Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Philosophy of Management 3/2019

11-05-2018

God and Modernity in Management Studies. A Case of Theological Social Theory

Author: Enrico Beltramini

Published in: Philosophy of Management | Issue 3/2019

Log in

Activate our intelligent search to find suitable subject content or patents.

search-config
loading …

Abstract

This article examines how theology and social science can contribute to the specific task of talking about God in management without compromising the integrity of the Triune God. To talk about God in management studies initially requires a discussion on the character of modernity and about whether modernity is absence or transformation of religious forms; to follow is an examination of the governing assumptions operating in social theory from a religious perspective. The conclusion is that without the correct hermeneutics, what management scholars mean by God cannot be more than an idea.

Dont have a licence yet? Then find out more about our products and how to get one now:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 102.000 Bücher
  • über 537 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Automobil + Motoren
  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
  • Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
  • Finance + Banking
  • Management + Führung
  • Marketing + Vertrieb
  • Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe
  • Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 67.000 Bücher
  • über 340 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Finance + Banking
  • Management + Führung
  • Marketing + Vertrieb
  • Versicherung + Risiko




Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Footnotes
1
Blaise Pascal, “The Memorial” on the overwhelming mystical experience of the night of 23 November 1654.
 
2
Augustine, De Trinitate, V, 15. Cf., Letter 140, Ad Honoratum, ch. 4, n. 10, “we were indeed something before being sons of God, and we received the divine favor to become what we were not.”
 
3
I found the same idea exposed by Joseph Ratzinger in an essay of political theology originally published in Germany in 1970: “In Greco-Roman culture the unity of the world had its source in pantheism: the divine was itself a part of the world, and the world had divine status. Hence the unity of humanity could be converted directly into political reality” (Ratzinger 2015: 11).
 
Literature
go back to reference Augustine. 2015. De Trinitate [Latin Edition] (Opera Omnia S. Augustini). Post Falls: Mediatrix Press. Augustine. 2015. De Trinitate [Latin Edition] (Opera Omnia S. Augustini). Post Falls: Mediatrix Press.
go back to reference Bible with Apocrypha. 2010.The new Oxford annotated revised standard version. Edited by Michael D. Croogan, et al. Fourth Edition. New York: Oxford University Press. Bible with Apocrypha. 2010.The new Oxford annotated revised standard version. Edited by Michael D. Croogan, et al. Fourth Edition. New York: Oxford University Press.
go back to reference Cafferky, M.E. 2013. On becoming a prophet. Faith in Business Quarterly 15 (4): 23–29. Cafferky, M.E. 2013. On becoming a prophet. Faith in Business Quarterly 15 (4): 23–29.
go back to reference Cafferky, M.E. 2015. Business ethics in biblical perspective: A comprehensive introduction. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press. Cafferky, M.E. 2015. Business ethics in biblical perspective: A comprehensive introduction. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press.
go back to reference De Lubac, H. 1998. The mystery of the supernatural. Translated by Rosémary Sheel, Introduction by David L. Schindler. New York: Crossroad. De Lubac, H. 1998. The mystery of the supernatural. Translated by Rosémary Sheel, Introduction by David L. Schindler. New York: Crossroad.
go back to reference Dyck, B. 2013. Management and the gospel. Luke’s radical message for the first and twenty-first centuries. New York: Palgrave MacMillan. Dyck, B. 2013. Management and the gospel. Luke’s radical message for the first and twenty-first centuries. New York: Palgrave MacMillan.
go back to reference Fetcher, C.M. 2015. 24/7 Christian: The secular vocation of the Laity. Collegeville: Liturgical Press. Fetcher, C.M. 2015. 24/7 Christian: The secular vocation of the Laity. Collegeville: Liturgical Press.
go back to reference Ford, D.F. 1997. Introduction. In The modern theologians. An introduction to Christian theology in the twentieth century, ed. David F. Ford. Oxford and Malden: Blackwell. Ford, D.F. 1997. Introduction. In The modern theologians. An introduction to Christian theology in the twentieth century, ed. David F. Ford. Oxford and Malden: Blackwell.
go back to reference Ha, K.-M. 2015. The role of religious beliefs and institutions in disaster management: A case study. Religions 6: 1314–1329.CrossRef Ha, K.-M. 2015. The role of religious beliefs and institutions in disaster management: A case study. Religions 6: 1314–1329.CrossRef
go back to reference Kerr, F. 1996. Milbank's Thesis in R. Gill (editor) Theology and sociology: A Reader, London: Cassell. Kerr, F. 1996. Milbank's Thesis in R. Gill (editor) Theology and sociology: A Reader, London: Cassell.
go back to reference Long, S.D. 2000. Divine economy: Theology and the market. London: Routledge.CrossRef Long, S.D. 2000. Divine economy: Theology and the market. London: Routledge.CrossRef
go back to reference Milbank, J. 2000. Theology and Social Theory and its significance for community building: A conversation with John Milbank, Charlottesville, VA-December 16. Milbank, J. 2000. Theology and Social Theory and its significance for community building: A conversation with John Milbank, Charlottesville, VA-December 16.
go back to reference Milbank, J. 2006. Theology and social theory: beyond secular reason. Oxford; Malden: Blackwell Pub 2nd and revised edition.CrossRef Milbank, J. 2006. Theology and social theory: beyond secular reason. Oxford; Malden: Blackwell Pub 2nd and revised edition.CrossRef
go back to reference Milbank, J. 2013. Beyond secular order: The representation of being and the representation of the people. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.CrossRef Milbank, J. 2013. Beyond secular order: The representation of being and the representation of the people. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.CrossRef
go back to reference Milbank, J. 2014. The suspended middle: Henri de Lubac and the renewed split in modern Catholic theology, Second edition. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans. Milbank, J. 2014. The suspended middle: Henri de Lubac and the renewed split in modern Catholic theology, Second edition. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
go back to reference Niebuhr, H.R. 1951. Christ and culture. New York: Harper and Row. Niebuhr, H.R. 1951. Christ and culture. New York: Harper and Row.
go back to reference Ratzinger, J. 2015. The unity of nations: A vision of the church fathers, translate by Boniface Ramsey. Washington, D.C.: The CUA Press. Ratzinger, J. 2015. The unity of nations: A vision of the church fathers, translate by Boniface Ramsey. Washington, D.C.: The CUA Press.
go back to reference Schmitz, K.L. 1969. Postmodernism and the Catholic tradition. American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly 73: 223–253. Schmitz, K.L. 1969. Postmodernism and the Catholic tradition. American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly 73: 223–253.
go back to reference Sison, A.J.G., and J. Fontrodona. 2012. The common good of the firm in the Aristotelian-Thomistic tradition. Business Ethics Quarterly 22 (2): 211–246.CrossRef Sison, A.J.G., and J. Fontrodona. 2012. The common good of the firm in the Aristotelian-Thomistic tradition. Business Ethics Quarterly 22 (2): 211–246.CrossRef
go back to reference Taylor, C. 1995. Two theories of modernity. Hastings Center Report Mar.-Apr.: 24–7. Taylor, C. 1995. Two theories of modernity. Hastings Center Report Mar.-Apr.: 24–7.
go back to reference Taylor, C. 2007. A secular age. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. Taylor, C. 2007. A secular age. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
go back to reference Van Der Ven, J.A. 1998. Practical theology: An empirical approach. Belgium: Peeters Press First published in 1990 by Kok Pharos, Kanpen. Van Der Ven, J.A. 1998. Practical theology: An empirical approach. Belgium: Peeters Press First published in 1990 by Kok Pharos, Kanpen.
go back to reference Veith, G.E., Jr. 2002. God at work: Your Christian vocation in all of life. Wheaton: Crossway. Veith, G.E., Jr. 2002. God at work: Your Christian vocation in all of life. Wheaton: Crossway.
Metadata
Title
God and Modernity in Management Studies. A Case of Theological Social Theory
Author
Enrico Beltramini
Publication date
11-05-2018
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Philosophy of Management / Issue 3/2019
Print ISSN: 1740-3812
Electronic ISSN: 2052-9597
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40926-018-0090-5

Other articles of this Issue 3/2019

Philosophy of Management 3/2019 Go to the issue