Sample Essay On Book Section Reflection Paper

[Class Title]

(Markets: Mechanisms for Creating Good and Exercising Christian/Responsibility by Victor Claar and Robin Klay)
Religion and business is quite a peculiar combination albeit difficult to combine. It seems like there is a huge barrier between these two concepts and as much as most people would like to reconcile them, they always end up favoring one over the other. In their book, ‘Economics in Christian Perspective: Theory, Policy and Life Choices,’ Christian authors Victor Claar and Robin Klay attempts to clarify ethical and moral conflicts between religion and business by looking at business in a Christian perspective. Often times using biblical passages as reference, the authors explain economic theories and business dynamics in biblical context. The logic behind this approach is quite obvious. As Christians, the major book of instruction for moral and ethical standards is the bible. By citing biblical passages and relating them with actual business scenarios, the book exudes an ethical and emotional appeal to Christians who engages in business or may want to engage in business.
‘Markets: Mechanisms for Creating Good and Exercising Christian/Responsibility’ is a second chapter in this book. In this chapter, the authors recognize the power of the market and how it strongly influences society. According to the authors, the market is a complex phenomenon. In its simplest term, the market may be seen as a collection of buyers and sellers but in an economic perspective, the market is defined by complex economic activities wherein the laws of supply and demand operate. Claar and Klay clarified that the market is a natural phenomenon. It is at times influenced by the manipulations of governments or certain groups but nevertheless, the market will continue to exist as long as there is human civilization. The importance of accepting the naturalness of markets is crucial in reconciling the mechanics that governs markets with Christian teachings. Since market is a natural phenomenon, it has the ability to govern consumer behavior. The consumer may be unaware but most economists believe that consumer choices are governed by unseen forces that operate in a market. Prices, for example, could influence a person’s choice of merchandize. Retail stores like Walmart could influence consumer behavior just by making changes to the prices of their goods. A consumer who values low pricing is more likely to buy from Walmart without realizing how its low cost product may have adversely affected their suppliers and workers. Perhaps Walmart may have used its power to influence suppliers or perhaps they may have pulled back on giving their employees additional compensation and benefits so they can provide the lowest prices in the market.
Claar and Klay points out that for Christians, consumer behavior should not only be governed by market forces but most importantly, it should be governed by biblical teachings. Accordingly, “Christians must bring their moral and spiritual values with them into markets”. The authors emphasized that markets is not a bad thing. In fact, markets are a good thing if properly utilized. Markets bring about economic prosperity, which according to Claar and Klay, results to higher levels of morality in society. Claar and Klay’s observation on the effects of prosperous markets to morality is substantiated by studies. The theory of social disorganization, for example, which has been developed since 1930s to understand the causes of delinquency and criminality suggests that there is a strong correlation between economic prosperity and the prevalence of crime. Accordingly, crimes are more rampant in areas where its residents are poor as compared to communities that have higher incomes. In this regard, Claar and Klay conclude that markets are important. For the same reason, Christians must learn how to live with the market and strive for prosperity. However, Christians must stand firm to their morality and ethics when challenged by market elements that deviate from Christian doctrines.

Works Cited

Claar, V., & Klay, R. Economics in Christian Perspective: Theory, Policy and Life Choices. Illinois, U.S.A.: InterVarsity Press, 2007.
Miller, J.M. 21st Century Criminology: A Reference Handbook, Social Disorganization Theory. 2009. February 2015 <http://www.sagepub.com/schram/study/materials/reference/90851_08.2r.pdf>.