Can Christians be Capitalists?

Alli Mealy / October 06, 2009

Last week the American Enterprise Institute hosted Jay W. Richards, visiting Fellow at the Heritage Foundation and author of the new book Money, Greed, and God: Why Capitalism is the Solution and Not the Problem. The conversation focused on why capitalism and Christianity are compatible.

Highlighting three of the eight myths surrounding capitalism he makes in his book, Richards explained the “Piety Myth”, which he defines as well-intended people ignoring unintended consequences when searching for a quick fix solution to an economic or social problem. An example of this is the United States enforcing western-style laws outlawing child labor on developing countries where children may work in less-than-ideal circumstances, but are actually safer than alternative work environment. The laws protecting children in developed countries fit their situation, but have proven to have negative consequences in other places. (more…)