In one of the strangest statements about the financial world that I have ever seen, it is reported that Ken Costa, the vice-chairman of investment banking at UBS, said:
"No bank - Swiss Bank or the Bank of England - would survive the promised return of Christ. Strong as they appeared, their apparent security would be broken in an instant."
First, I find it odd that he would have to point that out. Second, it seems odd to me that if someone saw Jesus Christ coming through the clouds, that they would stop and ask, "I wonder if this will affect my online banking?" Third, I wonder what in the world he believes the connection between Christ and banking is. Fourth, I wonder what he is suggesting -- that his own bank isn't safe? That making money (which Mr. Costa has done a lot of) is evil?
Last of all, I thought that there must be more to what he says. So I dug a bit deeper into the subject and found this more insightful quote from Mr. Costa:
"As an investment banker in the City of London, I have read the Financial Times and the Bible almost every day for the last 30 years. People often ask how I reconcile being a banker and a Christian. There is a widespread view that God and business simply don’t mix: the competitive, cut-throat demands of the marketplace are seen as the obvious enemy of Christian compassion and love. But I have found that the God who created and sustains the world is also the God of the workplace. If the Christian faith is not relevant in the workplace, it is not relevant at all . . ."
Now that sounds a lot more like someone who realized that God isn't against man being rich. He's just against man being a jackhole while at work.
NOTE: Please note that I'm not saying here that being religious is bad. I'm just trying to say that there are a lot of people trying to reconcile making money with their religious beliefs. And it's not an easy thing to do.
