Conscious Capitalism and Orthodoxy

Abstract

Some Orthodox theologians consider the capitalist economic system to have failed because: (a) it encourages greed, (b) it results in income inequality which of itself is not unethical but becomes morally comprehensible when it is achieved at the expense of others, and (c) society ends up being ruled by capital. After considering a number of principles and concepts of Christianity, attention turns to Orthodoxy which is based on the principles of being humble, caring, giving, having empathy and compassion, being resilient and having a higher purpose in life. Such principles are also found in conscious capitalism which is based on the following four tenets: higher purpose and core values; stakeholder integration; conscious leadership; and conscious culture and management. As advocated in this chapter in order though to reach this higher purpose and for conscious capitalism to be successfully practiced, we need to appreciate the brain science behind it, the biological importance of trust, social inclusion, stakeholder sharing and optimism. Finally, the chapter discusses the relationship between conscious capitalism and orthodoxy utilizing material from both the Old and the New Testament and concludes that many of the Principles Orthodoxy is built on are found in Conscious Capitalism.