Shalom and Communion Through the Practice of Business

Although I am a Protestant Christian, this paper will approach the concept of Shalom from a perspective informed by Catholic Social Thought, and particularly, as an entrepreneur who participates in the Economy of Communion (EoC) movement. The aim of this paper is to seek to support the project of seeking Shalom through business practices by suggesting EoC as a model. I will here bring the principles of the Economy of Communion as a vision and a means to practice business in a way which leads to Shalom. To engage in current discussions on shalom, I will first provide a brief account of Shalom in business from some of the existing literature. I will then explain the Economy of Communion approach. Finally, I will compare and contrast this EoC view of business with two prominent views, namely the BAM view (Russell 2009; Johnson 2009), and the Reformed view as described in Quatro (2014) and others, namely the business-as-business approach, supposedly derived from the separate spheres view of Kuyper (Baus 2006, Kuyper 2021). I will build on friendly criticisms Quatro (2014) of the shortfalls of the BAM view of business, but argue, pace Quatro (2014) and Weinberger (2010) that the ‘separate spheres’ approach of Kyper et al may at times be in danger of promoting a view of business which is akin to Albert Carr (1968) and popular representations of Milton Friedman’s viewpoints—that business is business, and that it should not be directed or confused with one’s religious or personal ethics. However, I will argue that even if we accept a sovereign-spheres approach, not only should faith definitely speak into how we practice business towards shalom, but business itself can be an opportunity for spiritual practice which helps us to grow in our faith, and also to come into closer communion with others. Ultimately by doing so, we establish shalom, and I will provide a few concrete examples of how my own and other EoC companies attempt to achieve this end. Ultimately, I suggest the EoC as a model to provide conceptual resources and practical examples to help bring about Shalom through communion which can happen if we pursue business as a means not only of economic flourishing but also of spiritual transformation. I will argue that there are some wonderful ways to achieve shalom through business practices which are aimed at pursuing communion between people, particularly as advocated through the economy of communion.