Concept
Theory of religious economy
Overview
Religious economy refers to religious persons and organizations interacting within a market framework of competing groups and ideologies. An economy makes it possible for religious suppliers to meet the demands of different religious consumers. By offering an array of religions and religious products, a competitive religious economy stimulates such activity in a market-type setting.
The field applies rational choice theory to the theory of religion such that supply and demand are used to model the development and success of organized religions. Major proponents of the theory include William Sims Bainbridge, Roger Finke, Laurence Iannaccone, and Rodney Stark.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).
Related ideas
- Modernization theory
- Ernst Troeltsch
- Rodney Stark
- New religious movement
- Orthodox Judaism
- Mongol Empire
- Rational choice model
- Religion
- Religious pluralism
- Organized religion
- Secularization
- Western Europe
- Aggregate demand
- Social capital
- Christianity
- Islam
- Economy
- William Sims Bainbridge
- Ideology
- Earth
- Religious organization
Opposing perspectives
Place in the tradition
Part of Theories about religion.
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