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Trust, Faith, and Betrayal: Insights from Management for the Wise Believer

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Abstract

Trust within a secular or organizational context is much like the concept of faith within a religious framework. The purpose of this article is to identify parallels between trust and faith, particularly from the individual perspective of the person who perceives a duty owed to him or her. Betrayal is often a subjectively derived construct based upon each individual’s subjective mediating lens. We analyze the nature of trust and betrayal and offer insights that a wise believer might use in understanding his or her relationship with the divine. We suggest that the parallels between trust and faith involve a willingness to relinquish one’s power or control in the expectant hope that our needs will be met. Betrayal, however, is often profoundly misunderstood.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. McNeese College of Business, McNeese State University, Lake Charles, Louisiana, 70609, U.S.A.

    Cam Caldwell

  2. Business Administration, Goddard School of Business, Weber State University, Ogden, Utah, 84408, U.S.A.

    Brian Davis

  3. School of Business, Colorado Technical University, Colorado Springs, CO, U.S.A.

    James A. Devine

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  1. Cam Caldwell
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  2. Brian Davis
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  3. James A. Devine
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Correspondence to Cam Caldwell.

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Caldwell, C., Davis, B. & Devine, J.A. Trust, Faith, and Betrayal: Insights from Management for the Wise Believer. J Bus Ethics 84 (Suppl 1), 103–114 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-008-9689-0

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