O level Notes : FRS - Religion - Technology And Enterprise : Role of Religion in Enterprising

ROLE OF RELIGION IN ENTERPRISING

Religion and enterprise have had a tenuous relationship. Religion can influence the decision for people to become an entrepreneur. Religion shapes the entrepreneurial decision. In particular, some religions, such as Islam and Christianity, are found to be promoting entrepreneurship, while others, such as Hinduism, inhibit entrepreneurship. Religious beliefs matter for economic outcomes. They reinforce character traits such as hard work, honesty, thrift, and the value of time.

Teachings of Judaism on Enterprise

An entrepreneur is an individual, who rather than working as an employee runs a small business, assuming all the risks and rewards of the venture. Entrepreneurs who prove to be successful in taking on the risks of a start-up are rewarded with profits, fame and continued growth opportunities. So, enterprise is the project undertaken or to be undertaken that is especially difficult, complicated or risky.

1. Treat your employees fairly.

The Torah teaches that everyone should be entrepreneurial, but in the process no one should take advantage of others. Instead, the Torah teaches fair treatment of employees.  “The wages of a worker shall not remain with you all night until the morning” (Lev 19:13). The Torah also commands not to take advantage of your employees: “You shall not abuse a needy and destitute labourer, whether a fellow countryman or a stranger” (Deut, 24:14).

2. Be honest with customers.

The Torah commands honesty between the employer and employee. There is discouragement of  putting false weights  and  taking much from  customers. According to Leviticus 19:36, you shall have just balances and just weights”. Even if your customer won't find out – don’t cheat them. “Do not… put a stumbling block before the blind” (Lev. 19:14) means do not take advantage when the other party doesn't know or see what you are doing to their disadvantage. We are often confronted with situations where we can increase profits by cutting corners or otherwise take advantage of the customer in a way that they won't know about. When confronted with these dilemmas, the answer is easy when following the biblical principle of not putting a stumbling block before the blind. Don't cheat your customers, even if they don't know about it.

3. Build a reputation for integrity.

The Talmud discusses the questions one is asked in the heavenly court at the end of one's life (Shabbat 31a). The first question asked is: Were you honest in your business dealings? This is the first question because it's the true measure of one's success in life. There is no greater temptation to cheat than in a business setting where one can earn more profits. If you can overcome this great temptation, you will reach a high level of character that others esteem. Your customers, employees and those you do business with want to patronize your business. When you are honest, your business grows. You also have the right answer in the heavenly court. As the Midrash says, “If one is honest in his business dealings and people esteem him, it is accounted to him as though he had fulfilled the whole Torah” (MechiltaB'Shalach 1). In Judaism, the term Midrash refers to a form of rabbinic literature that offers commentary or interpretation of biblical texts.

4. Be charitable

The Torah teaches not only how to build a successful business, but also what to do once it is successful. The Bible teaches to be socially responsible and not forget about those that don't have food to eat. We have a social responsibility to our communities. We are obligated to donate a portion of our profits to the needy. Encourage your employees, partners and customers to also be charitable. One should learn to donate a portion of his or her profits to charity. Run promotions that contribute a portion of every sale to charity.

Christian teachings on enterprise

There are several positive characteristics that an entrepreneur must have in order to succeed. According to Fajardo (2007), entrepreneurs should have self- confidence, leadership and creativity. Entrepreneurs have many favourable interdependent characteristics which make them successful and extra-ordinary persons. The most important entrepreneurial characteristics that Christianity commands are: Trust in God, Reasonable Risk-taking, Hardworking, Innovative, Leadership, Positive thinker, and Decision maker.

There are many advantages of becoming an entrepreneur. According to Orcullo (2004), when you are an entrepreneur you have an opportunity to:

• gain control over your own destiny
• reach your full potential
• benefit financially and contribute to society and be recognized for one's effort.

1. Risk-taker

Christianity teaches its believers to engage in enterprise. According to Fajardo (2007) entrepreneurs avoid low-risk situations, because there are no challenges. They shy away from high-risk situations, because these may not be attainable.

Christian colleges mentor students to be Christian Risk-takers. The idea is that, as Christians, whatever business we may set up should not be for personal aggrandizement and pride, but to honour God and serve others. Ultimately, our plans and actions should be based on biblical values and allow us to be faithful witnesses for God. Although many people take risks to please themselves, few are interested in taking risks to please and honour God. Certainly there are risks in Christian service. And although this kind of risk may yield no immediate pleasure, God will still bless us.

2. Hardworking

Proverbs 14:23 points out that, "all hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty". "Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth" (Prov. 10:4).

"Sluggards do not plough in season; so at harvest time they look but find nothing" (Prov. 20:4). "The cravings of sluggards will be the death of them, because their hands refuse to work" (Prov. 21:25). The Bible tells that wealth is obtained through hard work, diligence, sacrifice and that failure to do those things will result in poverty. That is not to say all those who are poor or in poverty are sluggards or refuse to work, but it does tell us that those kinds of characteristics and flaws will most often lead to poverty.

3. Innovative

As Fajardo (2007) confirms, entrepreneurs are creative. They do things in new and different ways. For example, they create new products or services, new methods of production, new markets, and new sources of raw materials. They love to explore the unknown, and to blaze new paths of progress. 1 Kings 6 tells us how Solomon built the temple with very special innovation.

One of the qualities ascribed to Solomon is his wisdom. "The whole world sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart" (1 Kings

10:24). He was an innovator and God was the source of his innovation. Innovation is the ability to see situations from a different perspective, to discover new ways of satisfying a human need, to find a new solution to an old problem. God can help us to be innovative, when we trust in Him and seek to help others. John 14:13-14 says "I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”

4. Leadership

According to Fajardo (2007), entrepreneurs are leaders by the very nature of their functions. They are people who are task-oriented, effective planners, organizers and implementers, and they are achievers. Among their essential characteristics are selfless dedication, purpose and vision, courage, enthusiasm, integrity tact, and hard work. Many Christian colleges encourage and offer opportunities for students to assume responsibilities. They also provide mentors that will counsel and guide them. Above all, students are taught Christian values by precept and example, which will make them true leaders. These values are found in the teachings and example of Jesus, who summed them up in Matthew 22: 37-39, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.

5. Do not fear

What stops people from taking risks as an entrepreneur is fear. The Bible teaches that fear in itself is not bad, unless it keeps us from doing right. Among the people who will be excluded from the New Jerusalem are the "cowardly" (Rev 21:8), referring to those who let fear drive them away from believing in Christ. For a Christian also, fear is dangerous. Any fear that keeps us from doing the will of God puts us out of fellowship with him and forfeits his blessing.

Negative impact of religion on enterprise

Research has shown that religion may impact entrepreneurship not just directly through individual religious orientation but also through the wider social and community impact that religion may have on non-religious domains. The perceived feasibility of entrepreneurship maybe influenced negatively, by the impact of religion on social networks for instance WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Some religious groups like the White garment churches discourage their adherents to use these forms of technology of which in this modern world, technology is the quickest way of getting and transmitting information in business. So by discouraging their members, religion is negatively impacting entrepreneurship because some business transactions are done online for example, one can buy and sell business commodities online. Business conferences can also be done online, hence cutting travelling expenses as well as travelling hustles. 

Moreso, religion affects entrepreneurship negatively for example, in Islam. Women are prohibited from speaking with men in public; this therefore means Islamic women cannot engage in certain business transactions because of societally expressed constraints on individual behaviour. Judaism also negatively impact entrepreneurship by actively restricting, on religious grounds, certain forms of business venturing activity. For example, the Jewish dietary laws restrict its adherents from eating pork. Adherents cannot embark on business ventures like piggery projects.

Furthermore, discrimination is promoted by religion as it may create and promote institutional structures and social networks that build connection and trust between nascent and established entrepreneurs who are co-religionists. This means that certain business transactions cannot happen between people who have different religious affiliations and beliefs. At the individual level, it may refer to a degree of affiliation or engaging in religious activity for example in Christianity, members of the Seventh Day Adventist do not engage in any business transactions on their Sabbath. Religion discourages entrepreneurship by imposing excessive rules and expectations for example; the issue of tithes where one is expected to pay a tenth of whatever her or his profits were every month.Hence, this affects flow of money in business.

Here is what we discussed in this topic

Forms of technology are Email, Smartphones and texting, Video-conferencing, social networking and others.There is an interaction between religion and technology.Technology has always impacted lives and of course that also includes religion. Advances in technology have a way of changing the world around us. With an institution as old as religion, the means and methods of reaching audiences are bound to change over time. People are now carrying their smartphones to church instead of moving around with big Bibles and pastors can counsel their congregants even via WhatsApp. Religion positively and negatively affects enterprise.

Definition of terms used in this topic

Aggrandizement - to increase or enlarge.

Enterprise - the undertaking of a business or to venture into risky projects.

Religion - The belief in and worship of a supernatural power especially God or gods.

Riddled - damaged.