Money, the meaning of money, management, spirituality, and religion

Abstract

This article briefly summarizes selected theory and research related to money and the meaning of money. Research shows that money is considered as a tool and as a drug. People are subject to all kinds of temptation in the environment that trigger them to act ethically or unethically. Thinking about money enhances one’s feeling of “self‐sufficiency,” but reduces one’s willingness to help others. The mere presence of abundant money incites the feeling of “envy” toward wealthy others that provokes unethical behavior. Having control over money and spending money on others promote happiness. High love‐of‐money individuals have low pay satisfaction, low quality of life, low ethical intentions, and low intention to help others and become Good Samaritans. Since money is the direct opposite of spirituality and one cannot serve both God and money, spirituality and religion help people live fulfilling, meaningful, and purposeful lives. There is hope that our understanding of spirituality and religion through the lens of money may help researchers and practitioners move to further research and improved practice.

Keywords:

• money
• the meaning of money
• the love of money
• money ethic
• Protestant ethic
• pay satisfaction
• spirituality
• religion
• the Bible

Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank Robert A. Giacalone, late Fr. Wiatt Funk, Fr. Mark Sappenfield, and Robert Dray, M.D. for their suggestions and inspiration and Michael Walker and Whitney Sewell for their assistance and honor his parents, late Professor Kuan Ying Tang and late Fang Chen Tang, and his wife, Theresa Li‐Na Tang, for their wisdom, support, and encouragement.