God and Money

(1 Credit Hour) · Undergraduate

"The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil" (1 Tim 6:10). In this course, we examine the truth of St. Paul's claim by considering the Christian understanding of the vice of avarice (or "greed"). Is a desire to accumulate wealth or possessions compatible with one's duties as a Christian? What does God want us to do with our money? Can we be condemned for failing to give our excess wealth to those in need? Can we measure the value of a person, her daily activities, or her labor in purely monetary terms? Can the vice of avarice afflict rich and poor alike? In this seminar, we will explore such questions through a reading of selected texts from Sacred Scripture, prominent Christian theologians, papal encyclicals, and secular as well as non-Christian authors that focus on the morally appropriate attitude toward wealth accumulation as well as our personal obligation to donate our excess wealth to those in need. Along the way, we will explore how the vice of avarice might help us to analyze different contemporary issues (e.g., payday lending, income disparity, short-selling, and foreign aid).