{"product_id":"the-marketplace-of-christianity","title":"The Marketplace of Christianity","description":"\u003cp\u003eEconomics can help us understand the evolution and development of religion  from the market penetration of the Reformation to an exploration of todays hot-button issues including evolution and gay marriage. This startlingly original (and sure to be controversial) account of the evolution of Christianity shows that the economics of religion has little to do with counting the money in the collection basket and much to do with understanding the background of todays religious and political divisions. Since religion is a set of organized beliefs  and a church is an organized body of worshippers  its natural to use a science that seeks to explain the behavior of organizations -- economics -- to understand the development of organized religion. The Marketplace of Christianity applies the tools of economic theory to illuminate the emergence of Protestantism in the sixteenth century and to examine contemporary religion-influenced issues  including evolution and gay marriage. The Protestant Reformation  the authors argue  can be seen as a successful penetration of a religious market dominated by a monopoly firm -- the Catholic Church. The Ninety-five Theses nailed to the church door in Wittenberg by Martin Luther raised the level of competition within Christianity to a breaking point. The Counter-Reformation  the Catholic reaction  continued the competitive process  which came to include \"product differentiation\" in the form of doctrinal and organizational innovation. Economic theory shows us how Christianity evolved to satisfy the changing demands of consumers--worshippers. The authors of The Marketplace of Christianity avoid value judgments about religion. They take preferences for religion as given and analyze its observable effects on society and the individual. They provide the reader with clear and nontechnical background information on economics and the economics of religion before focusing on the Reformation and its aftermath. Their analysis of contemporary hot-button issues -- science vs. religion  liberal vs. conservative  clerical celibacy  women and gay clergy  gay marriage -- offers a vivid illustration of the potential of economic analysis to contribute to our understanding of religion.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44957707534389,"sku":"ByrdShop_026205082X","price":44.16,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780262050821.jpg?v=1770578232","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-marketplace-of-christianity","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}