Piet Naudé

A Treatise on Christian Banking

Work, Money & Leadership

“Since the 2008 financial crisis, hard questions have been asked about banking regulation, ‘too-big-to-fail’ bailouts, and prudent risk-taking by banks and other financial and investment institutions. In the meantime, there has been a significant rise in ‘investment for impact,’ where financial decisions are made on the basis of exclusion and inclusion in building a portfolio. With a rising awareness of the ecological crisis, more and more pressure is being exerted on banks to stop funding fossil-fuel projects and rather invest in sustainable energy sources. Islamic banking has grown in both assets and trust, based on the fundamental religious rules governing investments. The real issue is one of underlying values that shape the paradigm of business, exceeding a narrow shareholder approach to include all relevant stakeholders, including the natural environment. The principles contained in the United Nations Global Compact illustrate the search for meaningful precepts. This book provides an interesting historical overview and infers contemporary guidelines emerging from the long and rich tradition of Judeo-Christian thought on matters of economics and money. There is no doubt that this is an important and topical issue not only for those who accept the convictions of the Christian faith, but also for secularists interested in improving the key financial industry. Very few authors are as well-positioned through experience and inter-disciplinary education as this one to make such a distinct contribution to the topic of the link between the ethical norms of Christianity and the world of banking, investment and finance.”

Quests for Freedom, Second Edition

Theology

“Quests for Freedom assembles a remarkable group of multi-disciplinary voices. The essays both enhance our understanding of freedom and challenge our deep-seated social prejudices that often deny freedom to those on the margins of society. At a moment in history when ‘freedom’ is increasingly abused for private and nationalistic gain, this collection stands as a reminder of our common humanity, and freedom as a public good.”