RELIGION AND THE RISE OF GLOBAL CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

The relationship between people of faith and capitalism is a complicated one. Historically, the Christian religion has been associated with the emergence of capitalism in the West, with Protestantism playing a particularly important role. Some believe Christianity and capitalism are not only inextricable but essential to each other's success. Yet at times, Christians have voiced profound criticism of the pernicious effects of capitalism, and especially corporations, on society and spirituality. William Blake wrote of "dark, Satanic mills" blotting the English landscape in the early days of the Industrial Revolution. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, warned against industries that pollute the environment (tanning) and those that pollute the soul (alcohol). The 1768 Quaker Yearly Meeting in Philadelphia mandated that members disengage from investing in the business of trading slaves. And in 1928, Christians created the first socially responsible investment fund, designed to avoid industries that promoted vice, such as alcohol, gambling, and tobacco businesses.