their voting behavior – seem to be at odds with their own economic interests. Unraveling the origins of the relationship between religious thinking and economic thinking, along with its ongoing consequences, Friedman provides invaluable insights into current economic policy debates. our own and presents ways to shape policies that are more practical for all citizens.

This is a well written and extremely well researched book. However, it is hard to go. The early chapters are interesting to the likes of Adam Smith and other famous writers and thinkers involved in the rise of capitalism, and the later chapters are also easier to connect with for the reader. However, the middle chapters were a bit difficult for me.
Undoubtedly, this book is well done, well researched but the sections are too academic for me.

• Religion and the Rise of Capitalism

• By: Benjamin M. Friedman

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