capitalism
social and economic order based on the belief that human good is best served by enterprise and competetive striving on the part of individuals and the organisations for whom they work. Specifically Christian inspiration for this is found in the gospel Parable of the Talents in which trade, investment and risk-taking appear to be commended by Jesus. According to Max Weber, it was the energy of the Protestant Ethic with its conviction that work and wealth generation are appropriate ways of worshipping God, which fuelled the Spirit of Capitalism to emerge as a world force in 16th century Europe. In spite of well documented abuses of commercial interest and evidence of a widening gap between rich and poor, this argument has been restated by Michael Novak. He has widened the theological rationale to include Catholicism, whilst insisting that the desirable order is democratic capitalism. This holds out a better prospect for addressing the needs of the poor globally, than any centrally controlled approach, with its dulling of individual initiative.