Main content

The Business of Religion

If the love of money is the root of all evil, as the Bible says, how an earth do religious institutions find the cash they need?

If the love of money is the root of all evil, as the Bible says, how an earth do religious institutions find the cash they need? We explore the business of religion and how religious groups around the world raise and spend their money.

Rachel McCleary, who has spent years studying the interplay of business and religion at Harvard University, gives her thoughts on different world religions and fundraising.

Do different faiths encourage different attitudes to business itself? Indeed, does your religious affiliation affect how successful you are likely to be economically?

Brian Grim is a senior Researcher at Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life in Washington. Justin Rowlatt asks him to help untangle the religious and cultural factors that affect people's economic circumstances.

Mashi Rahmani is an expert on managing personnel. He runs a human resources firm based in Los Angeles and is a follower of the Bahai faith - a religion which emphasises the spiritual unity of all mankind. So does he discuss the faith of potential employees with his clients before they decide who to give jobs to?

The Catholic Church, the Church of England and other Christian denominations such as the Methodists all have strong views on making money. The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's Johny Cassidy reports on how they invest their money according to their beliefs.

Available now

18 minutes

Last on

Mon 29 Aug 2011 11:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Mon 29 Aug 2011 07:32GMT
  • Mon 29 Aug 2011 11:32GMT

Podcast