Globalization and the Kingdom of God

Many Christians in the Reformed tradition believe that ""every square inch"" of creation is to be brought under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. How then to resolve the ""Kingdom of God"" with the emerging economic global village? Are they one and the same? Diametrically opposed? These questions form the starting point for this slim volume, a record of the 1999 Kuyper Lecture at the Center for Public Justice in Washington, D.C. The primary lectures are given by Goudzwaard, an emeritus professor at the Free University of Amsterdam. Easy to follow and presented in digestible chunks, this provides an analysis of our current situation, informed by both theology and economics. Goudzwaard then encourages Christians to awaken from their hypnosis to become mature and ""open-faced"" about accepting responsibility for bad economic decisions and for harmful economic structures in which they participate. The remainder of the book is comprised of three responses, which are less disagreements with Goudzwaard than developments of thought in directions he outlines. These are particularly helpful in giving practical help, offering ways to ""walk the talk."" The book is understandable for the novice in economics, yet deep enough for the expert (especially de la Sienra's response and a brief chapter on ""Arrow's General Possibility Theorem""). This collection provides a good example of Reformed thought on our increasing global interdependence. (May)