Religion and The Entrepreneurial Process

Research Paper Title:

“Toward a theological turn in entrepreneurship: How religion could enable transformative research in our field”

Authors:

Brett Smith (Miami University)
Jeffery McMullen (Indiana University)
Melissa Cardon (The University of Tennessee)

Background:

Despite its overwhelming importance to millions of people across the planet both currently and throughout history, religion has been largely neglected by entrepreneurship research. Yet, because of its prevalence, centrality, established base of scientific inquiry, and ability to offer novel insight into emerging phenomena, religion offers numerous opportunities for transformative research.

Hypothesis:

• To offer a glimpse of what a “theological turn” in entrepreneurship research might look like: first, by identifying obstacles to religion’s inclusion and how these barriers may be overcome; second, by explaining how the theological turn enables alternative explanations of important phenomena and stimulates research questions that build on the growing integration of religion and entrepreneurship in practice; and finally, by showing how a theological turn could challenge researchers to reach beyond our existing knowledge horizons to develop a future of impactful, relevant, and pioneering scholarship in the field of entrepreneurship.

Conclusion:

Due to its prevalence, centrality, established base of scientific inquiry, and ability to provide novel answers to emerging phenomena, religion offers an opportunity for more complete and transformative research in our field.