Bible and Money: Why God Supports Free Market Capitalism

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Moses_Young

Well-known member
Sep 15, 2019
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#61
this sure sounds exactly like the current state of our capitalist economy.
But this is a failing of the government to exercise its role. There should be a limit to the state's or people's resources that any one can utilise. For example, in bible times, the land was divided into families. The government has not enforced this, and as a result, the "capitalists" have bought what should be every man's birthright, and created artificial scarcity, which they manipulate to extort money.
 

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2016
8,845
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#62
this sure sounds exactly like the current state of our capitalist economy.
Does it? The average American is living quite nicely compared to many countries around the world. Even the lower class has opportunities if worked for to change their class.

The highest median income can be found in the nation of Luxembourg. Here, the median income is $38,516. Next on the list is Norway with a median income of $37,129. In third place is Switzerland with a median income of $34,608. Falling only slightly behind Switzerland is the United States, which has a median income of $34,514. The nation with the 5th highest median income is Australia at $31,340. This is also the last nation to have a median income above $30,000.

https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/median-income-by-country

A study by Just Facts has discovered that after accounting for all income, charity, and non-cash welfare benefits like subsidized housing and food stamps, the poorest 20 percent of Americans consume more goods and services than the national averages for all people in most affluent countries. This includes the majority of countries in the prestigious Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), including its European members. In other words, if the US “poor” were a nation, it would be one of the world’s richest.

This study was reviewed by Dr. Henrique Schneider, professor of economics at Nordakademie University in Germany and the chief economist of the Swiss Federation of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises. After examining the source data and Just Facts’ methodology, he concluded: “This study is sound and conforms with academic standards. I personally think it provides valuable insight into poverty measures and adds considerably to this field of research.”

https://www.justfacts.com/income_wealth_poverty#international

So what you are actually seeing is a propagated, narrative-driven, history revision, fueled by hate to move younger generations into the belief they are oppressed, have no need to take responsibility for their decisions but instead to blame something else. The government, a group of people, or the fake history they have been taught. In reality to the world the poor in America are still very blessed in comparison.

But the Marxist have been trying to create a class war and they needed to paint the current system as evil. All a diabolical plan to bring down America from within. Which is how the Communist leaders in the early 1900s promised to do through our education systems.
 
Feb 28, 2016
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#63
OM Goodness,
we are all seeming to be living between the confusion of enchantment/illusion...
please, B & S, demand your hearts and minds/souls to strive for Yeshua's Truth...
if you have the guts to pursue this, then you WILL find 'the Peace of God'...
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
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#64
Does it? The average American is living quite nicely compared to many countries around the world.
Our overall standard of living doesn't change wealth inequality, it only mean-shifts it. Inequality is a distance; it's invariant over translation.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,726
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#66
I don't even know what you was trying to say.
you mentioned wealth inequality. i pointed out that America has a wealth inequality issue. you replied with disagreement citing our relatively high standard of living compared to overall poorer nations. so what i was saying, is that wealth inequality is independent of comparative overall wealth.

consider two scenarios:

  1. imagine you make $750,000 a year and i make $20,000. we both do well and we get raises. next year, i make $22,500 and you make $1,200,000. that's wealth inequality that's rapidly increasing.
  2. now imagine we live in Laos. you make $75,000 a year and i make $2,000. we both do well and we get raises. next year, i make $2,250 and you make $120,000. that's also wealth inequality that's rapidly increasing.
your argument was, look, in the first scenario the poor man is richer than the poor man in the second scenario. my reply was that the inequality ratios are the same no matter how many zeroes i add or take away. it's just math. we do have wealth and power and influence concentrated obscenely in the hands a very small percentage of 'elite' citizens and the gap is growing and we're not doing anything to address that -- in fact we're accelerating it. that's no different from the 'nightmare scenario' you described and it's no less of an issue just because our poorest people don't have the same problems getting clean drinking water as the poorest people in India ((another large, democratic, capitalist nation)).
 
Jul 20, 2019
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#67
and now after all of that, lets picture a huge group of stark naked people,. hunting and gathering, swimming in lagoons and rivers, having tents to sleep in, maybe a herd of cattle or sheep for eating and using the hides for blankets and covering during colder times. This is what God intended all along. Commerce, capitalism is manmade and satanic. It causes nothing but greed, division, waste, corruption and destruction of the earth . Because we are competing with someone else, to make something cheaper, they make it with poor materials so it doesn't last. It s a crazy way of living and of course is starting to fail spectacularly . Stop looking to the world for your foundations . Its temporary and will soon be destroyed. The only foundation to focus on is Jesus and Yahweh .
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
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#68
I saw this book advertised by a christian bookstore, it was by the author of 'rich dad poor dad' who has also written books with mr Trump.
called something prophecy, and it was about how when all the baby boomers retire you can profit from it. It also had an eye on the cover in a pyramid.

I'm like ok....I know the likely audience for that book lol
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#69
Rich Dads Prophecy :Why The Biggest Stock Market Crash Is Still Coming.... And How. You can Prepare Yourself and Profit From It!

yep thats its actual title.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
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#70
i pointed out that America has a wealth inequality issue.
There will always be a wealth inequality issue. That does NOT mean that the government must step in and mess around to fix the problem. Indeed, it is the Western governments which have created the problem in the first place, and it will never get fixed.

However, if we wanted to create an IMAGINARY SCENARIO, here is how the problem could be fixed:

1. All countries would return to the Gold Standard. Which means that the money in circulation could not exceed the value of gold being held in reserve. That would eliminate inflation and deflation, and printing money at will.

2. All national debts would need to be paid off. Which means that the governments would need to seriously trim the fat and become very lean.

3. Which would also mean (1) a drastic reduction in the salaries of politicians and bureaucrats, (2) a drastic reduction in the number of representatives in governments as well as numbers of government employees, (3) a total overhaul of all spending so that waste and unnecessary spending were eliminated, (4) an independent treasury department which would control all spending decisions and ensure that there are no budget deficits and no national debt, and (5) government spending strictly for essential services (infrastructure, health services, safety and security services, law enforcement and justice).

4. A flat income tax of 10% of gross income (individual or corporate) which would do away with all deductions, exemptions, and dodges.

5. No freebies to politicians or bureaucrats either, since they would need to pay their expenses out of pocket, not out of tax funds. Absolutely no corporate welfare and no pork barrel politics. Lobbying totally banned and Big Pharma put on notice.

6. Absolutely no tax funding for abortions, transgender operations, wasteful visits to doctors, or any such nonsense.

7. Welfare recipients to work for their checks (unless disabled). No freebies for anyone for any reason.

8. All illegals immigrants totally deported back to their countries of origin, and legal immigration only for productive and loyal citizens -- not infiltrators.

When currency is stable and taxes are at an absolute minimum, then all able-bodied people can support themselves. Which means that everyone would have money to either save or invest. After that it would be a matter of individual effort as to how wealthy or not people wish to become. But everyone would have a living wage (and the slackers would be compelled to work or starve). As the Bible says if any man will not work, let him not eat.
 

Moses_Young

Well-known member
Sep 15, 2019
9,948
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#71
1. All countries would return to the Gold Standard. Which means that the money in circulation could not exceed the value of gold being held in reserve. That would eliminate inflation and deflation, and printing money at will.
Isn't it usury that causes inflation? Imaginary money that can never be paid back. Agreed with all the points, but banning usury should be one of them also.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,771
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#72
Isn't it usury that causes inflation? Imaginary money that can never be paid back. Agreed with all the points, but banning usury should be one of them also.
The term "usury" is generally associated with the charging excessive interest. But if a fair rate of interest is charged on loans, that is perfectly acceptable. Money should be able to earn money and a loan is essentially an investment.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,726
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#73
Money should be able to earn money
it is right that the rich should get richer at an ever-increasing rate, advises Nehemiah6.
interesting.


i have questions:
is that what it means, "
to the one who has, more will be given" ? and from he who has not, even what he has will be taken away? is Christ speaking of money?



Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished,
but he who gathers by labor will increase.
(Proverbs 13:11)
also does this scripture comment?



& what about "give to whoever asks of you, without demanding it back" ?
relevant?




why were all debts cancelled on the year of jubilee?
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,726
13,522
113
#74
Rich Dads Prophecy :Why The Biggest Stock Market Crash Is Still Coming.... And How. You can Prepare Yourself and Profit From It!

yep thats its actual title.
there's something wrong about such a book being marketed in a 'christian' book store.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,726
13,522
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#75
if any of you truly owned anything you would be taking it with you.
 
Jul 20, 2019
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#76
but I thought prosperity theology had failed? Stop focusing in the world and its problems, its all coming to a huge crashing end, and the journey has already started, these are just the birth pains, things are going to get much worse from here. So forget about the world and money. Selfishness, Greed and a desire to have more than your neighbour will not get you to heaven.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,771
113
#78
it is right that the rich should get richer at an ever-increasing rate, advises Nehemiah6.
interesting.

I said nothing about the rich getting richer. Even a low- or middle-income person could make a loan and earn interest. That is the simply cost of the loan. Nothing dishonest about that. All goods and service have a cost and should make a reasonable profit.
i have questions: is that what it means, "
to the one who has, more will be given" ? and from he who has not, even what he has will be taken away? is Christ speaking of money?

This is about spiritual things. Spiritual truth, spiritual insight, and spiritual wisdom. Those who are wilfully blind to God's truth (as were the Pharisees) are stopped from receiving additional truth. And even the little they understood makes no sense.
Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished, but he who gathers by labor will increase. (Proverbs 13:11) also does this scripture comment?

This is speaking about cheating others. A properly drawn up Loan Agreement has no hidden clauses. Everything is supposed to be fully disclosed. So if a person earns 5-15% on a loan or an investment, that is perfectly honest and above-board. Trying to earn 50-100% would be usury.
& what about "
give to whoever asks of you, without demanding it back" ? relevant?

Not really. This is related to someone coming to you in dire need and asking for some help. If you can help the person without demanding repayment, you have done a good deed.
why were all debts cancelled on the year of jubilee?
This was applicable only to Israel, and because the Israelites were God's people. God did not want Hebrews to put their Hebrew brethren under bondage, since they had been in bondage in Egypt. This is not applicable today.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,726
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#79
I said nothing about the rich getting richer. Even a low- or middle-income person could make a loan and earn interest.
if two women, one rich and one poor, both take the same price as a percentage for their loans, who will gain more wealth, the one who sells a thousand dollar loan or the one who sells a million dollar loan?
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,726
13,522
113
#80
1. All countries would return to the Gold Standard. Which means that the money in circulation could not exceed the value of gold being held in reserve. That would eliminate inflation and deflation, and printing money at will.

2. All national debts would need to be paid off. Which means that the governments would need to seriously trim the fat and become very lean.

3. Which would also mean (1) a drastic reduction in the salaries of politicians and bureaucrats, (2) a drastic reduction in the number of representatives in governments as well as numbers of government employees, (3) a total overhaul of all spending so that waste and unnecessary spending were eliminated, (4) an independent treasury department which would control all spending decisions and ensure that there are no budget deficits and no national debt, and (5) government spending strictly for essential services (infrastructure, health services, safety and security services, law enforcement and justice).

4. A flat income tax of 10% of gross income (individual or corporate) which would do away with all deductions, exemptions, and dodges.

5. No freebies to politicians or bureaucrats either, since they would need to pay their expenses out of pocket, not out of tax funds. Absolutely no corporate welfare and no pork barrel politics. Lobbying totally banned and Big Pharma put on notice.

6. Absolutely no tax funding for abortions, transgender operations, wasteful visits to doctors, or any such nonsense.

7. Welfare recipients to work for their checks (unless disabled). No freebies for anyone for any reason.

8. All illegals immigrants totally deported back to their countries of origin, and legal immigration only for productive and loyal citizens -- not infiltrators.
  1. necessitates a one-world ruler with an iron fist over the gold trade. hello antichrist.
    the economy immediately implodes under massive deflation of the dollar.
  2. national debt becomes impossible to pay off due to aforementioned massive currency devaluation and associated depreciated revenue.
  3. extremely severe economic depression at national and individual scales. many nations essentially have zero buying power whatsoever as they have no gold. international trade suffers drastically.
  4. under massive unemployment and acutely devalued currency, tax income is sharply reduced both in magnitude and proportion of GDP.
  5. mining and reclamation industries & their investors don't need lobbyists, because they have absolute control over the entire economy through which elected officials purchase the media exposure that wins elections. "the spice must flow" and "he who controls the spice, controls the universe"
  6. that one-world-ruler that your fantasy plan step #1 requires decides what the definition of "any such nonsense" is.
  7. since the nation itself faces insurmountable debt amplified by currency devaluation and the accompanying magnitudal & disproportionate loss of tax revenue, it is forced into slavery. slavery to the one-world-ruler who controls the flow of gold. all the nations become subjugate. this is true on an individual level too - so citizens become slaves of the state.
  8. yeah lol? when you get sent back to Europe send me a letter in Teotihuacán. not into nationalism.