Reply #12: It's a rather pure form of Calvinism

[Warpy]

that states we are all predestined to be either rich or poor, that god smiles upon the rich and favors them, while god despises the poor for their criminal impulses and punishes them by keeping them poor. It's a doctrine that says that the rich only need faith to get into heaven, that they need not trouble themselves with any of Christ's words about giving to the poor, visiting the sick and imprisoned, or loving their neighbors. If they believe, it's a ticket to paradise without all that sissy stuff along the way.

It's always been an appealing philosophy for the haves, and probably predates Calvin to the divine right kings of Europe.