Debates about capitalism versus socialism reflect a deep divide in American society, both in the broader culture and in the church. While those attracted to liberation theology, radical orthodoxy, and some kinds of Anabaptist theologies support forms of socialism, many others continue to believe capitalism is the best real-world option.
Among serious theologians as well as at the popular level, the debate suffers from misunderstandings and mischaracterizations of how different economic systems function and how those systems relate to higher ethical and legal principles. These misunderstandings and mischaracterizations, in turn, fuel overly confident pronouncements about what the biblical witness and the Christian tradition say about possible forms of economic life.
Faithful Exchange offers a careful review of the biblical and historical materials and a critical appraisal of the current debate. The book does not recommend either capitalism or socialism as a preferred form of economic order, but rather suggests perspectives from Christian theology that provide both prophetic critique of and missional engagement with various economic structures in cultural and historical context.
