Economy, faith topic of talk

From theology to the ecology to the economy: That's where Prof. Richard Shirey will take the audience at his April 22 workshop, "Living Simply So that Others Can Simply Live."

The Siena College professor of economics will talk about religious perspectives on the world economy by exploring social values, the role of religion in an increasingly secular and conflicted world, and the gap between the rich and the poor.

The workshop will take place at Abba House in Albany, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Topic list

American materialism, he told The Evangelist, "really is a sign of our times. The U.S. is the richest country in the world, yet 46 million employed Americans are without health insurance. We are a nation where $435 billion is spent on advertising each year. This amount exceeds the income of 1.3 billion people on the planet. The 400 richest people in the U.S. earn more than the combined incomes of India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

"We'll be talking about such things as competition, getting rich, the notion of 'more is better.'

"We'll also talk about how we want our communities to be, their economic structure and how our religious beliefs impact that structure."

Tribal view

Dr. Shirey will discuss the Igbo, a tribe in Nigeria whose religious perspective differs greatly from that of Europeans and Americans.

"The Igbo tradition teaches that we are all children of one mother," the Earth, "and that we all 'eat out of the same pot,'" he explained. "In other words, we are all responsible for what we do."

He will also explore "several of the Eastern religious perspectives," which "have a very different approach than we do."

Dr. Shirey also plans to discuss Jewish and Christian perspectives. Under the idea that all of creation belongs to God and not humans, he noted, humans must be good stewards and are required by faith to use an ethical approach in caring for the earth.

"I'll be talking about a Franciscan perspective of ecology and the economy," he said.

Islamic approach

Many perspectives on living in community in Islam are similar or exactly the same as those in Judaism and Christianity, he noted.

The five pillars of Islam, which include generosity, almsgiving, pilgrimage, sacrifice and forgiveness, are ideals that Christians also esteem.

"The mechanics of the economy are not of any value unless people know the impact they make upon their own lives, the environment and the health of the planet," he said. "This workshop is meant to be a time for us all to reflect on the different perspectives of the economy, ecology and simple living so that others may simply live."

(To make a reservation, call Abba House, 438-8320.)

(4/13/06) [[In-content Ad]]