While on the train from Madrid to Barcelona, I met three travel buddies who had just graduated from Palm Beach Atlantic University, a Christian school. One of them—who’s preparing to embark on a mission that will take him to some far-flung corners of the world—said the first thing that came to mind when he thought of money and values was the role of charity in his faith. He mentioned a book called The Treasure Principle, which talks about the various ways in which giving is an integral part of Christianity.
It was interesting perspective, and it reminded me that religion had come up in a debate I’d had some time ago while fantasizing about an invention that would let people quickly discern whether a product was really green, sweatshop-free, etc. My husband and I envisioned a value-neutral tool that could be calibrated to anyone’s unique world views and preferences—which could include things like religion and political persuasion—whereas our friend wanted the product to be designed from a strictly environmentalist and generally left-leaning perspective, so that it couldn’t be used by, say, religious-right fundamentalists to keep constituents away from liberal-owned products.
On the same train ride, I happened upon a magazine ad for the new Mini Cooper and noted with interest that the fine print disclosed not only the car’s mileage but also its emissions. Hmm, a Europe thing or a Mini Cooper thing? In any case, I like it. Would that U.S. car ads did the same.
