General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe Churches Opposing Socialism Is An Oxymoron - That Is What Helping The Poor Is -
So faith based initiatives are pointless because they don't want to help the poor or disabled. Talk about demented. Do we need to look a lot like India with the sick and dying in the streets. Or will we make it illegal to be sick or dying, particularly in the streets. It is illegal to lie down in the street in Denver.
We are reaching a level of unreality in this country that I thought we would never see.
gcomeau
(5,764 posts)...you're expecting rational logical analysis of an issue from people who believe a magic super-being created the entire universe so they would have something to stand on while they worshiped it in exchange for eternal life?
Just sayin...
thereismore
(13,326 posts)aren't doing enough. Some things are just too big for "charity".
equalrights4all
(26 posts)They believe in personal charity but not State imposed charity. Makes me sick!
DavidDvorkin
(19,477 posts)It's not socialism when private organizations do it. That's not how "socialism" is normally defined.
grantcart
(53,061 posts)organized around communalist principles.
Of course they also thought that the end of the world was coming which puts a damper on private consumption.
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)What Jesus taught was more akin to communism than socialism (e.g., "If you have two coats and your brother has none, give him one of your coats" ... Though I do not believe that Jesus would have been opposed to socialism; he did, after all, say "render onto ceasar what is ceasar's" without much concern for what ceasar's government would have done with that which was rendered.
grantcart
(53,061 posts)It is even more specific than that about organizing the Church
In the book of Acts, it can be seen that Christs Apostles, lived in a communal way. The book states that Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need and Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common (Acts 2:44-45, Acts 4:32). Holding things in common, giving to anyone who had need, that seems very similar to the radical socialist notion of mutual aid, often expressed in the phrase From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.
And here is a verse that is almost never used as the basis for a sermon;
Ananias and Sapphira
5 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 With his wifes full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles feet.
3 Then Peter said, Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didnt it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasnt the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.
5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. 6 Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.
7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?
Yes, she said, that is the price.
9 Peter said to her, How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.
10 At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.