Economic Influences

Religion influences economics.  How so?  Well, when we had the Protestant Reformation in England, there was a group called, "Puritans."  They were not interested in Anglican High Church stuff that was too much Vatican for them.  Having the correct faith was what counted.  If you had the correct dogma then you were "in."  If not, look out.  Love of neighbor was not so big an issue, especially if neighbor was not Puritan.  So it was very much the individual with the correct dogma.  And each individual interpreted the Bible as they saw it.  A lot of individual here.  This is the 17th century and capitalism is not quite in its infancy.  But the idea of each individual free to do the best for themself was in the air.  Then comes Adam Smith in the 18th century and the idea of the "invisible hand."  If you are free to do your business/commerce, and do it the best as you can for yourself, an invisible hand will make it all good for everyone else.  Voila!  Capitalism.  And where did this system flourish? Here in what became the United States, the place where the Puritans came to be free to do their way of life.  The Indians, those who were here, were not into puritanism or private land ownership.  So those who say religion is nothing while making lots of money is everything, you might think again.  I think that Pope Francis is trying to steer religion into making a different kind of economics.  Those who think dogma, correct belief, is central, don't much care for Francis.