J. Philip Wogaman

"The great economic debate of our time is over priorities. The outcome of the debate hinges upon value commitments which are sometimes visible and sometimes invisible, but always present."

J. Philip Wogaman

Arguing that "a theological perspective can help liberate one from the idolatries and illusions of the economic struggle as it is often conducted," Wogaman provides a fresh look at the interrelationships of ethics and economics. He offers a pro-vocative assessment of five specific priorities-productivity, equity and security, employment and educational opportunity, conservation, and a new world order en route to a critique of the current overreliance upon the free-market mechanism to make economic policy decisions. His conclusion: we must close the gap between rich and poor, establish a fabric of in-ternational regulation, and strive for world peace. In fact, "it is time for us to recover our sense of priority about the things that really matter."

J. PHILIP WOGAMAN is Professor of Christian Social Ethics at Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, D.C. His books in-clude Faith and Fragmentation: Christianity for a New Age, recently published by Fortress Press.