Eric Dolan is a Deputy Director at the Jersey Financial Services Commission, the regulating body for finance activities in Jersey but speaks here in a personal capacity.
Of course, the central question in this series of interviews is whether faith can be worn like an overcoat at all? We are trying to understand if it is possible to present a different personality, according to context.
If the overcoat of faith becomes too uncomfortable at work or anywhere else – can it just be taken off?
This ethical problem is not a new one and applies just as much to so-called socialists working in a capitalist world too – or a vegetarian working as a cow-hand.
But, we must all resolve this dilemma for ourselves - no amount of regulation can make the decision for us.
At some time we all have to say NO on ethical grounds – but where is this acceptable or necessary in the international world of finance?
Submitted by Thomas Wellard.
8 comments:
Looks like a future Treasury minister - Ozouf with brains.
How many supposed Christians are there among the current 53? Are there enough to form a congregation with their own church?
This is a fantastic series. Please keep it up.
Perhaps Thomas Wellard could ask Terry Le Sueur for an interview on this subject? He is both a religous and finance man. What do you say Tom?
I agree it is a fascinating subject and the interviewees should be applauded for their willingness to share their views on camera.
Although I believe their are massive moral, ethical and religous questions to be addressed by finance workers, or indeed all of us in Jersey who benefit from the finance industry, I don't believe this latest interviewee is addressing them.
There is an argument to be had that the finance industry is the modern day slave trade. And of course when the slave trade was booming in britain it was defended by the churches.
William Willbaforce (no spell check) comes to mind and "Amazing Grace"
The aim of this series was to speak with non-politicians but we shall see how it developes.
Of course, our elected reprsentatives are invited to comment, along with anybody else.
Thomas Wellard.
We should not forget that many of the supporters of Wilberforce and his campaign against slavery were also active as slave traders or owned plantations in the West Indies - and that some of these also claimed to be Christians.
John Newton, who found Christianity and wrote Amazing Grace had also been captain of a slaving vessel for some years.
The Christians will say that we are all sinners -but knowing when and how to condemnn the finance business or any other is very difficult when it is so strongly promoted as respectable.
Eventually slave trading was abolished - but there are still many millions of slaves in the world and places like Haiti have more people living in the conditions of slavery now than during its heyday under colonial control.
When we buy those tasty seedles grapes at our local supermarkets do we give a thought to the people who pick them in some far away place? Do we care if our clothes are made by children?
Who in the finance business really does proper KYC searches to discover how the invested money is actually generated?
We all know that India and China are now producing wealth and we want a share of it - but it is just the latest round in our exploitation of the desperately poor peoples in these places.
When shall our Dean ever speak out against such evils - when will Christians in Jersey stop just singing heavenly, hollow songs and address some of the inhumanities here on earth? This Christmas perhaps?
I was intrigued to read some years ago that when the Christians took over control of Rome that the Gladiators and other ritualistic killing sprees in the arenas continued.
So are we being told here that if the leaders of the Christian Church were to turn around and say that the Finance Industry was immoral and "we" were not to work there anymore that people would listen? I certainly believe that they would be given short thrift.
The religion that has this much power over its followers nowadays is Islam. But that is a topic for another occasion.
A born again atheist.
Didn't BBC Jersey do this exact series last summer?
BB who?
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