RENDER UNTO CAESAR: THE INTERACTION BETWEEN RELIGION AND ECONOMY IN THE ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES OF CATHOLICS IN THE MEKONG DELTA

IF 1.4 Q2 SOCIAL SCIENCES, INTERDISCIPLINARY International Journal of Asia Pacific Studies Pub Date : 2023-01-18 DOI:10.21315/ijaps2023.19.1.6
Thi Phuong Ngo
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Abstract

If we look at human nature from the perspective of classical economics, religion and economics do not seem to be directly connected. While religion represents the pursuit of noble values namely truth, beauty, happiness, holiness, and selflessness, doing business is unanimous with the worship of material wealth. However, a closer examination would reveal the interrelations between these two realms. A strong religious belief can actually have significant influence on the way the believers engage in their businesses toward the path of righteousness, and a thriving business could, in turn, enhance the followers’ commitment to the religion. Although the connection between religious belief and economic activities has been discussed in the literature, limited scholarly attention is paid on the phenomenon among the Catholics in Vietnam, a community that has not been examined considerably on areas other than their religious practices or political involvement in the past. Based on an ethnographic study of the Catholics’ economic activities in the Mekong Delta, especially in Cái Mơn Parish in Bến Tre province and the Main Parish in Cần Thơ city, this article argues that religious beliefs could influence and govern the economic behaviour of Catholic followers through the values of honouring God, justice, and charity. These values have inspired the principle of “getting rich righteously” among the Catholics in the Mekong Delta and motivated them to fulfil their civic obligations in society at large. Findings from this study helps shed light on the religious beliefs—economic activities engagement and contribute to the literature on Catholics’ economic activities in Vietnam, an area which remains understudied.
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报之于凯撒:湄公河三角洲天主教徒经济活动中宗教与经济的互动
如果我们从古典经济学的角度来看人性,宗教和经济学似乎并没有直接的联系。宗教代表着对真、美、幸福、圣洁、无私等崇高价值的追求,而经商则与对物质财富的崇拜是一致的。然而,更仔细的研究将揭示这两个领域之间的相互关系。一个强烈的宗教信仰实际上会对信仰者走上正义之路的方式产生重大影响,而一个繁荣的商业反过来又会增强信仰者对宗教的承诺。虽然文献中讨论了宗教信仰与经济活动之间的联系,但对越南天主教徒的这一现象的学术关注有限,这个社区过去除了宗教活动或政治参与之外,没有对其他领域进行过相当大的研究。基于对湄公河三角洲天主教徒经济活动的民族志研究,特别是在Bến特里省Cái Mơn教区和Cần泰阳市主要教区,本文认为宗教信仰可以通过尊重上帝、正义和慈善的价值观来影响和支配天主教徒的经济行为。这些价值观激发了湄公河三角洲天主教徒“正当致富”的原则,并激励他们在整个社会中履行公民义务。本研究的结果有助于揭示宗教信仰与经济活动的关系,并为有关越南天主教徒经济活动的文献做出贡献,这一领域仍未得到充分研究。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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来源期刊
International Journal of Asia Pacific Studies
International Journal of Asia Pacific Studies SOCIAL SCIENCES, INTERDISCIPLINARY-
CiteScore
0.70
自引率
0.00%
发文量
28
审稿时长
20 weeks
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