Economics, education and religion: can western theories be generalized across religions?

Yazdani, Naveed and Mamoon, Dawood (2012): Economics, education and religion: can western theories be generalized across religions?

Abstract

Some of the recent empirical studies relate economic growth and prosperity with religion. This paper raises the question that if economic systems are based on individualism and selfishness, can they be related with religion? The paper also finds that the Secularization hypothesis of Western Modernity is still valid for Western cultures, Judaism and Christianity but its application is highly unlikely in case of the third monotheist religion Islam. The paper expounds the causes of this proposition keeping in view the historical, religious and economic perspectives of Islam.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Economics, Education, Monotheist religions, Secularization hypothesis
• Subjects: B - History of Economic Thought, Methodology, and Heterodox Approaches > B0 - General; A - General Economics and Teaching > A1 - General Economics > A13 - Relation of Economics to Social Values

References

Al-Buraey, M. (1985). Administrative Development an Islamic Perspective, KPI: Routledge & Kegan Paul.

Ansari, O.M. (2007). Managing Finances: A Shariah Compliant Way, Time Management Club: Karachi.

Armstrong, K. (1993). A history of God: The 4,000-year quest of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. New York: The Random House Publishing Group.

Barro, R.J., & McCleary, R.M. (2002). “Religion and political economy in an international panel?”. NBER, Working Paper 8931.

Barro, R.J., & McCleary, R.M. (2003). “Religion and economic growth”. NBER, Working Paper 9682.

Barro, R.J., & McCleary, R.M. (2004). “Which countries have state religions?”. NBER, Working Paper 10438.

Bucaille, M. (2003). The Bible, The Quran, and Science: The Holy Scriptures Examined in the light of Modern Knowledge, New York: Tahrike Tarsile Quran, Inc.

Cameron, S. (2002). The economics of sin: Rational choice or no choice at all? UK: Edward Elgar Publishing Limited.

Chapra, M.U. (1993). Islam and Economic Development: A Strategy for Development with Justice and Stability, International Institute of Islamic Thought and the Islamic Research Institute, Islamic Research Institute Press, Islamabad, Pakistan.

Dobbelaere, K. (2002). Secularization: An analysis at three levels. Brussels: Presses Interuniversitaires Europeennes. Ekelund, R.B. Jr., Hebert, R.F. & Tollison, R.D. (1989). An Economic Model of the Medieval Church: Usury as a Form of Rent Seeking. Journal of Law, Economics, & Organization, 5 (2), 307-331.

Ghauri, A.S., & Ghauri, I.R. (2007). Isaac or Ismael: The only son offered for sacrifice. 2nd edition, Lahore: Al-Mawrid A Foundation for Islamic Research and Education.

Grab, W., & Charbonnier, L. (eds.) (2009). Secularization theories, religious identity and practical theory. London: Transaction Publishing.

Ibn Kathir (2003). (abridged by a group of scholars under the supervision of Shaykh Saifur-Rahman Mubarakpuri). Tasfir Ibn Kathir, Vol. 9, Maktaba Dar-us-Salam: Riyadh KSA.

Khan, M.A. (1994). Economics of the Quran: A Study of Sura Al-M’aida and Sura Al-Nahl, LIMA: Lahore.

Lewis, B. (1974). Islam, from the Prophet Muhammad to the capture of Constantinople, Chicago University Press: USA.

Lewis, W.A. (n.d.). The theory of economic growth. George Allen and Unwin Ltd.

Mawdudi, S.A.A. (trans. Zafar Ishaq Ansari) )1998). Towards understanding the Quran: Abridged version of Tafhim al-Quran Vol. I. London: The Islamic Foundation.

Mawdudi, S.A.A. (2008). Quran ki Chaar Bunyadi Istalaheen (The Four Foundational Terms of Quran), Islamic Publications (Pvt.) Ltd.: Lahore.

Meade, W. (1857). Old Churches, Ministers, and Families of Virginia. USA: Philadelphia.

Montgomery, J.D. (1996). “Contemplations on the economic growth approach to religious behavior”. American Economic Review, Vol. 86 (2), p. 443-447.

Moora, M. (Ed.) (2001). Water in Biomaterials Surface Science, England: John Wiley and Sons Ltd.

Norris, P., & Ingelhart, R. (2011). Sacred and secular: Religion and politics worldwide. 2nd edition, New York: Cambridge University Press.

O’Malley, J.J. (ed.) (1973). The legacy of Hegel: Proceedings of the Marquette Hegel Symposium. Nijhoff.

Sacerdote, B., & Glaeser, E.L. (2001). “Education and religion”. NBER, Working Paper 8080.

Sharif, M.M. (eds.) (1983). A History of Muslim Philosophy, Vol. I & II, Royal Book Company: Karachi.

Shehab, R.U. (1989). Islamic Finance and Banking, 1st edition, Maqbool Academy: Lahore.

Smith, I., Sawkins, J.W., & Seaman, P.T. (1998). “The economics of religious participation: A cross-country study”. Kylos, Vol. 51 (1), p. 25-43.

Stark, R., Iannaccone, L., & Finke, R. (1996). “Religion, science, and rationality”. American Economic Review, Vol. 86 (2), p. 433-437.

Tomes, N. (1984). “The effects of religion and denomination on earnings and the returns to human capital”. Journal of Human Resources, Vol. 19 (4), p. 472-488.

Usmani, M.T. (1998). An Introduction to Islamic Finance, Idaratul Ma’arif: Karachi

Uttal, W.R. (2004). Dualism: The original sin of cognitivism. NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc. Publishing.

Voas, D., Olson, D.V.A., & Crockett, A. (2002). “Religious pluralism and participation: Why previous research is wrong?” American Sociological Review, Vol. 67, p. 212-230.

Walsh, P.J., Smith, S.L., Fleming, L.E., Solo-Gabriele, H.M., & Gerwick, W.H. (Eds.) (2008). Oceans and Human Health: Risks and Remedies from the Seas, USA: Academic Press.

Watson, P. (2005). Ideas: A history from fire to Freud. UK: Weidenfeld & Nicolson.