Economics explains a lot. People have to eat, after all. Economics structures our time and behavior. We go about maximizing things, like our profits or free time. Economics was important to the founders of the US. Pursuit of happiness is supposed to mean property. The Constitution was originally written for free landowners, which meant white males. President Coolidge reportedly made the claim that, "the business of America is business." Before the US is a Christian nation, it is an economic entity. There is supposed to be separation of church and state, but we can go at economic goals full tilt. Economics is spiritual, in that it gives meaning to our activities. Churches have to raise money, but economists don't have to pray to Jesus. There is syncretism, as in the Gospel of prosperity, and the Protestant work ethic. Forgiveness is an economic term. There are market failures of course, such as with the environment, and health insurance. Because economics models people as rational utility-maximizers, some people think they should act that way. There is probably a way to model compassion, which is important because we are social animals. In the meantime, there is "chop wood, carry water," and, "fill your bellies."