Steps of the Same Staircase: Economics, Sociology, and Theology in the Service of Love for One’s Neighbor
Year: 2026
Type: book-chapter
Abstract: This theoretical and reflective essay brings together three disciplinary lenses, economics, sociology, and theology, as complementary keys to a comprehensive understanding of human beings and Christian spirituality. The study begins with the Greek etymology of economy (oikonomia, “household management”), relating it to the biblical concept of stewardship, understood as the responsible management of creation. It then proceeds from the concept of scarcity, which is intrinsic to economic rationality, to social interaction, the foundation of the sociological imagination, and ultimately to transcendence, the distinctive horizon of theological reflection. Drawing on these perspectives, the study analyzes what is termed the spirituality of the cross, understood in its vertical and horizontal dimensions, and discusses the model of prayer taught by Jesus Christ as a practical pedagogy of this spirituality. The essay takes the form of a theoretical and autobiographical reflection that combines biblical and theological foundations, dialogue with contemporary sociology, and accounts of the author’s personal and professional experiences, particularly those associated with the institutional care of children and adolescents. The discussion shows that the material, relational, and spiritual dimensions are not mutually exclusive, but complement one another as steps of the same staircase of meaning, converging in the commandment to love one’s neighbor. It concludes that Christian spirituality, when lived in its fullness, is not confined to the vertical dimension of faith, but is necessarily translated into concrete practices of stewardship, care, and solidarity, thereby contributing to interdisciplinary debate among economics, sociology, and theology.
Source: Aurum Editora eBooks
Author: Jonas Pereira de Oliveira Júnior
Language: English
Subfield: Religious studies
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7204858795