Doing Virtuous Business

Doing Virtuous Business
The Remarkable Success of Spiritual Enterprise
By Theodore Malloch
Pub by Thomas Nelson

Can faith and business successfully mix? Is it possible for the free market economy of capitalism to produce more than a “selfish” culture? Can a person conduct himself in accordance with the values of his faith and expect to be successful in business? According to Theodore Malloch, who addresses these questions and more in Doing Virtuous Business: The Remarkable Success of Spiritual Enterprise, the answer is a definitive yes.

Malloch not only discusses how business and faith can co-exist, but goes further to define what he calls spiritual capital “as the fund of beliefs, examples, and commitments that are transmitted from generation to generation through a religious tradition, and that attach people to the transcendental source of human happiness.” Malloch develops many examples of businesses demonstrating the investment of spiritual capital, along with contrasting examples of businesses devoid of virtues of faith. Although Malloch writes from a Christian perspective, he includes examples of other religious influences in businesses.

Having an educational background in economics, I began reading this book with great interest to see how Malloch developed his theory of spiritual capital. It is refreshing to see Christian values confirmed within the secular business world.  This book does read mostly like a textbook. Many parts I had to wade through with determination.  Though many interesting quotes and ideas certainly caught my attention, it turned out, for me, to be a difficult read. Though there are many Biblical references, I was somewhat disappointed that the Christian perspective was not developed more thoroughly.  I would recommend Doing Virtuous Business as a reference book for solid Christian readers.

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