Using the World & Enjoying God: An Augustinian Theology of Economy

Theology on Tap Chattanooga

The evening will feature poetry from Nikki Lake, a lecture from Rev. Dr. Zac Settle, and then a conversation between the two moderated by CALEB Faith Caucus leader Christopher Heintz.

00:01 - Opening Intro & Announcements

07:26 - Poetry by Nikki Lake

08:53 - Lecture from Rev. Dr. Zac Settle

46:19 - Poetry by Nikki Lake

47:21 - Conversation between Christopher Heintz, Nikki Lake, & Zac Settle

Lecture abstract: In this short lecture, Fr. Zac will sketch a theology of economy by drawing on the work for a fifth-century, North-African Bishop: St. Augustine of Hippo. He will talk a little about who Augustine was and then sketch a kind of rubric with which we can think about economics on a theological level. The goal is make use of Augustine's idea of "use" and "enjoyment" in order to facilitate our understanding of faithful economic action. Doing so will help us talk about how we ought to engage with the economic issues of our own time and place as Christians. If we want to follow Augustine's example, faithful action requires that we use our wealth, resources, and selves for the sake of facilitating people's enjoyment of God.

Rev. Dr. Zac Settle serves as curate at Grace Episcopal Church in Chattanooga, TN. He was ordained to the priesthood in 2023. Prior to joining Grace he earned an Anglican Studies diploma at Sewanee’s School of Theology and completed an internship at Erlanger Hospital, where he was a chaplain for the cancer and diabetes units. Before that he earned a PhD in theology from Vanderbilt’s Graduate Department of Religion. His first book, "On the Nature, Limits, Meaning, and End of Work", was published in Bloomsbury Academic’s “Reading Augustine” series in 2023.