Books

A Case Study in Greed

The Tao of Enron takes lessons from the second-largest bankruptcy in American history

The Tao of Enron: Spiritual Lessons from a Fortune 500 Fallout Chris Seay and Chris Bryan NavPress, 208 pages, $16.99

In this disorganized but thought-provoking look at the ethical and financial meltdown of Enron, Chris Seay, a young Baptist pastor in Houston and author of The Gospel According to Tony Soprano, writes that the second-largest bankruptcy in American history offers Christians more than a lesson in economics.

“It speaks into the American lifestyle and critiques our core values,” Seay writes, calling Enron a “poster child for a capitalism run amok.” Seay occasionally goes off on loosely related tangents (one on sex and another on “commodifying” the gospel).

Nevertheless, he uses Scripture well to illustrate the need for responsible business practices, and concludes that the only sure remedy for infectious greed is changing individuals’ hearts, beginning with our own.

“Even as we relish the idea that the guilty will get their just deserts, we ought to remember that we will also get ours,” Seay writes. His “A Few Suggestions for Simple Living” and discussion questions are good touchstones for Christians wanting to make personal changes.

Cindy Crosby is a frequent contributor to Publishers Weekly.

Copyright © 2003 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Related Elsewhere

The Tao of Enron and The Gospel According to Tony Soprano are available at

Previous coverage of business ethics and Enron in Christianity Today and our sister publications include:

The Profit of God | Finding the Christian path in business.  (Jan. 27, 2003)

Bad Company Corrupts | Michael Novak, theological champion of the free market, reflects on what recent business scandals mean for church and state. (Jan. 27, 2003)

The Wages of Secularism | New laws won’t prevent another Enron. (June 4, 2002)

The Lessons of Enron | Enron claimed to be a business unlike any the nation had ever seen. (Books & Culture, May/June 2002)

Church Leaders Refocus on Ethics | Thousands of church leaders in Nigeria gathered to take aim at corruption problems in business and agreed to stop shifting blame to political leaders for society’s problems. (March 2, 1998)

Morals for the Marketplace | A treasury of ethical capital for men and women in the world of business. (Feb. 3, 1997)

Holding Corporate America Accountable | Christians press for greater responsibility from businesses. (October 28, 1996)

Previous CT articles on Chris Seay include:

The Dick Staub Interview: Chris Seay | The author of The Gospel According to Tony Soprano talks about men who want to be in the “Christian mafia.” (Sept. 24, 2002)

Pastor X | In sneakers and jeans, Southern Baptist Chris Seay is getting his generation to go to church—at least we think it’s a church. (Nov. 11, 1996)

Our Latest

The Bulletin

NYC Mayoral Race, Trump Softens to Ukraine, and Can Horror Films Edify?

Mamdani leads NYC mayoral race, Trump-Putin relationship cools, and why horror movies might help you cope in a horrible world.

The Bigfoot and UFOs Podcast Introducing Listeners to Christ

“We want to make a space where people can scratch an itch about the weird stuff they’ve encountered, but our heart for this is for people to encounter God.”

News

What Would a Liberal Democracy in Lebanon Look Like?

An interfaith group created a Youth Mock Parliament to imagine a nonsectarian government.

Analysis

‘Drug Boat’ Strikes Prompt Questions about Human Dignity, Executive Power

When the president exercises lethal force without congressional authority, we all lose.

News

Brazilian Evangelicals See God at Work Among the Working Class

Small Pentecostal churches across poor peripheral neighborhoods fuel Protestant growth nationwide.

Wire Story

Top ACNA Leader Faces Sexual Harassment Allegations

Following a string of scandals, the accusations against Archbishop Steve Wood come amid plans for the denomination to overhaul its abuse response.

The Russell Moore Show

 Listener Question: Should Communion Be Open to All Believers?

Russell takes a listener’s question about church membership and the Communion table.

Anti-Fragile Faith in Chaotic Times

Slow Theology highlights how a long obedience in the same direction grows.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube