The Anti-Greed Gospel: How Wealth and Racism are Connected with Dr. Malcolm Foley

In this thought-provoking episode of Faithful Politics, co-hosts Josh Burtram and Will Wright sit down with Dr. Malcolm Foley, a historian, pastor, and advisor at Baylor University, to discuss his latest book, The Anti-Greed Gospel: Why the Love of Money is the Root of Racism and How the Church Can Create a New Way Forward. Dr. Foley unpacks the historical and theological connections between greed, economic exploitation, and racial violence, challenging the conventional narratives about race and capitalism. He explores how the desire for profit fueled the transatlantic slave trade, sustained Jim Crow laws, and continues to shape modern economic and political inequalities. Through a compelling discussion of history, theology, and practical application, this episode invites listeners to examine how greed operates in their own lives and communities—and what the church must do to counteract it.

Guest Bio: Dr. Malcolm Foley

Dr. Malcolm Foley is a historian, pastor, and special advisor to the president for equity and campus engagement at Baylor University. He earned his PhD in religion from Baylor, specializing in African-American Protestant responses to lynching from the late 19th to early 20th centuries. He serves as the director of Black Church Studies at Truett Theological Seminary and co-pastors Mosaic Waco, a multicultural church in Waco, Texas. Dr. Foley has been featured in Christianity Today, The Anxious Bench, and Mere Orthodoxy, where he addresses racial violence, economic injustice, and the church’s role in promoting equity and inclusion. His latest book, The Anti-Greed Gospel, provides a bold theological critique of capitalism, calling for a reformation of Christian priorities away from wealth accumulation and toward communal care.

Chapters