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Discussion » Questions » Life and Society » The core of Capitalism is wealth. The core of Christianity is belief in God/Jesus. Aren't they mutually exclusive?
RosieG

The core of Capitalism is wealth. The core of Christianity is belief in God/Jesus. Aren't they mutually exclusive?

How can a Christian support/embrace/strive for wealth? Where does the Bible tell you to do so? How can Capitalism and Christianity co-exist comfortably?  Where does the Bible tell you to "go forth and make lots of money?" How did "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" become so corrupted that it is now "Do it to others before they do it to you?"

Posted - May 14, 2017
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Responses


  • Yes, it is a difficult conflict.  But people are quite apt at setting aside beliefs to make gain or to cherry pick belief systems to support whatever need is pressing.
      May 14, 2017 8:43 AM MDT
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  • 113301
    More's the pity whistle. Sad indeed. :( Thank you for your thoughtful reply and Happy Monday m'dear!  :)
      May 15, 2017 2:41 AM MDT
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  • 6023
    No ...

    To turn your question around ... "Where does the Bible tell you NOT to makes lots of money?"
    Answer: Nowhere

    Think about it for a minute.  If everybody was poor, there would be no charities. 
    It's people who have so much money that they "don't know what to do with it" or "can't spend it all" that give millions to charities.
    And before anybody goes there ... who are YOU to say "they should give more"?

    Many people strive for wealth nor for themselves alone, but to make life more comfortable for their families.
    I don't see how that conflicts with Christian teachings.
      May 14, 2017 9:00 AM MDT
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  • 113301
    A question can be ignored/answered/deflected. You just deflected mine. I would have much preferred that  you answer it or ignore it. Happy Monday.
      May 15, 2017 2:43 AM MDT
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  • 6023
    I answered it.
    "No"

    Then I gave the reasons WHY I believe they are not mutually exclusive.
      May 15, 2017 7:57 AM MDT
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  • 124


    The problem Rosie is that Capitalism means any individual can prosperous....well it's meant to mean that anyway, as we know it doesn't because land ownerships, off shore bank accounts and back doors are open to the Rich and not us mere serfs.
    However, would you prefer communism? or how about socialism, or something in between the two, where as no one is considered an individual and everyone is counted as a community or group, like a group of worker bees? 
    See nothing can thrive under totalitarianism and throughout all orders totalitarianism has reigned because power corrupts and those at the top end of the scale never want to be at the bottom, and so they create a system where they will NEVER be at the bottom. Currently, we are looking at a new world government, and if you want to look at the agenda, the way to found out what agenda is in place, is to listen to the language your president and politicians are using.  If it's community based, come together, equal etc, then you are looking at socialist communism, where the individual is lost.

    As for Jesus concerning money:-

    After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, "Doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax?"

    "Yes, he does," he replied.

    When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. "What do you think, Simon?" he asked. "From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own sons or from others?"

    "From others," Peter answered.

    "Then the sons are exempt," Jesus said to him. "But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours."

    Now, I've tried this in order to pay my taxes but only ended up with fishy fingers.
    The two-drachma or tyrian shekel, had Phonican God Melqart or Baal, accepted as Hercules by the Greeks and called Beezlebub by the Jews, on one side, and a phoenix/eagle on ships ram on the other, with OF TYRE THE HOLY CITY OF REFUGE on it.




    Jesus also said:-

    Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. "Teacher," they said, "we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"

    But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?"

    "Caesar's," they replied.

    Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."

    When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away

    God doesn't make money, man does. Let's face it what is money? An IOU on a piece of paper, it isn't silver, it isn't gold, it is an IOU that banks have claimed ownership of. If the banks closed tomorrow we would have diddly squat.

    Jesus didn't think much of the money changers in the temple of God, but he appeared to keep secular money, and God separate.  It was the love of money that Jesus frowned upon, why because you cannot focus on God and the love of money together, one will always remain your master.  Mammon is actually used, and this was actually considered a demon/deity in some circles, as one of the princes of hell also signifying greed.

     

    This post was edited by Pepper Pot at May 15, 2017 2:44 AM MDT
      May 14, 2017 11:16 AM MDT
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  • 113301
    Thank you for a very thoughtful and thorough reply to my question. I appreciate that you took it seriously and didn't flip me off. Here's my main problem PepperP. It's the hypocrites. The self-righteous morally superior so-they-think crowd. The ones who will kill and cheat and lie and steal to make money but have no problem going to church, listening to sermons and believing they are "good" people. There are racists and bigots and misogynists and homophobes among those who call themselves Christian. There are lovesr of money beyond all else who will tell you how much they rely on God to get them through the day. That is bullsh** in my opinion. Look aorund you. What do you see? A world filled with people helping other people or a world wherein he who grabs first gets the most and and doesn't give a rat's a** about anyone else? It is simply unbearable. At least let them be honest about what they are. They worship money. They prostitute themselves for it. They lie, cheat, steal, betray. They are corruptible. They do things behind closed doors, under the radar. They try to get away with as much as they can and plot to get away with more always on the backs of the poor. "I got mine get your own" . We have a prez who is only interestsd in helping the obscenely wealthy. He doesn't give a hoot about those in need. He takes away from them to give to other obscenely wealthy people just like him. Yet he says the Bible is his favorite book. Do you believe him? Happy Monday to thee!  :)
      May 15, 2017 2:53 AM MDT
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  • 7280
    I recall the bible taking saying "give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God."  (Matthew 22:21)

    Of course, Jesus also gave specific advice to one man who asked what he should do to be perfect in Matthew 19:21---"If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

    Sounds like there is no inherent conflict between the two.
      May 14, 2017 1:14 PM MDT
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  • 124

    Very true Tom, and nice to hear from you :) How many of us are wiling to sell all our possessions? I think the crutch is, the more possessions you have, the more they could end up possessing you, like a yoke around your neck, and something you would do "anything" to keep. 

      May 14, 2017 2:54 PM MDT
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  • 7280
    Thanks...The old Kung Fu TV series had an interesting line of dialogue:  "Get rid of anything that forces you to serve it---whether something so sacred as a chalice or so humble as a pebble." 
      May 15, 2017 9:00 AM MDT
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  • 124
    I like that Tom :)
      May 15, 2017 9:56 AM MDT
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  • 7280
    I was so impressed, I have never forgotten it.  Always something to keep in mind.
      May 15, 2017 10:06 AM MDT
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  • 3191
    Capitalism is an economic and political system, a tool used to facilitate trade and allow people the means to acquire both needs and wants.  Trade is necessary, as few are capable of producing all of their own needs.  There is nothing inherently wrong in wealth, or in acquiring it, or in wanting things we do not need.  There are those who use it to exploit others, but that is true of all economic/political systems.  Whether one is "Christian" or not depends upon what is in their heart, as well as their actions and their interactions with others, not how wealthy they are or whether they are a capitalist or not. This post was edited by Bozette at May 14, 2017 4:59 PM MDT
      May 14, 2017 1:26 PM MDT
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  • 17592
    The Bible tells us over and over to be prosperous.   And, the heart of Christianity is Salvation and Faith.   Just believing that God and Jesus exist is not Christianity. 

      May 14, 2017 1:31 PM MDT
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  • 22891
    sounds like it
      May 14, 2017 4:23 PM MDT
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  • 16760
    I just want to see Trump get kicked, spat on and pooped on by camels while he's trying to push them through the eyes of needles. It would be highly entertaining.
      May 15, 2017 12:39 AM MDT
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  • 113301
    I'm a lucky gal Sbf! Yours was the FIRST reply I read this morning. It just put me in a really good mood. I am seeing what you described in my mind 's eye. If the guy would just lose 75-100 lbs it would be easier but he just keeps eating chocolate cake and TWO scoops of ice cream so that ain't gonna happen! Thank you for your picturesque reply m'dear and Happy Monday! :)
      May 15, 2017 2:37 AM MDT
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  • 6023
    You know the "Eye of the Needle" referenced the smaller (single person) gate that was part of the main city gates?
    Jesus wasn't literally talking about the eye of a needle that thread goes through.
      May 15, 2017 8:01 AM MDT
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  • 16760
    Either that or it was a needle and the Greek was mistranslated. "Kamelos" is "camel", "kamilos" is "rope" which makes more sense. It's not possible to put a rope through the eye of a needle either but the metaphor is more plausible. 
      May 15, 2017 8:11 AM MDT
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