Is capitalism eating Christianity or vice versa?

[Chimpy McCokespoon]

I've been reading about this notion called "prosperity gospel" and wondering where the relationship between Christianity and capitalism truly lies. If Christ truly knocked over the tables of the money lenders and it truly is harder for a rich man to pass through the eye of a needle than enter the kingdom of heaven then why don't we see these expressions exhibited by people who adhere to Christianity's basic tenets? Capitalism is contrary to everything that Christ taught. So, which is corrupting which?

[Atman]

1. Yummy!

:popcorn:

You're making way too much sense.

.

[Hydra]

2. Do you want a real answer?

if you do, it's that the tenets of Christ are only for the stupid people on the other side of the pews. Christianity has traditionally been something Kings greatly favored, allowing the church reps a tidy slice of the pie for their services in keeping the population docile.

That Jesus guy? he's so 1st century....

[Warren DeMontague]

3. Neither. They're adjusting what they preach to one overriding gospel: the Gospel of St. Ron.

[Trillo]

4. two sides of the same coin

I noted something curious in your passage, even though I've seen it previously thousands of times: "harder for a rich man to pass through the eye of a needle than enter the kingdom of heaven".

What about a poor person? Is it easier for a poor person to enter the kingdom of heaven?

The major point being that the phrase is still talking about the rich person, not the poor person. The rich man is mentioned explicitly, the poor person isn't mentioned, perhaps implied, but perhaps the phrase is merely the tricky language of a deceiver.

As far as your question, "which is corrupting which?", it seems to be a mutual admiration society, two sides of the same coin.

[denem]

7. Blessed are the poor. Theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Couldn't be much clearer than that.

[Trillo]

8. I was merely writing my thoughts regarding the singular phrase,

sorry that wasn't clear to you.

Do you also disagree that wealth and poverty are two sides of the same coin? Can you see that wealth-money-poverty is a triangle or trinity?

      money

wealth     poverty

[TechBear_Seattle]

5. Also, keep in mind that the community of the Apostles was communistic

And all who believed were together and had all things in common; and they sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all, as any had need. -- Acts 2:44-45

Now the company of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had everything in common. -- Acts 4:32

But don't tell this to the Talibangelicals. :eyes:

Actually, you are at least 1700 years too late to complain. Decades before Christianity became an official religion in the Roman Empire, there was a severe disjoin between Jesus' message of poverty and the reality of the Church. Converts gave much of their wealth to the local bishops, ostensibly to aid in charity, missionary work and to build new churches. Many bishops used the great influx of material goods as personal piggy banks. The Desert Fathers started what would become the monastic movement in Christianity early in the 4th century partially in response to this gross materialism; a hundred years latter, the first rules of celebacy were introduced in an effort to prevent bishops from creating dynasties and leaving the wealth of their dioceses to their heirs.

And then there is the whole indulgence fiasco that got Martin Luther and other reformers so micturated. The traditional discontinuity of "Princes of the Church" living in luxury while telling hard-scrabble peasants that their unmitigated poverty and harsh condition made them holy, and the Protestant work ethic expounded by John Calvin of "work hard and God will give you all that you deserve."

All in all, capitalism and greed have been inseparable from institutional Christianity for nearly as long as Christianity has existed.

[applegrove]

6. Religeon is for the little people according to the neocons, politicians and GOP.

[Lilith Velkor]

9. Check out slacktivist's blog on Left Behind

It's insanely hugh, but the gist is that Pre-Millenial Dispensationalists believe that they don't have to obey any of Christ's teachings until the 7 year tribulation is over and all nonbelievers are dead.

They think that in order to fulfill the prophecies, the world has to get nastier and nastier, and it's their Christian duty to help it along.

As for the "prosperity" chuckleheads, they actually claim that JC and the dozen were all rich, and nobody calls bullshit on them because (I guess) they either don't read scripture or can't comprehend it.