Until the Middle Ages, economic questions were treated from the angle of the religion and theologians were the main thinkers of economic questions. From the xvth and xvith centuries, a major shift is initiated by merchants and princes advisors. Economic thinkers are no longer from the Church or from political circles. The economy becomes a separate branch of philosophy and theology.

Although, the Bible per se is not an economics book, the Revelation has expounded economic principles that lead to humanistic economic thought. Theological Christian principles do not conflict with the sound economic principles and policies. Neo-testamentary and vetero-testamentary provides an interesting testimony of economic perceptions and enlightenment.

The Christian Theology is one of the doctrines defending the advent of social justice, modern social democracy, and the social-liberalism, where each individual is free of his destiny, assuming his moral responsibility, aware with lucidity of what his freedom implies and therefore is attentive to the solidarity concept within the society.

The social teaching designates the precepts of the Catholic Magisterium in order to reflect the Gospel in the socio-economic and political realities. The social doctrine of the Catholic Church (DSE) is based around major regulatory principles: the Human Dignity, the Common Good, the Subsidiarity and the Solidarity.

In that sense, the Christian ‘Charity’ presents a fundamental aspect for the micro-relation (family, friends and small groups) and for the macro-relation (economic, political and socio-cultural), that guarantee a healthy economic structure able to perceive efficient policies and solutions for economics dilemma and problems, ensuring the human welfare on the micro and macroeconomic levels. 

‘Economics’ aims to promote the human material welfare, and, ‘Theology’ is intended to promote the human spiritual welfare. Evidently, ‘Economics’ are connected to ‘Theology’ to promote the human welfare.

In modern times economics has become specialized and moved from seminaries and theology schools to the universities and took structure of an academic discipline. Although, ‘Economic & Theologian’ thinker was dispersed in Time and in Space, in fact, ‘Theology’ remains affecting ‘Economics’ through ‘Morality & Ethics’. The emergence of different Christian confessions and the appearance of lay economist and theologian thinkers enriched the Economic Thoughts.

Christophe Joseph ESKAF,

Economist & Theologian

M.Sc. Economics ; M.Th. Theology

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