October 28, 200817 yr First of all, the amassing of great wealth is honored because of the work and risk that is put into it. Also, you don't amass great wealth without providing a good to society. Secondly, I'd be a socialist if I thought it had a shot of working. Unfortunately, it doesn't. In the real world, socialism spreads more misery than joy. It winds up hurting the people. The bolded are not mutually inclusive - that is why we have laws outlawing unsafe working conditions and child labor, etc.
October 28, 200817 yr The bolded are not mutually inclusive - that is why we have laws outlawing unsafe working conditions and child labor, etc. I am a little unclear on what you mean by "mutually inclusive", but I think that I agree. The debate is NOT whether the market needs regulation or not. The debate is whether or not the market needs MORE regulations than it currently has. Personally, I believe some regulations are good, while some can hurt more than help. And I believe that we have too many right now.
October 28, 200817 yr Do you honestly think that we would not have those laws without christianity? As to the first part of your post, we punish the results of greed, the amassing of great wealth is honored in the society. Greed is honored. That is what capitalism is all about. Greed. Ace, I would be very interested to read your take on the parable of the talents as presented in Matthew 25.
October 28, 200817 yr Ace, I would be very interested to read your take on the parable of the talents as presented in Matthew 25. Not trying to hammer you, but this is of interest to me Ace...
October 29, 200817 yr Not trying to hammer you, but this is of interest to me Ace... The Master is Harsh and reaps where he does not sow. He is an evil man who uses his servants to charge large usuray for loaning money to smaller farmers - when they can't repay the servant then takes over the land and expands the masters money. The third servant/slave, understanding this about his master and the system refuses to participate in the system. While the EVIL and HARSH master in this story sends the servant away, Jesus sets the final slave up as the example for us to follow. The Hero in this story is the third servant, not the first.
October 29, 200817 yr Well... as long as you're going to be so sincere about it... How do you feel about slavery?
October 29, 200817 yr Well... as long as you're going to be so sincere about it... How do you feel about slavery? Did you think I wasn't being sincere???
October 29, 200817 yr Did you think I wasn't being sincere??? No I don't. If you were, it certainly explains a lot.
October 29, 200817 yr No I don't. If you were, it certainly explains a lot. I absolutely was. The parable does not begin by explainin that "this is how it is in the kingdom of God, as many others do." And why would Jesus refer to the "I am Love" God and evil and harsh? It is obvious that the master in this story is not talking about God. I assume, however, that you disagree and probably have a corner on the truth and can set me straight on my view.
October 29, 200817 yr I absolutely was. The parable does not begin by explainin that "this is how it is in the kingdom of God, as many others do." And why would Jesus refer to the "I am Love" God and evil and harsh? It is obvious that the master in this story is not talking about God. I assume, however, that you disagree and probably have a corner on the truth and can set me straight on my view. Nope... not enough time, not enough incentive. Cheers :thumb:
October 29, 200817 yr For those interested in the talent discussion, here is the Scripture they are referring to. Matthew 25 The Parable of the Talents 14"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15To one he gave five talents[a] of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. 19"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.' 21"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' 22"The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.' 23"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' 24"Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.' 26"His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 28" 'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
October 29, 200817 yr I absolutely was. The parable does not begin by explainin that "this is how it is in the kingdom of God, as many others do." And why would Jesus refer to the "I am Love" God and evil and harsh? It is obvious that the master in this story is not talking about God. I assume, however, that you disagree and probably have a corner on the truth and can set me straight on my view. I have a question, who is the owner in the story based on?
October 29, 200817 yr I have a question, who is the owner in the story based on? Rome. The disposition of small farmers in the Roman empire was and everyday occurrance. The tax system was structured so that the burden was placed more squarely on the workers. If they could not pay the taxes, they were loaned money by the aristocrats and once they couldn't pay that money back, the wealthy landowners took over the farms and "allowed" the small farmers to do tenant work on what was previously their land. "Harvesting where you have not sown and reaping where you have not scattered seed." Unjustly removing the small farmers from their land.
October 29, 200817 yr Rome. The disposition of small farmers in the Roman empire was and everyday occurrance. The tax system was structured so that the burden was placed more squarely on the workers. If they could not pay the taxes, they were loaned money by the aristocrats and once they couldn't pay that money back, the wealthy landowners took over the farms and "allowed" the small farmers to do tenant work on what was previously their land. "Harvesting where you have not sown and reaping where you have not scattered seed." Unjustly removing the small farmers from their land. Okay, I might have missed it but where is Jesus coming down on Rome in the analogy?
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.