First off, I would like to know why most of these threads turn into attacks on Yorick? He has a faith deeper than most will ever know and he not only defends that faith fervently, but also tries to explain it eloquently. I applaud him on his knowledge of other religions/beliefs! Others feel no need to try and learn and understand how others could/would follow another belief system. It is this knowledge and learning that strengthens and/or weakens your own beliefs. Instead of reciting how arrogant Yorick is in his posts, let's actually read what he writes, because he does so as a wise and knowledgable man!
Quote:
Originally posted by Diogenes Of Pumpkintown:
The idea for this thread arose from Donut's question regarding what would Jesus do in the HOW DO YOU LIKE US NOW thread.
Anybody care to try to rationalize how America can claim to be a predominantly Christian country at the same time it worships capitalism? How do you reconcile the apparent glaring contradiction between Jesus' positions regarding worldly wealth with the attitude of capitalism of amassing as much worldly wealth as possible?
I am interested in seeing if anybody CAN reconcile those two things. For my own part, I don't think they can be. It's just another example of how many people who claim to be Christians today really don't follow Jesus' teachings at all. Hell, in this case, they follow the OPPOSITE of what he taught.
Thoughts, comments, flames?
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Diogenes...I don't think either generalization can be made about America. Some, but not all proclaim us to be a Christian Nation, and it is hard to say we worship capitalism when so many of our population live in poverty, or struggle with two/three jobs just to stay afloat, I am sure they are not worshipping capitalism.
It is a funny topic. Any quick search on google or any other search engine for "capitalism and christianity" brings up some sites that proclaim that Christianity is the basis for capitalism and others proclaim that capitalism destroyed Christianity. Well which is it? Could it be neither?
I don't think that Capitalism and Christianity (or any religion for that matter, b/c there are non-christian nations that are also capitalist in nature), are intertwined. As many others have stated, one can be a Christian and yet still function and prosper in Capitalism.
Capitalism merely provides us with a means of being prosperous. It does not make us rich, but allows for us to become rich. It does not make us poor, but allows us to become poor. Capitalism is not a religion. I have to disagree with Yorick on this point. There are no fundamental beliefs on how we should live our lives. There are no preachers of beliefs. There is no Bible reciting these beliefs. Those that you say worship Capitalism, actually worship money, and no they are not the same. A person can become rich under any form of economic system. There are rich Monarchs, there are rich Socialists, there are rich Communists, etc...it is not entirely contained in Capitalism. The question I think becomes how can one be a Christian and also strive to attain monetary wealth.
As for the Christian side, I cannot say as I am an atheist and do not have enough knowledge to make a good argument one way or the other. But I do like other's posts regarding this side of the issue!
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