Can Christianity be resolved with capitalism?

Question

I recently had a discussion with a friend regarding the issue of Christianity and capitalism. From my understanding of the Bible, the New Testament in particular, it seems very difficult to resolve the ideals of competition and the profit motive with Christian ideals. I strongly believe in capitalism. I believe that competition provides better products at lower prices and also encourages innovation. I am not a Christian. I think there are some good ideas in Christianity, however, I cannot really see how the way Jesus lived would support a capitalist economy. Perhaps someone here can set me straight or help me view the matter from a different angle. I appreciate any new insights into the matter.

Answer 1

I don't see a conflict between capitalism and Christianity.

First, Capitalism respects human freedom. Everything is voluntary in capitalism.

Second, In order for capitalists to thrive, they must create and produce goods and services that others will use.

Capitalism is truly enlightened self-interest. You benefit by benefiting others.

I am unaware of anything in the Bible that conflicts with the above values.

Answer 2

I think there is definitely a tension between the teachings of Jesus and capitalism.

However, the classic statement of the opposing view comes from Max Weber.

From Wikipedia: The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism is a book written by Max Weber, a German economist and sociologist in 1904 and 1905 that began as a series of essays. The original edition was in German and was entitled: Die protestantische Ethik und der 'Geist' des Kapitalismus. An English translation was made in 1930 by Talcott Parsons, and several editions have been released.

Weber wrote that capitalism evolved when the Protestant (particularly Calvinist) ethic influenced large numbers of people to engage in work in the secular world, developing their own enterprises and engaging in trade and the accumulation of wealth for investment. In other words, the Protestant ethic was a force behind an unplanned and uncoordinated mass action that led to the development of capitalism. This idea is also known as "the Weber thesis".

The book is available on the web in hypertext if you want to look into it further.

Answer 3

I saw Rick Warren Christmas Eve on Meet The Press. He told Tim Russert that China's new attempt at the free market will fail because it lacks the three vital elements that makes the American Experiment so exceptional.

1.) A free market

2.) Freedom of expression and religion

3.) THIS ONE IS THE HOLY GRAIL: A moral value system that will prevent a capitalistic society from going into berzerk materialism.

We should want, as Christians, that everyone lives in a free market society where ultimately your success comes down to you and you only. Our free-market comes from the Puritans' "Protestant Ethic." But we have to balance that with a moral sense that compels us to charity and good will. Russia is a morally decrepit, though very free market, state. There is no moral system that you find in Christianity there. Capitalism IS the religion.

Read Adam Smith and Max Weber. Smith, the "father of modern capitalism" made clear in his "Wealth of the Nations" that a good free market economy would rely on a joint effort towards the common good--that involves charity and a general charitable spirit among the people. Only faith, and I say Christianity, can give us that spirit. The best outcome is a free country where men are free to determine their best outcomes combined with a moral people who look to God not the dollar for their best outcomes.

Answer 4

Bravo! A very honest background for your question. The definitive work on this question goes back some years. It is by Tawney - Religion and the Rise of Capitalism. Competition and profit are realistic expressions of loving one's neighbor as one's self ie. the provision of goods to maximum number, fair return for one's labor in the form of investment. The problem as in most economic/political systems is the self which is easily corrupted by "more." cf. Enron and the insane stock market which demands increased earnings every quarter. But that isn't capitalism, that is greed. The usury of the credit card system is also suspect. Anyway, read Tawney.
The way Jesus lived was in regard to an economic system based on slave labor and essentially subsistence lifestyles. He told Pilate his Kingdom is not of this world.

Answer 5

No one takes the social-economic New Testament message of Jesus seriously. Christianity and capitalism have become almost indistinguishable in America. Their goal is to re-write the US Constitution and turn America into a corporate-based fascist State founded on the belief in a brutal, judgmental, and mean-spirited Old Testament god.

Answer 6

Jesus supports freedom ,forced governmental socialism and communism are not free.
Jesus supports working hard for reward and he said based on your work you shall be rewarded less and more.
Jesus supports industry and rebukes the lazy
Jesus was not concerned with money so much as the kingdom of God. He told rich to help the poor and give and share not be communists.
In order to have communism in all , it must be forced and people robbed , their lands taken, their houses thier companies which they started and given to the power of the government which supposedly will not become corrupt , but we know that is the most unlikely of all.
But when ther judgement comes God will take things unjustly gained away from the rich or whoever unjustly gained them and redistribute justice. But God judges in righteousness , man is a scoundrel.
Jesus sadi sell all you have in order to destroy love for money, those who support communism love money and think about it all day. Most communist were atheists and killed millions of religious people, because they felt that their independent thought and source of morality got in the way of governmental hegemony.
On the other hand I do need that capitalism need to be re-evaluted and tamed a bit. I think Jesus supports whatever is just and in obedience, I don't like names being put to it.
I do think Jesus can suppor tsome form of socialism lite, and also support capitalsim easy, just like he supports those in different countries with different customs as long as they are pleasing to God.

Answer 7

You can show contradicts inside of the Bible, contradictions between modern life and the Bible, and contradictions between morality and the Bible. You can keep talking about how the Bible and capitalism are at odds, or about how the Bible never condemns pedophilia or ask why God kills so many people.

It probably won't work though.

Answer 8

Christianity RESOLVED with Capitalism? This is a loaded question implying Christianity needs to be "fixed."

That may be so, but if it does, nothing that doesn't have anything to do with religion will be able to "fix" it.

Answer 9

"i do no longer think in God. never have, and in all threat never will. even nonetheless, I trust Chris Hedges that atheism, in line with se, would not handle some very elementary issues in human nature" Neither does ice cream. All atheism is isn't believing any gods exist. it isn't any variety of prescriptive ideology. heavily. "Now I even have never belonged to any variety of non secular business enterprise, yet with all of its undesirable factors, I see it as helpful in some procedures. anybody agree?" Nope. no longer in the slightest degree. All I see is hand-waving and disingenuous descriptions so as to objective to rationalize superstition. And whilst doing so which you're demonizing people who are not superstitious via claiming we are amoral. A rational thoughts can fee a functioning society because of the fact it advantages themselves and others (no longer having a double-time-honored for the well being of others and the well being of one's self). Buddhism, as an occasion, would not furnish useful practices which could shrink suffering. It promises indifference to suffering. the belief of karma and reincarnation is basically yet another seductive, yet finally risky cosmic justice fable. Blaming the sufferer and inspiring submission to injustice and suffering. there is not any cosmic justice, and in case you pretend there is, you're much less probably to seek for to shrink injustice and suffering in the genuine international. waiting for God, karma, or regardless of to variety it out for you. Are you prepared to admit that fireplace tastes like candy?

Answer 10

You are correct, Jesus was a socialist whether christians like it or not.