...the needles eye is thin..... It has always seemed to me that the only extant political/economic theory which is at all compatible with Christ's teaching is socialism. Fair shares for all, the main duty and function of the state being seen as the welfare of all its citizens. A society based not on economic competition, but on co-operation, where human values , rather than purely selfish economic pseudo values are at the centre. Where people are recognized for what they are rather than what they have. Capitalism is by its nature incapable of ever delivering any kind of even semi-decent decent society, and will never build 'Jerusalem' here on earth.
Well I do not think I'd use the word "fair". There is a parable, the one of the workers, that although it is used to demonstrate the kingdom of heaven, it used a worker analogy. To recap, there are workers who work ina feild from the beginning of the day and agree on the wage at the start. continually throughout the day the owner gets more and more workers. At the end of the day they are all paid the same wage. The reason the owner paid the men who did the shortest amount of work the same was because it was a livable wage. The reason he paid the starting workers the same is beacuse they agreed to it. It isn't really "fair" by any regards, but it does more than demonstrate the theme of "the first shall be last", but it also is that people need to earn enough to live. It doesn't have to be fair to other people. Basically it is espousing a high minimum wage that keeps up with inflation. Captialism, it has been argued, was born out of Calvinism because gaining money on earth is a good way of proving that God is blessing you and therefore are one of the elect. Capitalism itself is not bad either. It is the utopian lassier-faire style of capitalism that doesn't work in the real world. The US is no where near the level of government interference espoused by Adam Smith (zero) and they ended up in the shitter and bringing the world down with it. People who always seem to be quickest to say that the invisible hand works are often the ones who cry the loudest for bailouts, free hay in the case of Canadian ranchers when the US banned Canadian beef so that Japan would not ban their beef, et cetera.
OK - but as regards the field parable - Christ spoke obviously at a time long before industrial capitalism, and was using the familiar social patterns to make a point. Under socialism, it couldn't happen because the workers would themselves own the means of production, in this instance a field. Of course, when I say that socialism seems the only system compatible with Christ's teachings, I'm refering mainly to the stuff about loving thy neighbor, caring for the poor, and so on, and I'm basing this only on my own understanding of Jesus words, not according to some church or other who all went astray centuries ago. I'm also concerned that here in england, where we once had a definite socialist agenda, until the rise of the new right and reganomics in the late 70's, which put paid to that, and has now led to the totally screwed up economic situation we have today. Society too has almost fallen to bits here. Things now are far worse unless you have money than 25 years ago. Poverty has increased, social deprivation and lack of education have created an apalling situation for which there seems to be no fix. Weber, as you probably know, connected protestantism to the rise of the capitalist 'work ethic'. However, IMO the churches were totally corrupted in the pre-capitalist age. They don't reflect the true teaching - the thing has become distorted. I'd even agree with Marx that religion is the opium of the people. However, by religion I'd intend to mean the phoney bullshit which is served up by churches etc, largely in cahoots with their capitalist chums. Inner spirituality is another thing. As for what Calvinists thought, it is directly contradictory to Christ's teachings about wordly wealth.
I'd better add that I'm more pushing a socialist than a 'Christian' agenda here. This is purely about life here in the world, not the 'hearafter'. But I'd like to hear what Christian capitalists have to say - how they reconcile what is in effect a more 'cultured' version of the law of the jungle with the words of Jesus. More causistry I suspect.
I believe the standard rebuttal is "no, it's love of money that's the root of all evil." Which isn't a great argument coming from anyone.
But is a mixed market economy already at the state of being notable as socialism? Ahhh, call me Liberal Republican.
William Blake, english poet, engraver and painter, was certainly a Christian. His version of Christianity is certainly unorthodox and libertarian. He is also credited as something of an early proto-socialist. Here he is on a Soviet commemorative stamp. A hard line Stanlinist regeime (not very socialist in the true sense IMO, honouring a man who is regarded by many as the greatest mystic england ever produced, and certainly the most mystical of english poets. Strange world.
Sorry for the late response, it's a great question not yet answered here. Let's toss out the term socialism and replace the real term of communism. Bad juju? Nope the root word is Koinonia as repeated 19 times in the Gospel and New Testament. The most indepth description Acts 2:24-47: "They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the communion, to the breaking of bread and to prayer...All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need…They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.”
Yes, but if the eye of the needle is thin, then surley not everyone can get through, wasn't that the purpose of it?
Are you saying the eye is in property after-all: property passed around, and fairly exchanged according to regulations; or is it in the wealth: the work offered up at the values of the common human nature, including work, recreation, and freedom of expression. You seem to be saying that the EYE limits the regulations to certain prototypes of humanity, or the number of justified people for free expression but valued human nature constantly sifts the suitable people to the suitable calling: pushing ang shoving. Christianity after-all dissaproved;but I personally had a jolly good time. ________________________ I hope the questions were good for you, even if you didn't like my answer.
i agree...i've visited a lot of communes both Christian & non-Christian and the best ones where the Christian communes by far!!! the sense of brotherhood was amazing. their work ethic was excellent. i feel that a lil socialism is just what this country needs 2 get back on track.
