Fear of Beggars: Stewardship and Poverty in Christian Ethics

Why, asks Kelly Johnson, does Christian ethics so rarely tackle the real-life question of whether to give to beggars? Examining both classical economics and Christian stewardship ethics as reactions to medieval debates about the role of mendicants in the church and in wider society, Johnson reveals modern anxiety about dependence and humility as well as the importance of Christian attempts to rethink property relations in ways that integrate those qualities. She studies the rhetoric and thought of Christian thinkers, beggar saints, and economists from throughout history, placing greatest emphasis on the life and work of Peter Maurin, a cofounder of the Catholic Worker movement. Challenging and thought-provoking, The Fear of Beggars will move Christian economic ethics into a richer, more involved discussion.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
Published: 07/01/2007
ISBN: 9780802803788
Pages: 236
Weight: 0.75lbs
Size: 8.97h x 6.54w x 0.65d

Review Citations: Christian Century 12/11/2008 pg. 22
Christian Century 11/04/2008 pg. 39