Capitalism defines man as an economic animal. Capitalists believe that some people need to suffer deprivation in the present time for the good of the whole in the long run.
Communism defines man as an economic animal.
Communists beileve that some people need to suffer deprivation in the present time for the good of the whole in the long run.
Render unto God what is God's
Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's
And to humans? What?
If he thinks about it at all... that it's an interesting creation of his creations, and that it can serve both good and evil, depending upon the intent of the people using it.
Maybe Jesus might have though differently, but you have to believe he was/is God to really care.
BillyFalcon wrote:Capitalism defines man as an economic animal. Capitalists believe that some people need to suffer deprivation in the present time for the good of the whole in the long run.
Communism defines man as an economic animal.
Communists beileve that some people need to suffer deprivation in the present time for the good of the whole in the long run.
Your description of capitalism is wrong. Capitalists believe that each person should be given the opportunity to make good for themselves, with as few restrictions and hinderances from outside sources as possible.
Capitalists believe that, as a general rule, laziness breeds poverty, and that hard work breeds wealth.
Capitalists also believe that hard work builds character, and laziness builds jealousy.
Communism, in its pure sense, is community values. Each person works for every other person's benefit. This is a good system, and a lot like the Old Testament lifestyle and the Amish system even today.
However, Communism, the way it seems to end up in modern history (e.g. China, USSR) is a failing system because a select few take a large portion of the wealth generated by the masses. Thus creating an ultra-wealthy ruling class and everyone else is lower class.
And the wealth of dictators and Communist leaders far outweighs the wealth of any of our presidents or congressmen.
General Tsao
Do we HAVE to base our economic lifestyles on a book of Jewish folktales?
General Tsao,
All of your points are well-taken and well presented.
But what are you to make of a saying of mine -
"If hard work payed off, slaves would be rich."
What are we to make of your comment that poor people are poor because they are bad (lazy) and rich people are rich because they are good (hard work)?
Based on a couple of statements attributed to him, I think God would have a whole lot to say about that. "Whatever you do unto these, the least of my brethren, you do unto me." Seems that poverty may not be a result of laziness. And that being rich may not necessarily be admirable (the camel through the eye of a needle parable)
So, is that God?
The evil done in the 20th century in the name of Anti-Communism (what do we call it? Capitalism?) is formidable. Capitalism seems to fit the bill.
General Tsao says, "Communism is a failing system because a select few take the wealth generated by the masses. "Thus creaiting an ultra-wealthy ruling class and everyone else is lower class."
That sounds like a description of most of the 20th century US-backed dictators in Central and South Americas. Only, it was brought on not by communism but by anti-communism. The twenty or so US Marine incursions in the 20th century to prop up dictatorial banana republics.
Later, the assassinations of the duly elected presidents from Guzman-Arbenz 1954 Guatemala to Salvador Allende in Chile, 196_ ?. Giving military aid to a string of ruthless leaders such as Somoza in Niacragua,
Papa Doc Duvalier in Haiti, the generals in Argentina(who "disappeared" some forty thousand Argentians) Chile, Brazil, Columbia, Bolivia, etc., etc.etc. We haaven'tt aid much attention to our neighbors to the south except to sustain the brutality of the region.
I write all this to suggest that, in spite of our foremost professional athletes thanking God for winning the championship, praising and buddy-buddying with God, still, God may not always be on our side.
Besides, much of the time both sides try to get on God's good side. So, what's he supposed to do, then? Declare two winners? Create miracles?
Six of ten people so far have said that religion call to a higher moral code than capitalism.
Capitalism, and democracy, give every person the opportunity to do good things for themselves and others. It maintains God's principal of free will, and without free will, there is no such thing as morality. In a tightly controled socialist state or dictator's police state, there is no opportunity to make the right or wrong choice, thus the people are neither moral or immoral, just oppressed.
Well, I'm not religious and find the moral standards of "God" as represented by religous texts to be lacking. Although that's not to say that the moral standards of religous groups or religious individuals on the other hand aren't high.
As for capitalism, it's difficult to see how any of us livng in a capitalist country could avoid it. It would be hypocritical to base your lifestyle around material goods and then claim different standards for an hour in church each week. If you had objections to capitalism I think it would make more sense to mould your whole lifestyle to fit. Find a job that contributes to the good of the world, or protest the powerful ruling class, or throw out your televison, car, expensive clothes and go and live in the hills, or join a union, or plot a overthrow of the capitalist system depending on how exactly you're opposed to capitalism.
Actually, on the other hand I can see similarities between communism and religion. The Communist leader is like a living god. Like the North Korean leader, who has a national Christmas-like celebration of his own birth each year.
God despises capitalism, but loves communism. The Peoples Republic of China fits his concept of a perfect economic system and country.
Why would God care about an economic system? Wouldn't it be reasonable that if there were a God it would have other things to worry about?
cosmina, Welcome to A2K. I love capitalism; prolly as a result of us being third generation Americans that provided us with all the opportunities of our form of government.
What does God think of capitalism?
Uh, does God think? And if s/he does, I doubt s/he spends much time thinking about economic systems.
God does think. And he thinks you are taking this question a little too literally.
I think God would most value a system that encouraged people to achieve, expand, invent, explore, innovate, imagine, accomplish, improve, excel and in so doing offer all others the same opportunities to have safety and peace with less poverty, less sickness, less suffering which is true charity and benevolence.
I think capitalism is the only economic system that encourages all these things.
I agree that capitalism is a fine economic system. I hope that we as a nation go back to it and get rid of all the royality that now runs our government. Tell me how many politicians do you know of that arnt millionares before you jump on me as unamerican.
I realize that this politics and not a religious forum, but the question is asked and people have responded and the thread has not as of yet been taken out, so...
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Luk 12:13 And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.
Luk 12:14 And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?
Luk 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
Luk 12:16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
Luk 12:17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
Luk 12:18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
Luk 12:19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, [and] be merry.
Luk 12:20 But God said unto him, [Thou] fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
Luk 12:21 So [is] he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
Luk 12:22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
Luk 12:23 The life is more than meat, and the body [is more] than raiment.
Luk 12:24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
Luk 12:25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
Luk 12:26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
Luk 12:27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Luk 12:28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more [will he clothe] you, O ye of little faith?
Luk 12:29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
Luk 12:30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
Luk 12:31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
rabel writes:
Quote:I agree that capitalism is a fine economic system. I hope that we as a nation go back to it and get rid of all the royality that now runs our government. Tell me how many politicians do you know of that arnt millionares before you jump on me as unamerican.
Unfortunately we Americans demand photogenic candidates and lots of exposure before we will vote for somebody--too many of us vote for the 'pretty' candidate with little or no knowledge of what the candidate is made of. That means that a poor man with limited resources cannot run for high office or even risk a steady income, retirement benefits etc. to become part of an administration. Bill Clinton's staff and cabinet, for instance, contained more millionaires than any other in history.
While I do not share the sentiment that the rich are somehow less worthy than the poor--I would rather trust somebody who has succeeded in the system and knows how it works than somebody who can be too easily manipulated by unaccustomed prosperity--I do agree, however, that we are overtaxed and overregulated making true capitalism ever more difficult.
It's still out there, however, and it still works beautifully when it is allowed to do what it does so well.
