Do you think religion goes well with capitalism?

Question

Do you ever feel like you're "paying" for the church service when you put some coins or bills in the collection plate? What about when you go into Christian retailing industries? I think the retail industries are nothing more than to make money from the gospel.

Answer 1

I find religion goes well with Linquine Alfredo and a light Chianti. Capitalism and religion is an unholy alliance. Churches like the Catholic and Mormon Church are more profitable than many large corporations or even nations. Money is a necessary evil for churches. The Mormon Church used to advise its members to abstain from Pepsi and other drinks that contained caffeine, until they bought large amounts of Pepsi stock. Money in religion is the tail wagging the dog. As tax free entities they have a huge advantage. No one is forced to put money in the collection plate, but it is hard not to feel obligated when everyone around you does. This doesn't bother me. They have to pay the bills. What does bother me is the thought of TV evangelists flying around in Lear jets to talk little old ladies into putting them into their will. Still there is the good side. I took a load of used goods to a Salvation Army donation site and the man told me there were fifty men working in the warehouse trying to turn their lives around. The money was being used to change lives and not make the man at the top rich. But money does corrupt and leads to abuse, even among the faithful.

Answer 2

No. Whenever you mix money and religion, the outcome is usually bad. Most of the time churches are just worried about paying the bills and will begin to give sermons only on what people want to here just to boost the income of donations/tithes. And this coming from a person who was a Christian for 18 years and then converted to Messianic Judaism.

Answer 3

Most capitalist societies* are pushed through greed, now not faith. Personal greed that in general has little, if some thing to do with faith and in general lacks any form of ethical or moral ideas. I suspect you're considering the ones devout agencies which are always harping for cash and the ones leaders that spend extra time lining their possess wallet than some thing else (the Bakkers come to brain). It is not only prepared faith and but it's not all prepared faith that has this quandary. In distinction, I could say that the mainstream religions are simply the reverse of their nature and it's extra a quandary some of the evangelical "mega" church buildings and televangelists. Of direction, they're probably the most public of their pleas, too. *I say such a lot, however I cannot feel of any capitalist societies that do not fall into this particularl quandary.

Answer 4

Do you think religion goes well with capitalism?
Like oil and water...or like a fish needs a bicycle.

Jesus said not to be greedy and defraud...capitalism says
"get 'em while they're hot", "more money is better" and "there's a sucker born every minute"

Your points are true; but, "false religion" has always been big business...

(Mat 21:12) And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,
(Mat 21:13) And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

money changers are to doves as ushers are to the latest "christian" book/program/trinkets/graven images/crosses/crucifixs/bumper stickers/music..etc

Joh 2:16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house a house of merchandise.

2Pe 2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

Rev 18:11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:

(Joh 2:19) Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
(Joh 2:20) Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
(Joh 2:21) But he spake of the temple of his body.
(Joh 2:22) When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the Scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.

Answer 5

Think of all the people who contributed to Ted Haggard's New Life. They were paying for someone else's gay massages and crystal meth.

That's not to mention the Catholic Church, which is worth hundreds of billions if not closer to a trillion, worldwide.

Answer 6

I think that Christianity goes very well with it--the American brand of both anyway. The next time you meet or speak with a Christian author/musician/artist etc. ask them why they are worshiping mammon by profiting so much from what god has given them.

Answer 7

I think it goes quite well. Christian themed pyramid schemes (i.e., get rich quick) are multiplying rapidly. Instead of getting together at an Amway meeting to pep each other up about selling products, they get together at Christian pep rallies and talk about how God wants them to be rich and if we all hold hands and pray, God will give us all the money we want.

Answer 8

Religion can be very spiritual and true, or it can be a trick, just like anything else in your life. Get to know yourself, and, the truth will be easy to see.... perhaps.... haha. Everything is such a paradox. Find others who talk and walk what is true in your heart, then you won't need to worry about the carnival vender's.

Answer 9

I thought your question meant something else.....like you were refering to the Protestant Work Ethic where they work hard and live in a simple way putting profit back into their business therefore the business grows.
But yes, I think Christianity and capitalism convieniently go hand in hand.

Answer 10

They are two separate things. They can be combined though, and that's when you get christian book stores. They can also be very separate, A church can embrace capitalism or choose not too.