Socialism vs the Bible

[serious]

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Socialism vs The Bible

Socialism is about taking.

The Bible is about giving.

"drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images and their cast idols, and demolish all their high places. Take possession of the land and settle in it"


Socialism is rooted in fear.[/B]
The Bible is rooted in faith.

"Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me"

Socialism promotes Sameness.
The Bible promotes uniqueness.

"Now finally, all of you should be like-minded"

Socialism hides the truth.
The Bible reveals the truth.

"It is the glory of God to conceal a matter"


Socialism elevates politicians.

The Bible elevates God's children.

"Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established."

I could do more, but I've got some place to be.
 
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szechuan

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Simple...I was talking about the Soviet Union. Not atheists in general. I thought I made that pretty clear in the original post. May want to carefully reread my post before suggesting something I never said.
Okay we all know that Communism doesn't work, no one here is condoning it.



I still don't see where I said ALL atheists were communists. I DID say however that Soviet Communists were atheist...not the other way around! Big difference!

So the reason for mentioning Atheists and Soviet Communists in one sentence?
 
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contango

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"All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had." Acts 4:32

Look at that! No private possessions and they shared everything in common. Doesn't exactly scream "capitalist" does it? Anarcho-socialist is the first thing that comes to my mind.

Hmmm.... let's read on (emphasis is mine)

Act 5:1-4 NKJV But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. (2) And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles' feet. (3) But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? (4) While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."


Ananias sold a possession (i.e something he owned). He kept back part of the proceeds (which he clearly owned, or he couldn't have done it). Peter acknowledged that the property was his and the money was his. You know, acknowledging his private property.

The believers shared everything voluntarily. They owned it but voluntarily regarded it as being for the benefit of those in their group.

There's the difference - the sharing was entirely voluntary, it was with a local group, and they met needs as they saw fit rather than handing everything over to a remote government to distribute as it saw fit.
 
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szechuan

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The believers shared everything voluntarily. They owned it but voluntarily regarded it as being for the benefit of those in their group.

There's the difference - the sharing was entirely voluntary, it was with a local group, and they met needs as they saw fit rather than handing everything over to a remote government to distribute as it saw fit.

One can view Taxation voluntarily as the Majority of the group voted on Taxation Laws and some even want Taxation to benefit others.
Of course the believers also followed Jesus so they didn't have a majority rule.
 
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dobson67

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So the reason for mentioning Atheists and Soviet Communists in one sentence?

To answer that question, what is an Atheist? Simply put anything with an "A" before it is against the other.

For example a Christian is a theist, believing in a supreme being. an Atheist is the opposite, they don't believe in a supreme being. Being opposed to the notion of theistic viewpoints.

Gnosticism is the thought and practice, that matter is evil and that emancipation comes through gnosis (knowledge).

Agnosticism is the view that the truth values of certain claims—especially claims about the existence or non-existence of any deity, as well as other religious and metaphysical claims—are unknown and (so far as can be judged) unknowable.

So there you have Soviet Christians and Soviet Atheists being in stark contrast with each other. The Atheist in Soviet Union however had the power of government.

NOWHERE in my post did I say ALL Atheists were Communists. That was the notion you got from the post, not me. I thought I was pretty clear on it. Seeing as I never said "All governments are Atheists".
 
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szechuan

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To answer that question, what is an Atheist? Simply put anything with an "A" before it is against the other.

For example a Christian is a theist, believing in a supreme being. an Atheist is the opposite, they don't believe in a supreme being. Being opposed to the notion of theistic viewpoints.

Gnosticism is the thought and practice, that matter is evil and that emancipation comes through gnosis (knowledge).

Agnosticism is the view that the truth values of certain claims—especially claims about the existence or non-existence of any deity, as well as other religious and metaphysical claims—are unknown and (so far as can be judged) unknowable.

So there you have Soviet Christians and Soviet Atheists being in stark contrast with each other. The Atheist in Soviet Union however had the power of government.

NOWHERE in my post did I say ALL Atheists were Communists. That was the notion you got from the post, not me. I thought I was pretty clear on it. Seeing as I never said "All governments are Atheists".

Way to ignore my post. You Obviously were trying to make the parallel between Communist and Atheism. I never said that All Governments are Atheists I have no idea where you got that from.

You're explaining the definition of words people and I already know therefore ignoring my question. Good Job.

Oh and you were also replying to this quote
It never ceases to amaze me that so many people on this forum want to push this misguided concept that socialism is some great evil.

which you answered with words such as Atheism and Communism.
 
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Redac

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So ... communism isn't a form of Marxism either? :confused:

Oh look, this thread. Anywho, I know this is an old post I'm responding to, but no. Marxism is a paradigm through which things are to be analyzed. It's not the same thing as communism.
 
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mzungu

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Socialism vs The Bible

Socialism is about taking.

The Bible is about giving.

Socialism is about dependence on government.
The Bible is about dependence on God.

Socialism is rooted in fear.

The Bible is rooted in faith.

Socialism promotes Sameness.
The Bible promotes uniqueness.

Socialism produces mediocrity.
The Bible produces excellence.

Socialism hides the truth.
The Bible reveals the truth.

Socialism restricts free will.
The Bible creates free will.

Socialism changes the symptom.
The Bible Changes the source.

Socialism elevates politicians.

The Bible elevates God's children.

Socialism has never worked.
The Bible has never failed.
I don't know whether to laugh or cry!!! Yes and Elvis lives on the moon which is made of cheese! :p:doh:
 
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contango

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One can view Taxation voluntarily as the Majority of the group voted on Taxation Laws and some even want Taxation to benefit others.
Of course the believers also followed Jesus so they didn't have a majority rule.

I'd love to view taxation as being voluntary. Unfortunately if enough people vote for higher taxes I don't get much of a choice in it. So our current approach isn't what Jesus told us to do, it's a somewhat crude derivative of it that misses the point completely.

If I believe a person is in need I can help them directly. That might mean giving them money, it might mean doing something practical for them, it might mean just spending some time with them. If I use my vote to force Someone Else do to those things I miss the point entirely.

It may be I can just about scrape $5 out of my monthly budget to help someone else but if that's the best I can do that's what I should be doing. It may well be true that there's someone else out there who can afford to give so much more than I can but to use the legal system to force them to give to meet the need I have identified is wrong.
 
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Blackwater Babe

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Originally Posted by dobson67
Simple...I was talking about the Soviet Union. Not atheists in general. I thought I made that pretty clear in the original post. May want to carefully reread my post before suggesting something I never said.
Right. Because totally unregulated free market capitalism and Stalin era Soviet Communism are the only too options.
 
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mzungu

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Right. Because totally unregulated free market capitalism and Stalin era Soviet Communism are the only too options.
This is the way they divide and rule us; Everything is made to be "Black or White". Sad as it may be; Many fall victim to such manipulation. Sanity demands we examine problems and come up with solutions that follow the fundamental code of decency, respect for others, and compassion.

Those that aspire to rule over the many will do well to remember that their power comes not from the ruler but from allowances the many make to the ruler and thus the ruler really has no power if the many turn their backs to him or her.
 
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rambot

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I think the BIGGER thing to remember is that Jesus probably didn't really give a flying toss about whatever governing system was in place. We are simply to defer to whatever system is above us without sacrificing our faith.

We can speak about what God calls us to do, and how we should use and relate to our communities, our loved ones, and our things. But in terms of systems, I don't think it matters one bit.
 
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