Is God Our Economic Co-Pilot?
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - If God is our co-pilot, then is he steering the economy? Joline Tate seems to think so. "There are principals that are God's that lay the ground work for the economy," said the Garland resident.
According to a Baylor University survey, one in five Americans surveyed believe God is actively involved in our economy and that his principles favor conservative economics and a free market. "I try to look at the economy through God's eyes. God is a God of freedom," explained Tate.
Presidential candidates such as Governor Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann are going after those one in five voters. Governor Perry held a prayer meeting in Houston in August that drew praise from the religious right and criticism from the left.
Dr. Darrell Bock, a research professor at Dallas Theological Seminary, says "anyone who comes from a religious background sees God's hand at work in all events to one degree or another," But Dr. Bock also adds, "How actively he is as our CFO is a whole other matter."
Professor Bock believes the survey leaves God and the economy open to interpretation. "People are selectively choosing what parts of the values they want to emphasize that come out of scripture."
There are those, such as Wes Irvan of Dallas who find themselves in the middle. "I grew up going to church, so i do believe in God. But I believe in the separation of church and state, so i don't believe God has any influence at all in the economy," said Irvan.
Others, such as Adam Stanley of Dallas find humor in the survey. "I think that if God was controlling the economy, he would do a lot better job than he's doing," Stanley laughed.
