A couple of years ago, I found myself surrounded by respected faculty colleagues, discussing a book proposal that I was preparing. The topic of the book is economics and animal ethics, an area of significant disagreement. My own convictions are well-outside the mainstream for Christian economists in the Mid-west, and I am a junior faculty member, so I was somewhat taken back when a colleague asked “Is this book going to be objective? Or will it be advocacy?” I wanted to answer “Yes.” … [Read more...] about Activism in the Academy
economics
Scholar’s Compass: Exit, Voice, and Loyalty
Reading Second Samuel 12:1-25 Reflection Last fall I took a course on institutional management theory, where I was introduced to economist Albert Hirschman, whose slim volume titled Exit, Voice, and Loyalty has seen wide-ranging influence since its publication in 1970. The book “virtually revived the field of political economy,” American Prospect editor Robert Kuttner writes in an article memorializing Hirschman, who died in late 2012. … [Read more...] about Scholar’s Compass: Exit, Voice, and Loyalty
The Jamaica Call to Action (Part 2): Ten ‘Calls’
The Jamaica Call to Action is unique not only in the two concise convictions on which the document is based (see the previous post), but also because of the comprehensive and specific ‘Calls' that make up the core of the document. These cover everything from lifestyle to theology to economics to agriculture. Here is a brief analysis of these calls and the fields of study to which they apply: For all of us: #1. A new commitment to a simple lifestyle. Lausanne actually called for a simple lifestyle in one of … [Read more...] about The Jamaica Call to Action (Part 2): Ten ‘Calls’
Q&A with Acton Institute’s Jordan Ballor (and a Free Subscription)
This summer, I posted a link to the Acton Institute's Calihan Fellowship on the ESN Facebook Page without really thinking much besides, "Oh, here's some grant money for someone out there." I never expected that it would lead to the most vigorous conversation to date on our Facebook Page, ranging from disagreements about the Acton Institute in particular to broader issues of politics, academia, and theology. This certainly caught my attention, since ESN, in general, doesn't host all that many internal controversies. … [Read more...] about Q&A with Acton Institute’s Jordan Ballor (and a Free Subscription)
Do We See the People or Their Poverty?
Kami Rice continues her guest series for the Emerging Scholars Blog about her journey to India. Since the day my high school youth group reported to our congregation about our mission trip to Brazil, when some of the other kids–some of whom had discussed, as we drove through Miami during our debriefing time, which fancy new car they wanted their parents to buy for them–poured stories into the microphone about how poor the people were, I've had an uneasy relationship with how church people talk about … [Read more...] about Do We See the People or Their Poverty?