Barkley Rosser writes: >I would note that Timur Kuran distinguishes between "religious economics" and "the economics of religion." The former involves trying to formulate a doctrine of economics that is consistent with a particular religious viewpoint, e.g. Islamic economics. The latter supposedly scientifically studies the impact of religious conduct or affiliation on economic behavior, e.g. do religious believers CHEAT LESS ON THEIR TAXES than non-religious believers?> (Emphasis mine) Please note that "cheating" on taxes is a religious concept, itself. It presumes that the regressive and counterproductive tax system established by a corrupt Congress, its elections financed by rentiers of great wealth, is moral; and subverting it is immoral, whether done by overtaxed penniless proletarians or those who already benefit most from corruption. Religion, historically, has helped in such dilemmas by establishing that there is another morality than that established by a biased and corrupted state. The state, meantime, does its best to coopt religion and use it to sway the electorate. A stimulating writer on the interface of religion and economics is John Henry. His book on J.B. Clark includes his earlier article, "God and the Marginal Product". A good modern writer preaching the applied social gospel is activist Susan Pace Hamill, Law Professor in Alabama. Henry comes at this as a Marxist; Hamill as a devout Christian. Each has something of value for us. Mason Gaffney