Pope unleashes attack on 'new tyranny' (solution, ideologies, support, voting)
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Jesus did not take from others..they freely gave to him.
He shared what was his and ASKED others to do the same but did not force them nor take it from them.
Socialism is an economic system that didn't come into being until 1000 or more years after Jesus died.
The Jesus described in the Bible had little or nothing to give. His notions of beneficence were not intended to direct attention to himself; they were arguably examples of behavior he desired among those who had money. He wanted others to do the same, particularly if others had the money to give. He makes no mention of socialist governments because at the time the institutions that establish a socialized economy didn't really exist. Whether he would advocate one political philosophy over another is an impossible exercise, but I think it's fair to conclude Jesus frowned upon the concentration of wealth and abuses of power that come with it. Practices of many modern day American capitalists are simply antithetical to the teachings that are commonly associated with Jesus - there's just no other way to look at it really.
Where does this "unbridled capitalism" exist? It certainly does not exist in North America, or Europe.
Sure we do only it's not what you think.
We are highly regulated.
That means only the really big boys get to play.
They have pretty much eliminated the competition through legal means.
The last open frontier is high tech.
All the other older industries are dominated by the few and high, costly regulations free them from worry about competition.
Just look at what "organic" has turned into.
Highly regulated, very costly to get that approval and the big boys now sell it to you in the supermarket.
Government took it over and now government can decide what is "organic" and what is not even if it's man-made.
He was closer to a traditional socialist than he was a traditional capitalist.
American Christians tie themselves in knots trying to justify their love of capitalism when Jesus spoke so lowly and warned against accumulation of wealth.
You honestly think Jesus would have a problem with "socialist" policies like foodstamps, welfare, etc.?
So true, the pope spoke of "unbridled capitalism", unbridled means untended, left to its own devices. Capitalism is a good system with appropriate checks and balances, call them socialism if you will. But a balance, like in the Nordic countries, they are capitalistic/socialistic states, and they have achieved a good balance.
I wish Christians would stop trying to worship unbridled capitalism and really look at Christ and follow him. Many of the things He taught would never be accepted in the Ayn Randian temple of American capitalism.
Maybe someone should tell the pope that the really tyranny is unbridled socialism.
If he needs proof all he has to do is just look in his own backyard Italy and what unbridled socialism has done to that country.
The Jesus described in the Bible had little or nothing to give. His notions of beneficence were not intended to direct attention to himself; they were arguably examples of behavior he desired among those who had money. He wanted others to do the same, particularly if others had the money to give. He makes no mention of socialist governments because at the time the institutions that establish a socialized economy didn't really exist. Whether he would advocate one political philosophy over another is an impossible exercise, but I think it's fair to conclude Jesus frowned upon the concentration of wealth and abuses of power that come with it. Practices of many modern day American capitalists are simply antithetical to the teachings that are commonly associated with Jesus - there's just no other way to look at it really.
True -- but also Jesus knew that the road to happiness was not about accumulating huge wealth.
Jesus wasn't teaching politicians, he was teaching us as individuals. The politicians are what Jesus was against.
Thomas Jefferson would agree. Some regulation is necessary as opposed to allowing things to run unbridled.
"If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them will deprive the people of all property until their children wake up homeless on the continent their Fathers conquered...I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies... The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs." - TJ
The Jesus described in the Bible had little or nothing to give. His notions of beneficence were not intended to direct attention to himself; they were arguably examples of behavior he desired among those who had money. He wanted others to do the same, particularly if others had the money to give.
The parables offer mixed messages on this concept IMO. Take the parable of the old woman vs. rich man at the Temple. The story states that the old woman gave one copper coin, which was a bigger portion of her money than what the rich man ultimately gave. The moral was not that the old woman should give nothing OR that the rich should 'redistribute' to the poor. Both should give and but give appropriately. You could also take this to not literally be about money. What is one's most precious 'commodity'? I would argue 'time'. So, giving of your time to God and to your faith is the biggest 'tithe', something that is much costlier to some.
Note that nowhere in the New Testament does Jesus ever approach the Romans, the Pharisees, or any other person of authority and advocate them to pass laws compelling people to give a specific portion of their income, time, etc. to the government/church. Indeed, Jesus actually reviled the authorities in power because their power led to corruption, oppression of others, and ultimately turning away from the Kingdom of God.
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