Professor Nelson's Books (3): Reaching for Heaven on Earth

Reaching for Heaven on Earth: The Theological Meaning of Economics
Lanham, Md.: Rowman & Littlefield, l99l; paperback 1993

a. Book Description

. . . this is the most profound book on the boundary of theology and economics in the past couple of decades. It has a depth of perspective, a scope of scholarship and a discernment that is rare in this field. Christian Century

b. Amazon Editorial Review

From Library Journal

Theology and economics appear to be unrelated subjects--one based upon faith, the other upon fact. Nelson, however, declares that economics is grounded not in scientific fact, but in a faith in economic progress. Economic theology preaches that the root of all evil is economic scarcity, and that the removal of economic scarcity will create a "heaven on earth." Beginning with a look at Aristotle and Plato, the author moves through economic history to the theories of economists John Maynard Keynes, Paul Anthony Samuelson, and Milton Friedman. In a closing section, he notes that humanity's faith in economic progress has been shaken by events in the 20th century like the development of the atomic bomb. While Nelson's treatment of the subject is well organized and researched, his book's appeal may be limited to those interested in an in-depth study of the history of economic thought. For large religion and economics collections.

Joanna M. Thompson, Bluefield State Coll., W.Va.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

...this is the most profound book on the boundary of theology and economics in the past couple of decades. It has a depth of perspective, a scope of scholarship and a discernment that is rare in this field. (Christian Century )

...well-organized and researched...an in-depth study of the history of economic thought. (Library Journal )

Economists can learn a lot about their 'science' by reading this book, and, at the same time, enjoy the experience. (James M. Buchanan )

This is the sort of thought-provoking book that every member of ACE should read and consider ....I recommend Nelson highly.... (The Bulletin Of The Association Of Christian Economists )

... it squarely confronts the fact that the intelligible value of economic theology-Progress-is itself now in crisis.... (Reason )

Nelson can be commended for attempting such a wide-ranging survey of Western intellectual thought and for challenging readers to evaluate for themselves the place of modern economic analysis in the scheme of intellectual inquiry. Robert A. Black --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

c. Related Article

"Annual Review--"Sustainability, Efficiency and God: Economic Values and the Sustainability Debates.", Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics. Vol.26, pp. 135054 (1995).