Capitalism vs Christianity

#1 · July 26, 2013, 10:00 am

Quote from Forum Archives on July 26, 2013, 10:00 am
Posted by: rxdca <rxdca@...>
"If the good, the virtuous, the morally ideal is suffering and self-sacrifice—then, by that standard, capitalism had to be damned as evil. Capitalism does not tell men to suffer, but to pursue enjoyment and achievement, here, on earth—capitalism does not tell men to serve and sacrifice, but to produce and profit—capitalism does not preach passivity, humility, resignation, but independence, self-confidence, self-reliance—and, above all, capitalism does not permit anyone to expect or demand, to give or to take the unearned. In all human relationships—private or public, spiritual or material, social or political or economic or moral—capitalism requires that men be guided by a principle which is the antithesis of altruism: the principle of justice." -- Ayn Rand

Capitalism does not tell men to serve and sacrifice, but we serve a Servant-Savior who made the ultimate sacrifice. Capitalism does not preach humility, but our Savior tells us to humble ourselves before God and our fellow men, and that the meek shall inherit the Earth. Capitalism is based on self-reliance, but Christianity is based on reliance on Christ. Capitalism requires the antithesis of altruism, but Christ commands that we put others before ourselves (the Golden Rule), and tells us that no one has greater love than to lay down his life for someone else. The guiding principle of capitalism is justice (though if you read Milton he would argue that the guiding principle is self-interest and not justice), the guiding principle of Christianity is love.

I have heard from the pulpit and from these pages not only that capitalism is consistent with Christianity, but I've actually heard capitalism conflated with Christianity. Reading Rand, though, a principle proponent of capitalism, it is clear that they should not be conflated and that there is much about capitalism that is simply antithetical to Christianity.

Socialism is no better. There is nothing in scripture to justify taking by force from one person and giving to another, no matter how "noble" the intent. Neither socialism or capitalism are God's economy.
--   Douglas  [email protected]    Phil 4:13
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Posted by: rxdca <rxdca@...>

"If the good, the virtuous, the morally ideal is suffering and self-sacrifice—then, by that standard, capitalism had to be damned as evil. Capitalism does not tell men to suffer, but to pursue enjoyment and achievement, here, on earth—capitalism does not tell men to serve and sacrifice, but to produce and profit—capitalism does not preach passivity, humility, resignation, but independence, self-confidence, self-reliance—and, above all, capitalism does not permit anyone to expect or demand, to give or to take the unearned. In all human relationships—private or public, spiritual or material, social or political or economic or moral—capitalism requires that men be guided by a principle which is the antithesis of altruism: the principle of justice." -- Ayn Rand

Capitalism does not tell men to serve and sacrifice, but we serve a Servant-Savior who made the ultimate sacrifice. Capitalism does not preach humility, but our Savior tells us to humble ourselves before God and our fellow men, and that the meek shall inherit the Earth. Capitalism is based on self-reliance, but Christianity is based on reliance on Christ. Capitalism requires the antithesis of altruism, but Christ commands that we put others before ourselves (the Golden Rule), and tells us that no one has greater love than to lay down his life for someone else. The guiding principle of capitalism is justice (though if you read Milton he would argue that the guiding principle is self-interest and not justice), the guiding principle of Christianity is love.

I have heard from the pulpit and from these pages not only that capitalism is consistent with Christianity, but I've actually heard capitalism conflated with Christianity. Reading Rand, though, a principle proponent of capitalism, it is clear that they should not be conflated and that there is much about capitalism that is simply antithetical to Christianity.

Socialism is no better. There is nothing in scripture to justify taking by force from one person and giving to another, no matter how "noble" the intent. Neither socialism or capitalism are God's economy.

--   Douglas  [email protected]    Phil 4:13

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To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: [email protected] Please see our FAQ at http://welovegod.org/groups/aog