Praise Upon Praise for Abraham Kuyper’s on Business and Economics

In his volume introduction to On Business and Economics, Peter S. Heslam notes that there is a distinct lack of engagement by theologians with enterprise. This disconnect between these two spheres makes this anthology of Abraham Kuyper’s writings on these subjects all the more important. This timeliness has certainly been recognized by prominent contemporary economists, theologians, and business leaders alike. We received over 60 endorsements for this volume, including one from a former Prime Minister of the Netherlands.

“As a successor to Abraham Kuyper as Prime Minister of the Netherlands, I feel deeply indebted to him. I was a student and then a professor at the Free University of Amsterdam he founded. I led the Christian Democratic Appeal, a party formed from a merger involving the Anti-Revolutionary Party, which Kuyper also founded. I was honoured, in addition, to receive the prestigious Kuyper Prize at Princeton in 2004. More importantly, I’ve been inspired throughout my adult life by his vision of Christianity offering a worldview that engages with every area of life.

“Against this background, I am delighted that Peter Heslam has produced this fascinating and important anthology. Although much attention has been given to Kuyper’s writings on other issues, his engagement with the commercial sphere has been largely overlooked. Now we have a book that shows Kuyper rising above such polarizations as left-right and conservative-progressive, to offer fresh and inspiring perspectives that are deeply grounded in central tenets of the Christian faith. 

“Peter Heslam’s publication of Kuyper’s ideas is therefore of great contemporary relevance. I commend it whole-heartedly to leaders in business, economics, theology, and public policy.“
—Jan Peter Balkenende, former Prime Minister of the Netherlands and former President of the European Council. He is Professor of Governance, Institutions and Internationalization, Erasmus University Rotterdam; and Chairman of the Dutch Sustainable Growth Coalition.

“These writings will provide a mine of wisdom for economists and business professionals interested in the moral and spiritual dimensions of economic life.”
—Judd Birdsall, former US diplomat, director of the Transatlantic Policy Network on Religion and Diplomacy; editor-in-chief of the journal Religion and Diplomacy

“In this carefully curated collection of writings by the entrepreneurial public theologian, social reformer and statesman Abraham Kuyper, Business leaders and economists will find a deep source of wisdom and inspiration.”
—Leon van den Broeke, associate professor of Religion, Law and Society/Church Polity, and chair of the Centre for Religion and Law at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

“[Kuyper’s] understanding of the integral relationship between business, economics, and ethics surpasses anything available today. This volume’s introductions alone are worth the investment.“
—Dick DeVos, president of the Windquest Group and former president of Amway

“This book is must-reading for leaders in business and academia wishing to consider the role of purpose and values in the economic sphere.”
—Allan Discua Cruz, lecturer in international business, Lancaster University Management School

“Abraham Kuyper on Business and Economics demonstrates that the integration of faith and work, management, leadership, economics and entrepreneurship has ancient spiritual roots.”
—Wouter Droppers, president of Europartners

“Leaders seeking insight into the role of faith and purpose in business will find both challenge and inspiration in this much-needed book.”
—Anthony Farr, CEO of Allan & Gill Gray Philanthropy Africa, Cape Town, South Africa

“This anthology will provide a wellspring of inspiration for business leaders, economists, politicians, social entrepreneurs, theologians, and ordinary consumers.”
—Ram Gidoomal, CBE is Chairman of South Asian Concern, Traidcraft, and CottonConnect

“At a time when our consumerist and materialistic values are being shaken, it is refreshing to read Kuyper’s emphasis on business to the glory of God.”
—Ken Gnanakan, founder and chancellor of the ACTS Group of Institutions and founder-chairman of the International Council for Higher Education, India

“This collection of writings […] will help leaders in business, finance and economics to think through the role of purpose and values in their work.”
—Lord Stephen Green of Hurstpierpoint, former CEO and Chair of the HSBC Group; former Minister for Trade in the UK Government; member of House of Lords; priest in the Church of England

“Here Kuyper demonstrates how common grace underlies the division of labour, markets, money, trade and enterprise in business and economic life.”
—Lord Brian Griffiths of Fforestfach, vice-chairman of Goldman Sachs International; former professor of Banking and International Finance; former dean of the City University Business School; former chief policy adviser to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher

“This anthology will introduce new readers to [Kuyper’s] ideas on work, money, debt, interest, pensions, protectionism, subsidies, technology, social structures, tariffs and taxes, and the role of national policy.”
—Prabhu Guptara, retired distinguished professor of Global Business, Management and Public Policy at William Carey University, India; former executive director of Organisation Development at Wolfsberg/UBS (Switzerland) and chairman of the Relational Thinking Network. He is honorary chairman of The Career Innovation Company (Oxford, UK), and a publisher and board consultant.

“In Kuyper’s mind the boundaries that most of us take to be fixed were highly permeable. This kind of intellectual influence, sometimes self-conscious but often not, is at the core of how religious thinking has historically shaped economic thinking. Seeing it in action in this eminent figure who straddled the religious and political realms is fascinating.”
—Benjamin Friedman, professor of Political Economy, Harvard University and author of The Moral Consequences of Economic Growth, and Religion and the Rise of Capitalism

“A boost for Christian social and economic reform today.”
—George Harinck, professor of Protestant History at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam; Director of the Neo-Calvinism Research Institute, Theological University Kampen, The Netherlands

“Although he was writing a century ago, [Kuyper’s] integration of theology, business and ethics is of great relevance today.”
—Andrew Hartropp, associate fellow of the Centre for Enterprise, Markets and Ethics in Oxford; author of God’s Good Economy

“Engagement between the world of business and economics and the world of theology is fragmented. The appearance of these writings of Abraham Kuyper is therefore very timely […] It will be appreciated both by scholars and businesspeople alike.”
—Andrew Henley, professor of Entrepreneurship and Economics at Cardiff Business School, University of Cardiff, Wales

“From labor strikes, to charitable donations, to a proper understanding of agribusiness, the broad scope of Kuyper’s thought deserves our attention.”
—Erik Hoekstra, president of Dordt University; former business leader

“The rising interest in Abraham Kuyper in South Korea is very welcome, for several reasons. One is the anti-intellectual tendency amongst some pietistic and revivalist forms of Korean Christianity. Another is the growing desire amongst Korean leaders in business and economics to integrate their faith with their work.”
—Jae-Buhm Hwang, professor of Christian Studies at Keimyung University, Daegu, South Korea

“[Kuyper’s] ideas will inspire and inform all business leaders and economists interested in what motivates people to excel in their work.”
—Sid Jansma, Jr., entrepreneur, business executive in the energy industry; chairman of the Board Emeritus of Calvin Theological Seminary

“The crisis caused by the pandemic is apocalyptic in the sense that it reveals deeper truths that challenge our deep-seated worldviews. This collection of writings by Abraham Kuyper is therefore very timely. It shows how important it is to bring spiritual and moral concerns into our construction of the new normality.”
—Phee Seng Kang, chairman and founding director, Quest Institute, Hong Kong; former vice-president,  professor and research centre director, China Graduate School of Theology, Hong Kong.

“[On Business & Economics] deserves to be used as a textbook in universities, colleges, business schools, and seminaries. It will appeal to all students and young entrepreneurs keen to integrate their faith with the sphere of business and economics.”
—Luther J Kim, president of Covenant Theology Innovation Research; professor of Intercultural Studies and Theology at Globe Covenant Seminary; author of A. Kuyper’s View of Sphere Sovereignty and the Korean Church

“These writings of Abraham Kuyper […] demonstrate how biblical teaching can guide economic policy and activity so that they produce human flourishing.”
—Kit-Chun Joanna Lam, professor emeritus, Department of Economics, Hong Kong Baptist University; chair of the Christian Economists Forum (Hong Kong); former visiting scholar of Princeton Theological Seminary

“I strongly recommend this book to all those seeking to integrate business and economics with biblical ethics.”
—Peter Lam, former engineer, senior pastor of EFCC Kong Fok Church, Hong Kong

“The publication of this Kuyper anthology cannot be timelier.”
—Swee Sum Lam, director of the Asian Pastoral Institute in Singapore; former director of the Asia Centre for Social Entrepreneurship and Philanthropy, NUS Business School, National University of Singapore

“We can learn from the breadth and depth of Kuyper’s wisdom, as he fully understood the need to generate wealth and to tackle poverty. The writings included in this anthology range from devotionals to public theology, to detailed economic proposals. It represents treasure, not only for scholars and business leaders but for all those seeking to live with integrity in daily life.”
—Kam-hon Lee, emeritus professor of Marketing, CUHK Business School, Chinese University of Hong Kong

“Abraham Kuyper regarded business as a legitimate social sphere and a noble vocation for Christians. This perspective is urgently needed in Asia and the Global South where economies and the Christian faith are both in rapid growth.”
—Clive Lim, director of Leap International; founder of TeleChoice International, Singapore; visiting associate professor of Marketplace Theology at Regent College, Vancouver

“If this book had been available to our mentors, contemporary Indian Christianity may have been creating wealth for the flourishing of those at the bottom of the economic pyramid, who are crushed by our social system. And the American Church may have saved capitalism from its moral bankruptcy.”
—Vishal Mangalwadi, leading Indian thinker, writer, and social reformer. He is the author of many books, including one on the Bible’s cultural impact, This Book Changed Everything

“The connection between religion and business becomes an ever more significant topic of academic enquiry, which the life and work of Kuyper exemplify so well.”
—Colin Mayer, Peter Moores Professor of Management Studies, Said Business School, University of Oxford  

“An invaluable collection of material on Kuyper’s critical yet world-affirming approach to business and economics.”
—Alister McGrath Andreas Idreos Professor of Science and Religion, University of Oxford

“So often forgotten is the timeless wisdom, the probing questions, and the practical insights of those who have gone before. As a philosopher-theologian, Kuyper sought to integrate faith and work in his own time and context. We must do the same today.”
—David Miller, director of the Princeton Faith & Work Initiative, Princeton University; president of the Avodah Institute. He is a former senior executive in international finance. 

“Kuyper the theologian, politician, journalist, social entrepreneur, and Prime Minister, offers penetrating reflections at the intersection of theology and business.”
—Geoff Moore, professor of Business Ethics, Durham University Business School

“Abraham Kuyper has always been, for me, full of surprises. In this volume, he has surprised me again.”
—Richard Mouw, professor of Faith and Public Life; former president, Fuller Theological Seminary, USA

“This collection is a timely testimony to Kuyper’s enduring value as a dialogue partner from another age as we face the ethical challenges of a globalised, digital economy.”
—Piet Naude, professor of Ethics, University of Stellenbosch Business School, South Africa

“It is rare to find in theologians who appreciate business and its contribution to society.”
—Carlos Newland, professor of Economic History at ESEADE, Buenos Aires, Argentina

“I have been in discussion with public theologians for more than 20 years, often about how obstacles between us can be removed. Kuyper’s constructive approach provides a way forward. It offers a conceptual framework for theologians, business leaders and economists to analyse contemporary culture as we actually experience it.”
—Stan du Plessis, professor of Economics, Stellenbosch University, South Africa; former president of the Economic Society of South Africa

“In refreshing contrast to many theologians before and since, Kuyper championed a positive view of modern business. This view needs to be encouraged amongst business school students today!”
—Michael Pollitt, professor of Business Economics at the Cambridge Judge Business School; fellow of Sidney Sussex College, University of Cambridge

“[Kuyper’s] insights travel well from one century to the next. Business executives, thought leaders, and policy makers can all learn from Kuyper’s reflections about God’s designs for creation, business as a calling, ethical business practice, and social issues. Ordinary citizens will find guiding principles for their consumer choices and how best to tackle poverty.”
—Shirley Roels, professor emerita of Management, Calvin University, USA; executive director, International Network for Christian Higher Education

“This collection of Kuyper’s writings provides a blazing light to help us navigate our age of rampant consumerism and ecological upheaval. In grounding its call for ‘architectonic’ economic change in the notion of common grace, it will appeal to people of all faiths and none.”
—Eduardo Sasso, business leader from Costa Rica; author of A Climate of Desire

“This anthology of [Kuyper’s] key writings on money, business and economics will provide guidance and inspiration not only to researchers but to leaders in business, economics, church, and politics.”
—Amy Sherman, senior fellow at the Sagamore Institute’s Center on Faith in Communities, USA.

“This important anthology by Peter Heslam fills a gap in Kuyper scholarship, namely how Kuyper as a theologian engages with business and economics.”
—Muthuraj Swamy, director of the Cambridge Centre for Christianity Worldwide; member of the Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge. Previously he was Associate Professor at the Union Biblical Seminary, Serampore University, India.

“We owe it to Peter Heslam for editing this inspiring and useful anthology, and for his outline of Kuyper’s neo-Calvinist perspective on business. They offer great wisdom to business leaders, economists and ordinary consumers today.”
—Kim Tan, chairman of SpringHill Management; pro-chancellor of the University of Surrey; fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine, UK. He is also a partner in several social impact funds in Africa and Asia and the co-founder of the Transformational Business Network.

“…a wonderful grounding for reflection on a Christian understanding of business and economics.”
Jeff Van Duzer, former Dean of the School of Business and Economics, Seattle Pacific University; author of Why Business Matters to God

“Kuyper’s ideas about the vocation to business, and the vocation of business, are especially helpful. […] Anyone with an interest in responsible business should read this book.”
—Sir Philip Watts, former chair of Shell; priest in the Church of England

“[Kuyper’s] writings have provided me with the example and the theological foundation that I have needed to holistically engage my spirituality with society. May [On Business & Economics] serve to inspire a new generation of people called to serve God in business and economics, so that nations can be healed through the healing of their economies.”
—Arleen Westerhof, co-lead pastor, God’s Embassy Amsterdam; Founder and executive director of the Economic Summit; director of the Center for Economics and Mutuality, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands. 

“With this wonderful book, Heslam constructively advances the dialogue between faith and business. In doing so, he shows how leaders in business and economics can recognize and celebrate the power of common grace in their everyday work.”
—Andreas Widmer, director of the Ciocca Center for Principled Entrepreneurship, Busch School of Business, Catholic University of America

“Peter Heslam has done a great service to the development of marketplace theology with the publication of this anthology.”
—Paul Williams, CEO of Bible Society; research professor of Marketplace Theology and Leadership, Regent College, Vancouver, Canada. He was previously chief economist at DTZ (now Cushman & Wakefield)

“Whether your interest lies in stakeholder capitalism, the learning organisation, innovation, entrepreneurship, servant leadership, stewardship or spirituality in the workplace, here lies treasure.”
—Eric Wood, director of Affirma (UK); professor of innovation and entrepreneurship, University of Cape Town; visiting fellow, Cambridge Judge Business School, University of Cambridge

“This anthology, bringing together some of Kuyper’s key works on business and economics, will provide further insight and inspiration to those who are helping to shape Asia’s future.”
—Fenggang Yang, professor of sociology and director of the Center on Religion and Chinese Society, Purdue University; author of Religion in China: Survival and Revival under Communist Rule, and Atlas of Religion in China: Social and Geographical Contexts

“Heslam’s anthology is a must-read for any Christian looking to build a business that advances God’s kingdom.”
—Jeff Yoh, business leader and social entrepreneur

“There is fresh interest amongst academic economists and business leaders worldwide in the role of spiritual and moral values in economic life. Yet they have few quality resources to turn to. They will greatly appreciate Peter Heslam’s excellent annotated collection of writings of the influential theologian and social entrepreneur Abraham Kuyper.”
—Sung Min Yoo, associate professor of economics and international business, Trinity Western University; former Assistant Professor at Chung-Ang University, South Korea

“I commend this anthology to all those who shape the next generation of business leaders.”
—Stephen Young, global executive director, Caux Round Table for Moral Capitalism, Caux, Switzerland

“Peter Heslam’s introductory chapter begins with these four words: Common grace in business. […] As the world threatens to drift further apart, there is a crucially important role for common grace in business.”
—Guoliang Yu, president of Educational Services Exchange with China (ESEC), Beijing