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Encounters With God: Rabbinic Stories And What We Can Learn From Them, Hershey H. Friedman, Linda Weiser Friedman

Journal of Religion and Business Ethics

Storytelling skills are an indispensable way of teaching people lessons. Unlike case histories that are limited to facts, stories can stir emotions and arouse the audience's passion. This may be why stories, even fiction, have been used to teach ethics/Mussar. The sages of the Talmud were not historians; they told stories—fascinating ones. The Rabbinic stories involving God are a clever device to teach various lessons about the Divine. Several of the above narratives demonstrate conclusively how the legal system based on the Torah is supposed to work. The stories are also designed to show that God cares about people and …

What Is A Just Wage? The Fight For $15 And The Limits Of Philosophical Ethics, Kyle P. Hubbard

Journal of Religion and Business Ethics

The Fight for $15 movement has reinvigorated the push for every worker in the U.S. to be paid a living wage. In order to be more widely accepted, the movement requires a convincing argument for at least three claims: (1) Every worker deserves a living wage that provides for the worker’s flourishing beyond mere survival, (2) The living wage must be enough for the worker to provide for his or her family because the worker is not a mere individual, (3) This wage must be paid by the direct employer, at least to some extent, because the wage communicates value …

Teaching Negotiation Skills: A Cross-Cultural Hiring Role-Play Activity, Todd M. Inouye, Anna L. Mcnab, Vincent Agnello

Journal of Religion and Business Ethics

As social beings, negotiation skills are important for both our personal and professional lives, from resolving an argument with a spouse to negotiating the terms of employment. Skilled negotiators in business are able to resolve differences before they escalate and are value maximizers for their organizations when dealing with suppliers, clients, and co-workers. Mastering negotiations also leads to better relationships in people’s personal lives as they navigate conflict resolution in a more trustworthy and thoughtful manner.

Teaching negotiation skills though role-playing in a safe academic environment allows students to gain much needed confidence, which is critical for success as they …

Blood Is Not Always Thicker Than Water: A Family Business Case Study, Hai Ta, Todd M. Inouye, Shih-Jen Kathy Ho, Vincent Agnello

Journal of Religion and Business Ethics

According to the US Census Bureau, 90% of businesses in the U.S. are family-owned or controlled. Unfortunately, the succession rates for family-owned businesses are dismal. Only 30% survive a transfer from the founder to a child and only 11% survive a second transfer to the third generation. Two major factors that contribute to this are lack of succession planning and failure to deal with family conflict, both of which are management failures and are often intertwined. Failure to properly manage the family fosters a sense of unfairness, unequal workload, and perhaps a free-rider problem among family members. This not only …

The Relationship Between Spirituality And Greed: Sex Matters, Alan G. Walker, Ian S. Mercer

Journal of Religion and Business Ethics

Abstract

Organizational malfeasance is oftentimes attributed to greed (Hansen & Movahedi, 2010). Such attributions appear appropriate given recent research demonstrating relationships between greed and shareholder return (Hayes et al., 2017). However, research exploring antecedents of greed is scant. We explored one such antecedent by examining the relationship between participants’ spirituality and a trait measure of greed. Results indicated that individuals’ spirituality explained unique variance in greed above that variance explained by sex (being a male) and college major (being a business major) - which have well-established relationships with unethical outcomes. This finding suggests that (a) spirituality was a precursor to …

Towards A Normative Philosophical Foundation For Management: Contributions From The Catholic Faith Tradition, Christina Kheng

Journal of Religion and Business Ethics

In recent years, there have been increasing efforts to improve management in the Catholic Church. Whilst positive outcomes have been observed, a key challenge is that the accompanying pastoral education and resource materials sometimes conflict with the Church’s theological tradition particularly regarding human work, ethics, and the view of reality. This article notes that a wider debate exists over the principles, effectiveness, and even legitimacy of management per se. It argues that the road to resolution has to begin at the level of philosophical foundations, and that this can be normative for management in both Church and society. An outline …

Sin In Business And Business In Sin: Negative Externalities, Total Depravity, And Freedom From Perfection, Kathryn D. Blanchard

Journal of Religion and Business Ethics

It is not difficult to find examples of sin in business. These include blatant individual sins like theft or fraud, as well as larger systemic failures such as negative social and ecological externalities. It is a task of Christian business ethics to address such failures, but we invariably come up against problems that defy easy solutions, no matter how scrupulously we try to root them out. This is because business itself—like all human life—exists under conditions of sin. The Calvinist notion of total depravity reframes “sin in business” as “business in sin,” necessitating greater humility about the possibility of good …

Fides Et Ratio: Saint John Paul Ii On The Ground Of Business Ethics, Jim Wishloff

Journal of Religion and Business Ethics

The question of the proper conduct of business is probed by undertaking an in-depth examination of Saint John Paul II’s encyclical Fides et Ratio in conjunction with the entire corpus of Catholic social thought. Business culture arising from the understanding of reality offered by a philosophy of being and Christian revelation is contrasted with that developed out of the modern mind’s rejection of the synthesis of faith and reason.

Greed, Self-Interest And Business Ethics – A Comparative Discussion Of Gandhi And Novak, Daniel Cheung, Jacob N. Bauer

Journal of Religion and Business Ethics

Today it is commonly believed that capitalism is driven by greed. However, greed is condemned by various religious traditions. In this paper we compare how Mahatma Gandhi, a Hindu, and Michael Novak, a Catholic, see the possibilities of engaging in competitive business practice without the motive of greed. This discussion suggests a need to distinguish greed from self-interest. We therefore analyze whether it makes a difference in moral evaluation to claim that the real driving force of capitalism is self-interest but not greed. Our analysis makes use of the rational-care theory of self-interest developed by Stephen Darwall, the discussion of …

Sin And The Hacker Ethic: The Tragedy Of Techno-Utopian Ideology In Cyberspace Business Cultures, Bruce D. Baker

Journal of Religion and Business Ethics

This article traces the course of idealistic thinking in the “hacker ethic” of the computer industry, with the aim of diagnosing the unfortunate lapses in business ethics that can ensue from idealistic thinking. Several Silicon Valley companies are mentioned, but Facebook is the prime example, simply because they are the biggest target and clearest example of bad ethics. The original “hacker ethic” was founded on admirable ideals, but the problem occurs when these ideals are used to rationalize a self-serving ideology. Facebook’s history shows how idealistic thinking can become embedded in a business culture. As an antidote to the ethical …

Higher Education Industry Consolidation: Where Does It Leave Students?, Todd M. Inouye Ph.D., Vincent Agnello J.D.

Journal of Religion and Business Ethics

Mount Ida College, operating as a private non-profit higher education institution, permanently closed on May 17, 2018 after giving six weeks of notice to its existing and recently accepted students. Mount Ida College had two campuses, a small one in Foxboro, Massachusetts and its main campus in Newton, Massachusetts. The Newton campus was sold to the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and students in good standing were offered automatic acceptance to UMass Dartmouth. Soon afterwards a class action lawsuit was filed by students against Mount Ida College, the Board of Trustees, and seven college administrators based on seven legal claims: breach …

Wesley, ‘Holy Tempers’, And Commercial Practice, Kevin J. Brown

Journal of Religion and Business Ethics

In the early 18^th Century, it was satirist Bernard Mandeville who suggested that private vice led to public virtue. More specifically, baser human qualities such as avarice, greed, envy, and pride were said to mobilize the industrial forces in a manner that spurred economic growth and efficiency, an outcome seemingly beneficial to all. While few would argue for vice on such terms today, this article suggests that a neo-Mandevillian argument has found its way into our present context. This argument contends that it is virtue, not vice, that actually services economic growth. Importantly, this manner for animating virtue maintains …

Pacioli, Popes, And The Bottom Billion: A Timeless Perspective On Economic Development, Charles J. Coate, Mark C. Mitschow, Ryan O'Connor

Journal of Religion and Business Ethics

In 1494 Luca Pacioli, Franciscan friar, published Summa de Arithmetica Geometria Proportioni et Proportionalita (The Summa). Simply put, The Summa was an early business textbook comprised of five sections; four of mathematics and one of bookkeeping (or accounting). A textbook written to support the economic development of the common person of 1500 Italy. Today developing nations still struggle with economic (often low) growth. Especially impacted are the bottom billion, those who are still largely impoverished. Consequently, a debate over foreign aid has emerged. This debate centers on methods rather than objectives and is often characterized by the …

The Business Of Double-Effect: The Ethics Of Bankruptcy Protection And The Principle Of Double-Effect, Henry S. Kuo

Journal of Religion and Business Ethics

After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, most legacy airlines filed for bankruptcy protection as a way to cut costs drastically, with the exception of American Airlines. This article applies the Principle of Double-Effect to the act of filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for reasons of management strategy, in particular, cost-cutting. It argues that the Principle can be a useful tool for discerning the ethicality of the action, and demonstrates the usefulness by proposing three double-effect criteria that, when fulfilled, argues for the ethical justifiability the action in question.

Greed, A Forgotten Vice?, Kwok Tung Cheung

Journal of Religion and Business Ethics

There is a surprising lack of discussion on greed in business ethics. Whether in popular textbooks or in the literature, there is hardly any philosophical explication of greed. In this paper, I investigate the popular idea that greedy people desire more and more, the Christian idea of avarice as in the seven deadly sins, and Aristotle’s idea of pleonexia which has incorporated a condition of justice. These three different ideas are respectively psychological, metaphysical and socio-political. I propose the three of them should be integrated to give a concept of greed that is relevant and useful in the contemporary world …

Progress And Redemption: A Jewish Values Critique Of Steven Pinker's "Enlightenment Now", Moses L. Pava Dr.

Journal of Religion and Business Ethics

Progress and Redemption:

A Jewish Values Critique of Steven Pinker’s Enlightenment Now

ABSTRACT

Steven Pinker’s book, Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress, tells a provocative story. The central thesis is that about three hundred years ago human values and practices began to coalesce in ways that have allowed humans to live longer, healthier, safer, and more productive lives. Particularly convincing to the reader are the measured data and informative tables Pinker uses throughout the text to illustrate and to confirm his story of exponential human progress. He tracks the changes to a broad set of …

Addressing The Anthropology Of Business Ethics: Insights From Catholic Social Thought, Stephanie Ann Y. Puen

Journal of Religion and Business Ethics

This paper proposes an alternate anthropology as seen in the Vocation of a Business Leader, a document on business and Catholic social thought, which responds to the question of what good economics and business ethics is, and the Economy of Communion, that seeks to live such an anthropology out concretely in business. This anthropology is grounded in an understanding of the human being that focuses on relationality, the common good, solidarity, and subsidiarity, which undergirds a communitarian model of business. Such a communitarian model of business is more line with the public’s expectation of business as a social force for …

Journeying From Economic Violence Toward Justice, Jessica L. Imanaka, Catherine Punsalan-Manlimos

Journal of Religion and Business Ethics

This paper takes the two fundamental issues identified by Pope Francis in Evangelii Guadium (EG) and developed in Laudato Si’ (LS), “the inclusion of the poor in society, and …peace and social dialogue” (EG 185) as the central concerns to be addressed. Pope Francis’ writings invite inquiry into the nature and potentials of states and markets, structural dimensions of justice, global systems and economic violence. This study explores the nature of economic violence and how economic systems might be organized to promote or reduce violence. Following Charles Clark’s account of Francis’ characterization of poverty and economy in terms of exclusion …

Academic Service Learning And Society: From Individual To Institutional, Niall Hegarty, John P. Angelidis

Journal of Religion and Business Ethics

This paper examines how Academic Service Learning (ASL) has gone from being an initiative by individual faculty to being institutionalized by universities as means to promote learning, pursue mission, and impact society. It outlines various uses of ASL by individual faculty and examines its progression into a university sponsored service-learning vessel of vision and mission. Its use acknowledges the interconnectedness of universities and society and emphasizes the need and obligation that universities feel, or should feel, in contributing to the betterment of the world we live in. In terms of being a university-sponsored initiative it highlights its use in the …

Of Vice And Virtue: Religious And Moral Rhetoric In The Business Press And The Economic Crisis, Eric Patton

Journal of Religion and Business Ethics

Theologians have noted that there are links that exist between religion and business in terms of terminology and imagery. Researchers in business ethics have regularly highlighted religion as a lens through which ethics issues can be understood. Researchers in social psychology have underlined the role of religion for coping with tragedy and uncertainty. The purpose of this study is to bridge these three ideas by exploring religious and moral rhetoric surrounding the financial crisis of the late 2000s. Through a content analysis of news stories in the New York Times concerning the economy and finance, this study demonstrates that in …

Work-Life Expectations Of Christian Millennials, Jenny R. Main, Emily R. Lean

Journal of Religion and Business Ethics

As more and more Millennials reject a religious label, we are curious as to whether those who have faith are somehow different, not only in their spiritual lives but in their work lives as well. This study analyzes the supposedly declining work ethic of Millennials and aims to determine if Christian Millennials differ from their peers. We found a significant difference in the work values and work ethic scores between Christians and non-Christians. These results seem to support the idea that religion has a noticeable influence on individual work ethic.

Acedia And The Economy: The Proper Work Of Wayfarers, Jim Wishloff Dr.

Journal of Religion and Business Ethics

An exploration of acedia, a capital vice opposed to the theological virtue of charity, in contemporary commercial society is undertaken. Saint Thomas Aquinas’ understanding of acedia is retrieved and the cultural implications of acedia’s deep entrenchment in our lives are drawn out. Business actions brought about by acedia are assessed from an ethical perspective. The study concludes by looking at how charity ought to inform the work people are called to do.

Catholic Social Thought In Catholic Business Schools In The U.S. Today: A Survey And Conclusions, Andrew B. Gustafson, Matthew Mccarville

Journal of Religion and Business Ethics

When it comes to religion and business ethics, Catholic Schools have a uniquely important position in that they are institutions generally founded in support of religious values which in turn supposedly impact the content and method of teaching of business (and business ethics). Catholic business schools claim to have a distinctiveness which gives them an advantage over non-Catholic business schools (Spitzer, 2010; Lowney, 2012). It is clear that Catholic schools are better than their peers at providing business ethics education in their curriculum. But it also appears that many Catholic business schools and departments consider their business ethics education one …

The Moderating Effect Of Religiosity On The Relation Between Moral Intensity And Moral Awareness, Randi L. Sims, George D. Bingham

Journal of Religion and Business Ethics

The study investigated the importance of religiosity in the moral decision making process. Using social cognition theory as a basis, we proposed that greater religiosity would be expected to influence the vividness, salience, and accessibility of the moral content in a situation, both from a focus on social norms, and in the sensitivity towards negative outcomes impacting others. We used a random block, mixed quasi-experimental design, with both within-subjects and between-subjects components. Moral intensity was manipulated in high and low harm conditions for four ethical scenarios presented. Completed surveys were returned by 372 adult respondents (average age = 47). Findings …

Privacy Ethics In Biblical Literature, Benjamin Glass, E. Susanna Cahn

Journal of Religion and Business Ethics

This paper combines modern legal scholars' and biblical literature's treatment of a right to privacy. Beginning with a reassessment of Warren & Brandeis' "right to be let alone" as the first legal treatment of a right to privacy, the authors explore the right to privacy’s roots in ancient ethical standards. This is done via a study of privacy as it is treated in biblical literature. What emerge are two themes that are central to ethical decision-making with regard to privacy. The first is that breaches of privacy are irreversible, an idea that is informative as to why privacy is valued …

Religious Ethics And Socially Responsible Behaviors Of Small Firms In Nepal, Binod Krishna Shrestha

Journal of Religion and Business Ethics

Exploration on moral or ethical managerial behavior has become imperative to generate discussion on solving social and economic problems of the society while encouraging business people to make profit from their businesses. This study explored the extent of fulfillment of responsibilities as prescribed by religious values in the consumptions, business practices and uses of wealth using Hindu’s and Buddhist's principles of business ethics by small firm owners. The research began with review of literature on Hindu (Vedic) and Buddhist principles. A survey on 300 respondents found that owners of small firms have positive attitude towards pursuing the religious principles of …

A Postmodernist Theologian's Critique Of Capitalism, Clive Beed, Cara Beed

Journal of Religion and Business Ethics

Radically Orthodox theologians believe they are developing an operative Christian economics qualitatively different from the economics with which Christian economists are familiar. Some use postmodernist concepts, relating to desire and power. This paper evaluates a leading exponent of this thesis, Daniel Bell Jr., in his 2012 Economy of Desire, a book so far overlooked in Christian economics discussion. This paper contends that Bell does not take the case for an alternative Christian economics further than where earlier Christian economists had reached, that postmodernist concepts do not illuminate the issues, and that his critique of capitalism does not lead to clear-cut …

The Intersection Of Religiosity, Workplace Spirituality And Ethical Sensitivity In Practicing Accountants, Joshua Sauerwein

Journal of Religion and Business Ethics

A broad range of ethical decisions cross the desk of practicing accountants everyday. Rest and Narvaez (1994) theorized that ethical sensitivity is influenced by personal factors such as religion. Using Rest’s theory, this study found that workplace spirituality was positively related to ethical sensitivity and extrinsic religiosity was negatively related to ethical sensitivity. In additional analysis significant associations were found between the meaning an accountant ascribes to their job and ethical sensitivity. Significant differences in ethical sensitivity were also observed across the accountant’s role. The results of this study provide evidence that religion and spirituality are associated with ethical sensitivity …

Greenwashing In Islamic Finance? An Analysis Of Islamic Private Banks' Non-Financial Reports And A Proposal For An Islamic Finance Reporting Initiative Standard, Stefan Leins, Peter Seele, Franziska Vogel

Journal of Religion and Business Ethics

Since the beginning of the financial crisis in 2008, Islamic finance has been subject to a number of intriguing debates. While evidence suggests that Islamic private banks got through the imponderabilities of the financial crisis more easily than conventional banks, Islamic finance has been criticized by some as incapable of performing the functions of modern banking. Moreover, there has been a debate among academics as well as among practitioners whether Islamic finance indeed represents a new faith-based form of banking or whether it represents just a conventional way of banking that is based on the use of religious terminology. Against …

Religion And Fairness In The Ultimatum Game: Examining Mennonite Beliefs And Actions, Chris D. Gingrich, Ryan Swartzentruber, Jessica H. Kraybill

Journal of Religion and Business Ethics

This study examines religion's impact on ultimatum game outcomes by focusing on Mennonite students, faculty, and staff at Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) in Virginia, USA. Despite doctrinal statements emphasizing community and material concern for the poor, Mennonite offers in the game are not statistically different from other Christian groups. However, there is some indication that the mean offer in this particular sample exceeds those in existing studies. One possible reason for the higher offers could be the EMU campus ethos that emphasizes social justice issues. Also, the higher offer values suggest increased altruism if Proposers correctly foresaw that Responders would …