The Idolatry of Money and Human Rights

A Theological Critique of the New Myth of Capitalism

Jung Mo Sung

• Publisher: T&T Clark
• Year: 2026
• Edition: 1
• eBook ISBN:
  9780567726872
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Political Ideologies

A powerful theological critique of neoliberalism and contemporary capitalism and its corrosive effects on human dignity and social justice. Writing from Latin America's liberationist tradition and his position as a theologian in Brazil, Sung argues that neoliberal economics has not only created unprecedented inequality, but also birthed a new cultural myth: that the market is sacred. Drawing on biblical faith, Catholic social teaching, and real-world examples from around the globe, and providing lucid descriptions of contributions from key economists and liberation theologians, he challenges the modern separation between faith and economics, calling instead for a renewed commitment to human rights and the Church's option for the poor. Sung's central claim is provocative and urgent: the worship of money in today's world is a form of idolatry that contradicts both the gospel and reason. The Church must reject neutrality, he writes, and speak prophetically on behalf of the excluded. Originally published in Portuguese, this English translation brings to a wider audience a passionate, accessible, and intellectually rich argument that faith and reason demand action in the face of systemic injustice.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Contents
• Preface to the English Edition
• Introduction
• 1 Theology and the Economic Myths
• 2 The Revolution of the Mythical Structure of Capitalism
• 3 Sacred Market and the Inversion of Ethics
• 4 Theology and the Criticism of Idolatry
• 5 Class Conflict, Indifference, and Social Struggles
• 6 Human Dignity, Reconciliation, and Theology
• References
• Index