Money as God? : The Monetization of the Market and its Impact on Religion, Politics, Law, and Ethics

A fascinating interdisciplinary study of the impact of the monetization of market transactions on all aspects of our social, political, legal and spiritual lives. This book brings together economists, theologians, historians, political scientists and lawyers to develop a comprehensive view of the nature and the social role of money.

The nature of money and its impact on society has long interested scholars of economics, history, philosophy, law, and theology alike, and the recent financial crisis has moved these issues to the forefront of current public debate. In this study, authors from a range of backgrounds provide a unified examination of the nature and the purpose of money. Chapters cover the economic and social foundations of money; the historical origins of money in ancient Greece, China, the ancient Middle East, and medieval Europe; problems of justice connected to the use of money in legal systems and legal settlements, with examples both from ancient history and today; and theological aspects of monetary and market exchange. This stimulating interdisciplinary book, with its nontechnical and lively discussion, will appeal to a global readership working in the interfaces of economics, law and religion.