Religion and the Rise of Capitalism

In 'Religion and the Rise of Capitalism,' Benjamin M. Friedman argues that religious thought, especially the transition from Calvinism to a more optimistic Protestantism, played a crucial role in shaping Adam Smith's economic theories.

Friedman traces how these theological shifts influenced Smith's concept of the 'invisible hand' and how these ideas were later adopted and adapted in America.

The book also examines the evolution of American economic life, including the impact of religious beliefs during the Great Depression and the Cold War, and how conservative Protestantism fused with conservative economics in the twentieth century.