Business Ethics and Religious Economy: The Challenge of Governing a Country Where Everyone Has Been Taught to Steal

Abstract

This paper critically examines the intersection of business ethics and religious economy in societies plagued by systemic corruption, with a focus on Nigeria. It explores how ethical values have been undermined in both governance and commerce, often with the complicity or silence of religious institutions. Rather than serving as moral guides, many religious actors now promote prosperity doctrines and transactional faith, contributing to a culture where dishonesty is normalized. The phrase "a country where everyone has been taught to steal" captures the depth of this ethical crisis. Using insights from philosophy, theology, and socio-political analysis, the study highlights how both spiritual and civic institutions have lost credibility. It concludes by emphasizing the urgent need for ethical reformation across sectors, calling for integrity-based leadership, de-commercialized religious practices, and a renewed commitment to justice and accountability as pathways to sustainable national development.