General politics discussion
Aug 17, 2011 14:06:04 GMT -8
Post by posthuman on Aug 17, 2011 14:06:04 GMT -8
"One of the major moral arguments against capitalism is greed, which is why many Christians feel unsure about the free enterprise system. Critics of capitalism contend that this system makes people greedy. But then we must ask whether capitalism makes people greedy or do we already have greedy people who use the economic freedom of the capitalistic system to achieve their ends? In light of the biblical description of human nature (Jeremiah 17:9), the latter seems more likely. Because people are sinful and selfish, some are going to use the capitalist system to feed their greed. But that is not so much a criticism of capitalism as it is a realization of the human condition. The goal of capitalism is not to change people but to protect us from them. Capitalism is a system in which bad people can do the least harm and good people have the freedom to do good works. Capitalism works well with completely moral individuals. But it also functions adequately with selfish and greedy people.
It’s important to realize that there is a difference between self-interest and selfishness. All people have self-interests which can operate in ways that are not selfish. For example, it is in our self-interest to get a job and earn an income so that we can support our family. We can do that in ways that are not selfish. By contrast, other economic systems such as socialism ignore the biblical definitions of human nature. As a result, they allow economic power to be centralized and concentrate power in the hands of a few greedy people. Those who complain of the influence major corporations have on our lives should consider the socialist alternative where a few governmental bureaucrats control every aspect of our lives.
Though greed does rear its ugly head in the capitalist system, we have to understand it’s not because of the system—it’s because it is part of man’s sinful nature. The true solution lies not in changing the economic system, but in changing the heart of man through the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ."
www.gotquestions.org/capitalism-Bible.html
This is just one Christian view. Like I said in my other post, I was generalizing or stereotyping the two major political ideologies. Also, I was specifically talking about liberals and conservatives, not atheists and Christians.
It’s important to realize that there is a difference between self-interest and selfishness. All people have self-interests which can operate in ways that are not selfish. For example, it is in our self-interest to get a job and earn an income so that we can support our family. We can do that in ways that are not selfish. By contrast, other economic systems such as socialism ignore the biblical definitions of human nature. As a result, they allow economic power to be centralized and concentrate power in the hands of a few greedy people. Those who complain of the influence major corporations have on our lives should consider the socialist alternative where a few governmental bureaucrats control every aspect of our lives.
Though greed does rear its ugly head in the capitalist system, we have to understand it’s not because of the system—it’s because it is part of man’s sinful nature. The true solution lies not in changing the economic system, but in changing the heart of man through the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ."
www.gotquestions.org/capitalism-Bible.html
This is just one Christian view. Like I said in my other post, I was generalizing or stereotyping the two major political ideologies. Also, I was specifically talking about liberals and conservatives, not atheists and Christians.
