The bludgeoning conclusion of Paul Thomas Anderson's much-lauded, Oscar-nominated film "There Will Be Blood," which has recently been released on DVD, features a preacher forced to renounce his faith in God and admit charlatanry. Spencer Dew investigates.

In a provocative short article in the International Herald Tribune newspaper, Philip Blond argues that the dominant neo-liberal model of global economy is in crisis, and that both the political right and the political left have failed to understand the nature of the challenge this embodies.

At his appearance to say prayers at the Apostolic Palace of Castelgandolfo, Pope Benedict has spoken of the 'blind selfishness' that can result from an over-preoccupation with money. He says capitalism is not the only valid economic system.

An East German Protestant who played a big role in the movement that led to the end of communism and the Berlin Wall in 1989, has warned against the church becoming seduced by the "friendly embrace" of capitalism.

David Ford says that slavery is still very much alive, and that the systems and ideas that underpin it also challenge the church's deep collusion with racism - and its unwillingness to be grasped by the Gospel.