Christian capitalism?

How exactly is it possible for one to be a christian and a capitalist? I'm not a christian, but, as far as I know, greed and selfishness are sins. Capitalism is a system based upon greed and selfishness. It's basically like saying that murder should be legal, and not punished.
So... How does this work?

It works via ignorance, most educated christians are socialist (like me )

Well actually, not everyone thinks capitalism is based upon greed and selfishness.

It is, so the problem persists.

[quote="Rename"]Well actually, not everyone thinks capitalism is based upon greed and selfishness.[/quote
Those people are ignorant, like I said.

Stos wrote:

It is, so the problem persists.

great back-up

Liche wrote:

Those people are ignorant, like I said.

Im not ignorant

Rename wrote:

Liche wrote:

Those people are ignorant, like I said.

Im not ignorant

You're not but that doesn't mean there isn't room for more knowledge.

Rename wrote:

Stos wrote:

It is, so the problem persists.

great back-up

Please explain how capitalism is not based upon greed and selfishness.

Stos wrote:

Rename wrote:

Stos wrote:

It is, so the problem persists.

great back-up

Please explain how capitalism is not based upon greed and selfishness.

They think people with lots of money worked harder, which isn't usually true.

Liche wrote:

Stos wrote:

Rename wrote:

Stos wrote:

It is, so the problem persists.

great back-up

Please explain how capitalism is not based upon greed and selfishness.

They think people with lots of money worked harder, which isn't usually true.

But they could share the "fruits of their hard job" and anyway that's not the core problem. I'd like to see the cappie response first.

Christianity doesn't really stand for anything, the bible has too many self-contradictions for a single, discernible ideology to be drawn from it so the only thing that really makes a person christian is thinking that they're christian.

oligarch wrote:

Christianity doesn't really stand for anything, the bible has too many self-contradictions for a single, discernible ideology to be drawn from it so the only thing that really makes a person christian is thinking that they're christian.

We're parting from the premise that christianism stands for charity and such as many christians claim.

oligarch wrote:

...the bible has too many self-contradictions for a single, discernible ideology to be drawn from it...

It's also known as the Old Testament. Nothing but a bunch of reactionary propaganda that gloryify killing in the name of God.

The New Testament is just as bad, and in addition to the two testaments contradicting themselves, they contradict eachother.

At some point, the bible advocates just about every single ideology in existence so being a christian in itself does not make a person any idealogy what so ever.

oligarch wrote:

The New Testament is just as bad, and in addition to the two testaments contradicting themselves, they contradict eachother.

At some point, the bible advocates just about every single ideology in existence so being a christian in itself does not make a person any idealogy what so ever.

how do?

oligarch wrote:

Christianity doesn't really stand for anything, the bible has too many self-contradictions for a single, discernible ideology to be drawn from it so the only thing that really makes a person christian is thinking that they're christian.

nope.
read some of his works please:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%B8ren_Kierkegaard

Tyrlop wrote:

oligarch wrote:

Christianity doesn't really stand for anything, the bible has too many self-contradictions for a single, discernible ideology to be drawn from it so the only thing that really makes a person christian is thinking that they're christian.

nope.
read some of his works please:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%B8ren_Kierkegaard

Most christians have different, mutually exclusive definitions of faith, etc. and there is therefore no qualifying doctrine for christianity.

oligarch wrote:

Tyrlop wrote:

oligarch wrote:

Christianity doesn't really stand for anything, the bible has too many self-contradictions for a single, discernible ideology to be drawn from it so the only thing that really makes a person christian is thinking that they're christian.

nope.
read some of his works please:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%B8ren_Kierkegaard

Most christians have different, mutually exclusive definitions of faith, etc. and there is therefore no qualifying doctrine for christianity.

but typically, you interpret the word Christianity as meaning one who follows the word of Christ.

According to the bible, Christ and his apostles siad many, contradictory things and christians generally choose which teachings to follow based on what they wold otherwise believe.

oligarch wrote:

According to the bible, Christ and his apostles siad many, contradictory things and christians generally choose which teachings to follow based on what they wold otherwise believe.

I'm talking about Jesus, not his apostles.

Jesus' apostles are also a part of christianity, whether someone follows their teaching's or Jesus' or Moses' or abrahams or those of any other prophet over any other prophet is up to the christian in question.

Stos wrote:

Capitalism is a system based upon greed and selfishness.

This statement is no less ignorant than the Capitalist belief that Communism is a deprival of one's rights, free will, etc.

There lies the the answer to your question: Capitalists do not, and will never, see their system as greedy and selfish. If they did they probably would never hae become Capitalists.

The ideas of having no private property and not being able to move up in life (like getting a raise/being paid more) is difficult for them to swallow. It is viewed as a deprival of freedom.

If it doesn't burn your eyes, here's some American Capitalist propaganda:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_DaMKUP3Og
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ss0yaO6VJvU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w86QhV7whjs&feature=related

MightyObserver wrote:

This statement is no less ignorant than the Capitalist belief that Communism is a deprival of one's rights, free will, etc.

There lies the the answer to your question: Capitalists do not, and will never, see their system as greedy and selfish. If they did they probably would never hae become Capitalists.

1. You're wrong in stating that everyone shares the same moral standards. While some capitalists once realizing capitalism's intrinsic nature as opposed to their moral views may find disgusting the pratice of capitalism others are aware of this situation and rejoice at having more than others. Many see it as a "necesary evil", others do not realize it is a greedy system and others enjoy being selfish and greedy.

2. Capitalism is based on exploitation of workers, it's based on having more than others at their expense, how is that not selfish? It's also based on having an ever increasing income, in ever increasing consumtion in ever increasing growth of exploitation. How is that not greedy?

MightyOberver wrote:

The ideas of having no private property

This is a point that requires more thorough analysis than what is convenient for this discussion.

MightyObserver wrote:

and not being able to move up in life (like getting a raise/being paid more) is difficult for them to swallow. It is viewed as a deprival of freedom.

So I have to ask, is having more materials the only posible way to develop as a human being? Is a human worth his/her acquisitive power? In capitalism freedom is to a great extent proportional to the income you have, but in communism you don't have such limitations. In communism all you have to do is work to get the maximum freedoms, the maximum social benefits available.

I had written out a really long response but the connection messed up and I was unable to post it. Then I tried to post a brief summary of what I had said but wasn't happy with it and beganto try and go about explaining their point of veiw a different way and it got too frestrating because everything I started to type I could already think of an opposing arguement to.

In my opinion, the bottom line is: Capitalism is not a greedy system but a system which makes room for greed. There are lots of working class people in America looking to make a better life for themselves. They are Capitalists because providing a better life for themselves and their family, to them, means moving up in the system of Capitalism. In what I think is your understanding of Communism people are all essentially already at the top because their is no bottom. If Communism were introduced into the lives of this working class family they might see it as all they've worked for being taken away and being being automaticly forced to the bottom with the top no where in sight. My point is, not all capitalists are the people running the buisnesses and that a worker cannot exploit himself.

"There are lots of working class people in America looking to make a better life for themselves. They are Capitalists because..." For future reference, I'm not saying that every working class person in America is a Capitalist but that most are... because almost everyone here is.

Stos wrote:

How exactly is it possible for one to be a christian and a capitalist? I'm not a christian, but, as far as I know, greed and selfishness are sins. Capitalism is a system based upon greed and selfishness. It's basically like saying that murder should be legal, and not punished.
So... How does this work?

lol and since when did the church stand by it's words?
pretty much everyone will commit3 or more of those sins.