Ross Gittins, the Sydney Morning Herald’s Economics Editor, suggested this in his editorial over the Easter Weekend. In what appears to be an attempt to flow with the spirit of the holiday, holy and otherwise, Mr Gittins makes some extraordinary and largely un-educated claims.

He should have asked this question: Does it really? Ross Gittins argument appears to rest by and large on a book written by Roy Williams, who is obviously concerned with decline in religious belief in the Australian community. Now, to get it straight, I don’t agree with his critics who claim that Christianity has only had little or marginal influence over our country. Undoubtedly it has, as a result of predominantly white European colonisation, had an enormous influence, both good and bad. However to state so adamantly that Economics rests on a Christian foundation seriously neglects ancient and modern history.

Here’s a quick history, Mr Gittins
From the very moment humans engaged in the agricultural revolution some 11,000 years ago, economic principals took shape, essentially in the most simple form of supply and demand. Now given that Christianity is but 2000 years old we’re missing a large chunk of human endeavour and thought about what we call economics.

Mr. Gittins ignores much of Middle Eastern, and Far Eastern history and influence, on the emergence of both formal and informal ideas in Western economic thinking.
Most Christian scholars were, and still are, heavily influenced by Greco-Roman philosophers, such as Aristotle, Plato and Socrates, not to mention the Stoics.

Laws preceded the Bible by Millenia
Ross Gittins acknowledges that all market economies rest on law, but the process of law was established long before Christianity emerged to take its place in the World. In fact, as I said earlier, much of the Christian tradition and law has its roots in other forms of thought, both religious and secular. This does in no way diminish what Jesus taught in his ministry around Galilee, especially his additional commandment that ‘we should love each other,’ something completely missing in most economic theory and practice.

Any discerning observer will be aware that our current economic policies have more in common with Ayn Rand’s philosophy than any form of Christianity. Rand, by the way, was unashamedly an atheist and made no bones about the fact she considered altruism a nonsense, and that our system works best when we act on self-interest .
Now, if our current economy rests on Christian foundations, shaped by Ayn Rand, than it is truly time that Jesus returns to cleanse the Temple.
Another interesting and erroneous suggestion, is that Ross Gittins seems to argue that one can not be ethical, or moral if not influenced by Christianity. Again, this is not substantiated by either history nor philosophy.

What’s this got to do with Masculinity?
So why am I writing a blog about Economics and Christianity in a blog about ‘Making Good Men Great’?

There are several reasons. The first is that when we are in leadership positions, like Ross Gittins, we have a responsibility to the truth, not opinion presented as the truth. A more scholarly position would have Ross Gittins realise that economics is much more related to patriarchy, than a spiritual belief like Christianity.

Another reason why it is important, is that we need to be able to critically analyse and reflect on, what we are presented. We also need to have a framework from which we can understand, that which is being analysed and critiqued. In this instance it’s appreciating the complex relationships from philosophical, historical and contemporary perspectives that I talk about in Making Good Men Great..

I’m reminded of Tony Benn’s words that leadership, subjected to the whims of opinion and public sway, becomes a weathercock. Weathercock’s will spin in whatever direction the wind of public opinion may blow them, no matter what principal they may have to compromise. Weathercocks are dangerous.

What we need are signposts.
Leadership without values, such as being inclusive, democratic, distributive and co-operative, or without a sustainable vision, is a toxic combination, one that will allow an economy, and the commerce it uses, to clear-fell the social ecology that we live in. It produces a society where many are left to eek out a living in an ever changing occupational landscape, that is reactive to the financial imperative of the institutions.

For many this leads to alienation, where they are lucky to survive, with little chance to thrive.
This is important enough not to leave to just a few, but something that needs to be addressed by all of us. In the words of Robert Kennedy:

Few will have the greatness to bend
history itself; but each of us can work to
change a small portion of events, and in
the total; of all those acts will be written in
the history of this generation.

Another Making Good Men Great Mentoring Group will be run towards the end of April. For more information please call Rebecca on 02 9999 0429 or email rebecca@goodmengreat.com.