is capitalism sinful?

blackribbon · Jun 25, 2019

Sounds to be more of a family relationship....and less of a governmental relationship.

RichardY · Jun 25, 2019

Is capitalism sinful?
Yes
So is War(Aries).
So is Science(Apollo).
Capitalism(Mercury).
Socialism.(Saturn/Satan).

Exodus 20:2-3
2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Ronald · Jun 25, 2019

This is the garbage that the LEFT pushes on America. They hate capitalism, what has made this country the richest country in history.
Capitalism in its fundamental core, put simply, is finding a need of others and providing that need or service and of course for a price that is agreeable.
It is not selfishness or greed. The focus is on others. Greed is having an abundance of something and keeping it all for yourself, not sharing.

The Left has a warped view of capitalism, history, the Constitution and they are teaching these warped philosophies in our universities.
God blessed America with riches and we are the most generous country in history. Dont think that being rich is sinful. God made King Solomon richer than any human, for a purpose. God owns everything anyways so we are just trying to be good stewards.
There are some greedy businesses. But in the end, what you sow is what you reap. I think the BIG PHARMA is greedy wanting everyone on drugs for life with no cures or cures at their high prices. The Medical industry is corrupted, attached to them at their core; they prefer using these drugs then to promote natural cures for far less.
But this doesn't mean that capitalism as a form/ system of economic business, used in an honest way to grow and prosper, is evil or corrupt. It is the people who are sinful. They often use this system in a selfish way. But the system can be used for the benefit of mankind and evidence has revealed this throughout our history. I think the most successful companies are the ones that are fair.

NeedyFollower · Jun 25, 2019

This is an interesting question . Have you read Max Weber's The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism ? It goes into great detail and also outlines a bit of christian history .
The early church ( still greatly influenced by it's Jewish roots ) , thought that putting one's money out to interest ( any interest ) went against commandments against charging usury and indicated covetousness . It is why many "christian " communities encouraged the Jewsish community in money lending . ( Jews were not commanded against lending to gentiles and gentile christians thought the jews were lost anyway and borrowed money from them . ) I of course was not living in 300's so I can only read about these things .
Regarding your question . I got out of business and now work with my hands that which is good so as not to be a burden to society and in order to give to those in need . This was Paul's advice ...( he made tents and sold them but did not try to start a "christian" tent business .)

RichardY · Jun 25, 2019

1 Timothy 6
5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Resources are finite. Only so much land.

Unofficial Reverand Alex · Jun 25, 2019

Please do remember that free will always gives us the chance to act wrongly or rightly. When we focus too much on one or the other, we can lose focus, and start blaming easy targets instead of the real problems. Greed leads to much corruption in capitalism, but also in any other economic system you cam think of.

Still, it seems good to bring up A Force For Good, and excellent TV show that highlights various businesses that exemplify Catholic social teaching (that is, the Church's teachings on Christian morality), along with discussions with professors from the Catholic University of America. As you watch it, it's hard not to notice how Catholic social teaching can truly transform the world for the good of everyone.

Here's a few episodes; please enjoy! The first one explains what Catholic social teaching is in more detail, and I believe the last one addresses whether Christians should get involved in a messy field like business; you'll see that the professors are very intelligent & really add a lot to the show & our understanding of applied Christianity.

May God bless us all, through all businesses & all areas where we don't think to look for Him; have peace & pray!

danielmears · Jun 25, 2019

I do not see the core idea as being greed is good. Prosperity is good for all people. You can still give as much as you want. But Fear not, for if you live a life of faith you are blessed as faithful Abraham regardless of the system.

Sketcher · Jun 25, 2019

Before I dissect this here, let me tell you a bit about my grandfather. He is the best model for the Christian faith I have ever seen. He ticked all the boxes so to speak in Galatians 5:22-23. He could have said "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ" as Paul did in 1 Corinthians 11:1, but he didn't. I suspect it was because he was too humble. Over the years, he gave a lot of blood, he raised a lot of money for medical research, despite not being wealthy he funded a new wing on his city's hospital (there's a plaque there with his name on it). And he would go to the jail every week to share the good news. This man exemplified what it is to be a faithful volunteer in his community.

Eventually, he ran out of steam. He's in Heaven now. We had to go through his library among other things, and among one of the many books he had was "Free to Choose" by Milton & Rose Friedman. Milton Friedman, if you didn't know, was a Nobel Prize winning economist. Until I read this book, I hadn't heard very much about what is good about Capitalism. So I decided to read it to find the good in Capitalism.

I was not disappointed. As Friedman explained the concept of voluntary cooperation - two unforced people will not agree to something unless they both believe they will benefit - I was reminded of my grandfather, and how he would have appreciated it. People choosing to work together to bring about something good. It's a moral concept that transcends Capitalism to be sure, but this is the foundational principle upon which pure Capitalism operates. Friedman extolled this over the use of force, which is the alternative. If one or both of those parties does not believe that they will benefit, there have been systems which force them at the threat of fines, imprisonment, or in some countries, even maiming or death. And Government is usually the agent of force. Friedman's position was that the less you have to rely on that force, the better. He believed in using Government for some core essentials, but in keeping the markets as free as possible so as many people could make free choices as possible.

I as a Christian have no problem with this. And having learned about the invisible hand and the price system and how efficient they are, no problem with them either. Now, there is the issue of greed, but greed is a temptation that anyone can have under any system. Capitalism does not require it. And because I have a job in this Capitalist economy, I can make money, and I can give a portion to the church or a person I see as needy, or buy gifts for my family.

Furthermore, Capitalism is able to leverage the inevitable vices of people and turn them into benefits, many of them unintended. I see it sort of like a Judo throw - using the momentum of your opponent to throw him to the ground. If we as faithful Christians make good use of our opportunities in this Capitalist system, that is exactly what we will do. Someone wants to make money making soap? Great, we'll buy some and donate it to shelters. Someone wants to make money selling paint? Great, we'll buy some and freshen up a community center. Someone wants to make money selling their crops? Great, that has resulted in cheap, abundant food that is traded at a surplus (bananas don't have to be as low as $0.39/lb, but market forces made their price that low).

Oh, and Capitalism also allowed my grandfather to sell honey from his beehives in his own back yard for a profit. I don't know if he made a profit, but he wouldn't have turned one down. If he made one, I'm sure some patients in that hospital wing are benefiting from it right now.

So if you have not read "Free to Choose," I highly recommend it. I'll also say as a disclaimer that Ayn Rand's work is also usually mentioned on this subject - I strongly disagree with her on many points. She was an extremist who knew nothing of balance. Friedman on the other hand, was nuanced. Embracing Capitalism does not mean accepting her anti-Christian ideas at all.

Sketcher · Jun 26, 2019

That's not Socialism at all. That's voluntary cooperation and freely giving your own private property out of the kindness of your heart and love for your neighbor. There was no government forcing them to give up property to itself, for either the purpose of redistribution amongst the people or fattening the politicians at the top.

Sketcher · Jun 26, 2019

Mercantalism was the preferred economic system when colonialism was in its heyday. Capitalism came about with Adam Smith in the 18th century, which was well after colonialism started.

Furthermore, most of the deaths of the Native American tribes were due to diseases that were spread unintentionally by the Europeans which they had no natural immunity to (though later on, it had been weaponized - but it was too late by then).

timothyu · Jun 26, 2019

Jesus said the way we are doing things (and have always done things) is backwards. Yet people including many Christians missed His point and continue to defend those backward ways today as we see here. Jesus' teachings referred to economics, but in reverse to the way man and specifically as an example of how capitalists view it.

He was not about religion or gain, but against exploitation against the poor, the widowed, the orphans, each other, etc. He taught a reversal of the social order common to mankind, in this case the capitalism of which we speak, which mirrors that social order.

He favoured the poor, the broken, the humble, yet spoke against the rich saying they already have their reward of their own making but no more, unlike those oppressed out there. He represented an alternate and opposing system, yet laughingly those who prefer the self serving will of man claim Him as their own. The Kingdom was opposite to what man holds dear and by many who defend it here.

Jesus purposely walked the walk of those He supported, being humble and poor and associating, not with the powerful but the outcasts of man's society, shunned the ways of those who were their opposite. His whole purpose was to show an opposing Kingdom which had no part in allegiance with the ways of man, again in this case capitalism.

The people after His time were left with a spirit of social rebellion which could not align itself with the powers of any day for it was the enemy. Hence it became a convenient 'religion' outside the mainstream of human will, and was eventually institutionalized to keep it's influence from interfering with the traditional ways of man, promoting it as a spiritual entity rather than a practical solution to oppression and greed. God does not bless those who shun the Kingdom and proclaim their ways superior. Capitalists and others of the traditional ways of man have had their only reward.

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DanishLutheran · Jun 26, 2019

There is nothing inherently sinful about capitalism.

trophy33 · Jun 26, 2019

Yes, everything what is concentrated around money is sinful. But so far, it works the best for the majority of the world countries, where people are motivated by money and materialism.

So, we cannot do much against it, alternatives are either worse or will be rejected by career-centered and selfish people.

But if we live in a capitalism, it does not mean we must live according to it. We can have different values, invest more time to spiritual things than to jobs, buy less...

Radagast · Jun 26, 2019

Some capitalists give a lot of their money to charity. I don't think capitalism is inherently sinful. Certainly it's more Christian than Communism is.

JacksBratt · Jun 26, 2019

Only if you are being outrageous. Buying a lot of items at a reduced price in order to sell them individually for a profit is not sin... That's business.

However, selling something for an outrageous price.. like say bottled water, at an event when it is really hot and people have no other source, for $10.00 a pop..... just because the supply is low and demand is high... yeah, that's sinful.

Also, quoting a job where you charge a client $150.00 per hour for each laborer and then paying the laborer $15.00 an hour, is also gouging....

But, this is the problem today. Companies make profit margins of huge amounts while paying those that actually do the digging, scrubbing, hammering, and slugging a pittance.

Many companies in my area at least.. the owners are making money hand over fist while the workers need to have two income families and work pay check to pay check.... for skilled work.

Owners have more money than they can spend. Workers barely have enough to buy houses, raise a family and retire.

Concord1968 · Jun 26, 2019

Jesus said that we, personally, should sell what we have and give to the poor. You know what Jesus DIDN'T say? He didn't say we should take control of the government and use the power of the state to force everyone else to sell what they have and give to the poor.

Johan_1988 · Jun 26, 2019

There is a form of capitalism that is bad where greed and disregard for others reins to obtain monetary wealth, but let me tell you it's not inherently wrong. God gave mankind skills and materials to provide for themselves and generate wealth and even in the Kingdom of God. He gave us a gift or a ministry to win souls and receive a heavenly reward. So capitalism with morals works very well. It gives people jobs to provide food, shelter and other necessities for them and their families. I provides the poor with the same and lives become a lot easier.

Don't look at corporate America and think that's all there is to it and even they provide millions with jobs and benefits for the well being of people. So I hope me and others have cleared this issue up for you.

God bless

St. Helens · Jun 26, 2019

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FutureAndAHope · Jun 26, 2019

If I am correct capitalism is the idea of personal ownership, and the ability to amass personal wealth. Both of these ideas are not wrong. It comes down to the individual. How the individual uses their wealth. As an example say a rich person earns, a million dollars per day from investments. It would be silly to give away their investments. But they should give to the poor out of their wealth.

Similarly a capitalist worker should give out of their wage to the poor, not give up their job. A communist worker similarly should give out of their wage to the poor. It matters not if a person is a communist or capitalist, it matters what they do with what they have been assigned.

Newtheran · Jun 26, 2019

You're misunderstanding capitalism if you think the driving force is "greed is good". Rather, it's "the worker is worth his hire."

People think of Adam Smith in terms of his book "The Wealth of Nations". They forget his other work "The Theory of Moral Sentiments".

Also keep in mind that monopoly, oligopoly, and state capitalism are all distortions of the capitalist system.

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