Hello everybody

[monger]

sounds good to me

[JLapp]

beachy inquistion? now where have i heard that term before? wait, I thought they left the amish cause they wanted to do away with the inquistion? lol

Btw, Im pretty socialistic myself. I think capitalism is evil...its roots are in enlightenment humanism and darwinism.

[hansmast]

It's roots were in the same time period and maybe even some of the same philosophers were involved in postulating both theories, but they were really separate.

"He who does not work shall not eat."

The Bible teaches responsibility.

[hansmast]

The Bible doesn't say that we should expect the gov to bail us out. It says, "Work with your own hands, as we have told you."

[JLapp]

So just cause we should work doesnt mean we have to go gungho over private property. (try the apostolic and anabaptist churches on this one)

[monger]

."He who does not work shall not eat."

my memory fails me. where is that verse?

[ofLI]

i want to know why the socialist gets all the media...whatever...hey doesn't the commandment...thou shalt not covet...a biblical basis for private property...without which there could be no coveting...at least you guys jeff are symbolized by red also...and better red than dead

[JLapp]

sure that will work if we are going OT but to try a more christocentric view check out some thought-provoking stuff here and here

what does it mean to have ALL things in common?

[Jeff]

Wow, my two words elicit this kind of response? I'm flattered.

[eugene]

Wow, my two words elicit this kind of response? I'm flattered.

Jeff, I think it was Hans's two words that really got the discussion going. Y'know - "He's socialist."

Oh well, take Hans's flattery when you can. He's not really generous with it. Especially for socialists.

[hansmast]

Socialism is based on the premise that people are relatively poor becuase of circumstances or because of some other element beyond their control. (This is true in only a very few cases. Katrina would be a good example.) It is my opinion that no one need be relatively poor if they want to. The Bible teaches responsibility for ones actions. Actions (or lack thereof) is the reason that many (tho not all) people are poor. It is the premise of Socialism that those who have wealth are wealthy because they have exploited the poor. (This is true in some cases, but certainly not all. It is the wealthy that drive the economy, provide jobs, provide investment to fund jobs, etc, etc) Thus Socialists think that the rich should be taxes and the money be handed to the poor in the way of services (with tons of government waste along the way).

I say "Yay!" for personal responsibility. What you do affects yourself and others, and that's the way it should be.

As to that example of having "all things in common", that was an example of a church acting that way within its membership. It can hardly be extrapolated that that is what a government is supposed to do. If you really believe that, why don't you start acting that way? Next time you see the drunk staggering down the street, take him into the bank with you and set him up a signer on your bank account.

[eugene]

I hear you loud & clear, Hans.
Paul Graham (founded Viaweb, now Yahoo! Store) has some insights regarding personal wealth and "economic inequality" here.

[krisks]

Jeff, Based on your two word introduction, you remind me of someone. I'd love to guess at your real identity.

[Jeff]

Please do. :-)

[krisks]

If I knew you, would I have reason to associate the the word "whatever" with you?