Professor Barry Gordon was one of the founders of economics and business at the University of Newcastle, is an international authority on the history of economic thought, and a pioneer of the contemporary rediscovery of connections between economics and the Christian/Jewish scriptures.

Visiting Fellow at the University's Humanities Research Institute, Paul Oslington, will be discussing Professor Gordon's contribution in the Barry Gordon Memorial Lecture on Friday, 16 August at the University's Callaghan Campus.

Titled Economics and Biblical Studies, Professor Oslington describes the lecture as follows:

"In recent years cultural anthropology, sociology and psychology have been deployed with great effect in Biblical studies, however contemporary mainstream economics has not been much utilised by Biblical scholars. The theoretical tools of economics include rational choice theory, game theory, information economics, and behavioural economics, as well as the some of the best developed empirical techniques in the contemporary social sciences.

Economics can engage with Biblical studies at several levels. Economics can deepen and sharpen our understanding of the background of the Biblical texts. This essentially adds economics to the toolkit of the historical critical method. Economics can also illuminate the actions of the characters in Biblical texts, including God. It can also illuminate the design and purposes of the text. Several objections to an economic approach are considered:

1) The tools are not neutral.
2) Imperialistic tendencies of contemporary economics in relation to other disciplines.
3) Anachronism. Contemporary models are not applicable to ancient societies." 

The lecture concludes with an assessment of the promise and pitfalls of using economics in Biblical studies.

Paul Oslington is Professor of Economics and Dean of Business at Alphacrucis College in Sydney. In 2008 he was appointed to a newly created chair jointly in the School of Business and School of Theology at Australian Catholic University, where he continues as Adjunct Professor.

This is a FREE lecture, open to the public. RSVP is necessary.

WHEN: 1-2pm Friday, 16 August

WHERE: Nelson Room, Shortland Union (See campus map for directions)
                University of Newcastle
                Callaghan Campus

RSVP: 14 August humanities-research@newcastle.edu.au

For further information please contact Linda Hutchinson on 02 4921 5327 or email humanities-research@newcastle.edu.au