So very true, but the poor and lower middle class do so much better in an advanced welfare state like Norway for instance. Given how well the very wealthy do in both systems, it makes you what they who imagine themselves very wealthy someday are belly aching about.
MadMax said it best, not a comfortable story, it's not the story I would pick to read for bedtime with a four year old (and believe me God doesn't want me to kill anyone for lying- there are more factors to discuss for another thread) I personally lean towards being a pacifist as a Christian and I am convinced that God is infinately more loving than all of us combined.
The U.S. is not a very good example of capitalism (no pun intended), profit isn't the basis of quite everything. Not when it has welfare, taxes etc. It's a hybrid of capitalism, socialism, and whatever -ism you want to insert. Quite balanced. If the Bible helps christians cope with their wealth or the lack thereof, good for them. Like a wise man once said, "it's all good."
Christians have already answered this question....in fact, they've set up an assload of facilties ready to serve meals to the poor DAILY...with ZERO expectation of return...there are ton of them here in Houston, alone.
First, don't confuse religion and how people behave in religion. Second, where does it say in the bible that people should not be rich? You should quote these things if you are trying to claim them.
You know, you take this too far and will think yourself into a room of narcissism before you ever figure out what happened to yourself. Christianity, to me, is a convention to better organize the beliefs behind Christians. I'm sure there were a lot of technicalities put into the Bible or whatnot to ensure virtuous ways of life being lived by believers. In the end, Christianity comes down to YOUR relationship with God, not how some book tells you to live. Yes, there are 10 commandments to follow.. But no, not every story is explaining "christian economics", etc. They are just stories to help mankind live more virtuously. If you have trouble finding the virtuous path, seek guidance from the Bible.. stop taking it so literally that you forget why you are reading it in the first place.
Jesus said it's easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to get to heaven. Jesus said the love of money is the root of all evil. Those aren't condmenations for the rich...they're warnings about where you place your faith and your heart.
What is Religion without the behavior of people? Religion to me is the very act of flawed people trying to create a flawless life plan to live by. Logically, it simply cannot be done. Men are imperfect and therefor they do not have the ability to interpret the Bible exactly as God intended and live their lives as such. The thousands of denominations with conflicting dogmas and viewpoints only illustrate this further.
Well than why would god make the bible that way? God of anyone would have the power to make people understand his word. If he knew the people he made were flawed, why would he write it in such a way that the flawed people could interpret it to do bad things....which they do. God sure didn't plan that out very well
This all to the good as long as the reality is acknowlegeded that the food stamp program vastly dwarfs these efforts.
Ah yes...government is the answer to all our problems. Let's put a couple hundred people in charge of all of the money and ask them to do what is in everybody's best interest. What could possibly go wrong?
To delve deeper into that question we'd have to start talking about free will, and as Ned Flanders would say, as far as melon scratchers go, thats a honey-doodle.
I'm not trying to step on anyone's efforts to make the lives of other people better. If the government lucks into getting it right, that's great.
