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Christianity Today, April (Web-only), 2008 |

Study: Conservative Theology Means Smaller Bank Accounts

Duke sociologist says conservative Protestants save less and accumulate fewer assets.

Britanni Hamm, Religion News Service | posted 4/02/2008 02:10PM

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Nearly 20 percent of the general population have either little savings or large debts, Keister said. Wealth is a primary indicator of well-being because it endures, unlike income, which can come and go.

But theology may be the biggest factor, especially conservative views on the inerrancy of the Bible. Steve Diggs, a stewardship minister at the Antioch Church of Christ in Nashville, Tenn., said many Christians have misunderstood what the Bible says about accumulating money.

"Christians sometimes are, rightfully, less focused on this world and sometimes we do that to a fault," said Diggs. "I am diametrically opposed to the health-and-wealth prosperity teachings, but that isn't to say that God doesn't bless people financially."

Related Elsewhere:

Keister's article, "Conservative Protestants and Wealth: How Religion Perpetuates Asset Poverty," appears in the March issue of the American Journal of Sociology.

Duke University has a press release on the study.

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April (Web-only) 2008, Vol. 52

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J. Lawley

Posted: April 04, 2008 2:13 PM

I thought as I was reading the article that people would seize on the "less education" aspect and beat it to death. Those poor ignorant conservatives (probably are missing teeth along with brain cells) just need a good dose of liberal education. And sure enough, there it was. Is everybody missing this part? “ Keister was surprised that when demographic factors — such as education, age and race — were held as constant, religion still proved to be an influential factor in wealth accumulation.” Wow, maybe some of us conservative Protestants actually bother to read the whole article and understand it before jumping to conclusions. My parents (both college educated, by the way), did not accumulate much material wealth because they never received it. As missionaries, they were always in a low income bracket. Ask them however, if they would do it all over again. You will probably get a wide smile and a resounding yes.

TrutoJC

Posted: April 04, 2008 11:26 AM

Several facts are overlooked in this. First tithing is faithfully practiced by good Christians. That 10%is a testimony that all ones income belongs to God. Our savings, therefore is the future rewards inHeaven. It is called living by faith. The blessings of God promised in Malachi 3:10 are noy necesarillyfinancial. We have risen above the fear of not having enough in later life, therefore we are not sotaken up with financial uncertainty in old age. God has promised to take care of us. People with dollar signs for pupils in their eyes know mothing about faith in the Lord.

TJP	Posted: April 04, 2008 10:40 AM


NO WONDER NON-CHRISTIAN VALUES ARE TAKING OVER THE WORLD! Christians seem to want to escape the responsibility of helping their neighbor and going into all the world....but the can't do it if they are BROKE!!! An article written be a professor from a liberal institution like Duke about conservatives, is like asking a Pepsi executive to study Coke drinkers. Repeat after me "skewed".