How A Biblical View of Work Already Changed the World
In this heated election cycle, economics has become a highly contested issue. From Bernie Sanders’ socialist leanings to Ted Cruz’s flat tax plan, leading candidates argue that their economic principles will foster life, liberty, and happiness for the American people.
Candidates draw their economic policies from broader worldviews that undergird their campaigns, the ramifications of which will profoundly affect our daily lives. As we evaluate our electoral options, I wonder if we’ve fully considered how these worldviews — and the way they shape economic policy — will affect human flourishing.
Recently, nationally-known economist Jerry Bowyer joined Vocation Group members for a special luncheon to discuss how worldviews shape economic policy, and more specifically, how a biblical view of work has impacted global economy throughout history.
Using 2,000 years of economic data, Bowyer demonstrated how members of the working class (anyone who wasn’t wealthy, a philosopher, or an artist) lived a “nasty, brutish, and short” existence until the sacredness of diverse callings was reasserted in the sixteenth century.
Enjoy to this audio recording of his presentation to discover how economic principles espoused by Protestant theologians like Luther and Calvin elevated entrepreneurship, innovation, and manufacturing — a shift that fueled the most dramatic economic expansion in human history.
This presentation was recorded as part of the “Lunch & Learn” series, quarterly conversations with leading business and community leaders, open to Vocation Group members only.
If you’d like to take advantage of these exciting opportunities, consider joining one of the 15 Vocation Groups serving a range of industries across the metro area. To learn more, or to find a group near you, contact Joanna Meyer at joanna.meyer@denverinstitute.org.