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Is religion a barrier to economic progress?

I won a £20 gift voucher yesterday at the conference at Imperial College with Tareq El Diwany and Alan Beatie with the following question:

“Retaining the pace and strength of our economy requires us to work very hard trading nationally and internationally - trade arguably encouraged by a consumerist driven lifestyle. What would the harm be if we had a slower economy, which may come with benefits such as shorter working days, more time with the family, better behaved children, etc?”

What do you all think?

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there is a saying which goes as this "eat to live, dnt live to eat". being muslims, we should abide by first part, nevertheless, many of us follow the second. any sane person should ask him(her)self from where he comes? why he is living? and what will happen to him(her) after death and where are we taken in this after life. And, should further be able to give himself a convincing answer, not otherwise, deluding, because man, cannot even delude his ownself, even if he tries, he will just confront misfortune. it is true that we have to work for money, however, this doesnt mean we should work all day and all night, or leave sometime just for rest. life is not sealed on just working. a father cannot say i am doing outside work and the mother should do the housework and raising the children, it is both parents responsibility to raise their children and the family as a whole, they both are accountable. Just because money can provide clothing, food and shelter, it doesnt mean it can provide everything. money may just fulfill our physical desire to some extent, but it cannot fulfill the needs of the soul. That is because, just as the stomach needs food, the brain requires thinking and exploring, as well, the soul needs to be fed. Nevertheless, the soul is nurtured by faith and remembrance of God. Otherwise, what is the meaning of life? For what should we spend all our effort for? Why should we be rich in money? and the most important question is: is all this working outside for a better economic status away from family and your beloved ones worth it? Is money or a high status all that a family needs to survive? To what extent can money keep a family stay together happily? Money alone, can drive man to a limited happiness or satisfaction which is mostly delusion. And let us remind ourselves that it is us who should be controlling money not the other way round.

Exellent post Ilaaf!