About this Event
Paul Seabright, Professor of Economics at the Toulouse School of Economics, and former Director of the interdisciplinary Institute for Advanced Study in Toulouse, discusses his new book – “The Divine Economy”.
Religion in the twenty-first century is alive and well across the world, despite its apparent decline in North America and parts of Europe. Vigorous competition between and within religious movements has led to their accumulating great power and wealth. Religions in many traditions have honed their competitive strategies over thousands of years. Today, they are big business; like businesses, they must recruit, raise funds, disburse budgets, manage facilities, organize transportation, motivate employees, and get their message out. In The Divine Economy, Prof Paul Seabright argues that religious movements are a special kind of business: they are platforms, bringing together communities of members who seek many different things from one another—spiritual fulfilment, friendship and marriage networks, even business opportunities. Their function as platforms, he contends, is what has allowed religions to consolidate and wield power.
Further information on The Divine Economy can be found here.
Registration is open from 5.15pm. The event will start at 5.30pm and will be followed by a drinks reception from 6.30pm.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Advanced Research Centre (ARC), University of Glasgow, 11 Chapel Lane, Glasgow, United Kingdom
GBP 0.00
