Colo. Christian Univ. firing
Dr. Walter Owensby, a former public policy official of the Presbyterian Church (USA), once wrote, “We are obligated by faith to stand in judgment of capitalism and all economic orders, insisting always that they produce a society as nearly in accord with the biblical vision as possible. There is no Christian economics. But there is a Christian critique of all economics.”
According to scripture, Jesus said much about the dangers of acquiring wealth. Jesus told the rich young ruler it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it was for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. The Bible also tells us the love of money is the root of all evil. If Jesus were alive in America today, his radical teachings would clash with our materialistic, capitalistic culture. Like Martin Luther King Jr., Jesus would probably be assassinated.
Socialism is not all bad and capitalism is not all good. Both have a place in meeting the needs of all our people. I believe Jesus would approve of fired Professor Andrew Paquin’s teaching and teaching methods.
This letter has not been edited.
There is greed in every system. The greed in the Socialist system sits with the elites at the top of the governmental food chain. If you think the Hildabeast or Obama are going to abide by their own socialist agenda, you are wrong. They will be at the top.
Capitalism fosters no more greed than any other. The amount of greed a person has is subject to his own personality. There are greedy people within any system. In fact, the same people will have the same level of greed in ANY system.
Doesn't the Bible also say "Thou shalt not steal"? Then why do socialists insist on stealing money from others? Isn't that Christian econ 101?
Socialism IS all bad. Stealing from your neighbor to pay for things that you think you need and don't want to pay for yourself is immoral. I don't think Jesus was out there stealing bread and fishes from others. Why do you insist on stealing from others?
Posted by Dravur on August 20, 2007 02:45 PMDravur:
So you'll build, maintain and use your own transportation system then?
The world is not so black and white as you suggest. The letter writer is correct in that.
However, looking to Jesus for the answers is crazy, since based on what I read in the Bible he was a lunatic.
Posted by Charles B on August 20, 2007 02:59 PMJesus was perhaps the biggest bleeding-heart liberal in all recorded history. I don't recall him teaching about the trickle-down economic model or rewarding the wealthy with huge tax cuts. Quite the contrary. He spent most of his time talking about giving up material possessions and taking care of the poor. Dravur, did Jesus charge for those loaves and fishes?
Posted by Docjay on August 20, 2007 03:19 PMIf Jesus were alive today, Mr. Armstrong and the rest of his "conservative Christians" ilk would be the first in line to nail Him to the cross, period.
Posted by mytwosense on August 20, 2007 03:55 PMActually: If Jesus Christ were alive today you would see him tooten along in a stolen automobile alluding to the ass he stole a couple of sentences later after he mandated the death of nonbelievers in Luke 19:27 and just before being assisted in his suicide.
Posted by RG Risen Ape r22037yahoo on August 20, 2007 05:33 PMAh, mytwosense, the flaming female liberal of this forum, declares "conservative Christians" would be the first to nail Jesus to the cross. Really, mytwosense? Do you really feel that way? Why?
Capitalism has benefited many more people than any other system. Is it a perfect system? No. Can anyone name a perfect system? Jesus would not care what our tax rate was set to; but he would care why you walked past a homeless man on your way to spend $30 on a movie, over-sized popcorn, over-sized soda and a box of SnoCaps. Capitalism is not the problem. The true problem is a dumbed-down, self-absorbed, effeminate bourgeois culture that is willing to prop up idiot celebrities as kings and queens.
Posted by John II on August 20, 2007 07:05 PMJohn II boy you crammed more into that paragraph than a fat lady can get in a girdle.
Flaming liberal please meet eminent iconoclast (just one of his names for me).
John II, she doesn`t "feel" about Christians, she thinks. Though she may feel too.
The most intolerant people, judgemental and self righteous are Christians. The rest of us are smug and know we are elitist, but at least we don`t claim Gods blessing on our nastiness.
Effeminate= any civilized behavior with a touch of human caring and kindness, to John II.
Guess he prefers masculinist behavior of the past, whatever the hell that was.
Posted by Sharon B. on August 20, 2007 07:47 PM"mytwosense, the flaming female liberal ..."
What a picture though.
Would it be like Joan of Arc, or Boadiccea?
I think a slightly effeminate society is probably better than a paternalistic one.
Quality of life, infant mortality, and life-expectancy-wise.
Perhaps fewer expensive toys that go woosh or bang perhaps, but maybe nicer treatment all round.
What, Mr. Skank, no risk? No danger? No adventure? No competition? No thrill of victory nor agony of defeat? We just sort of safely exist to live in a super-coddled, over-emotional, nanny state just so we can play nice and live until 80 instead of 77.5 ? And then someday a less effeminate culture comes in and has it's way with us? No thanks.
John II:
Compensate much?
Posted by Charles B on August 21, 2007 08:20 AMmytwosense, the flaming female liberal of this forum
-laughs-
Thanks, John II. I always say, there's a gay male in me screaming to get out.
Sharon B., unfortunately the most visible "Christians" today seem to be the ones that prefer the prefix of "Conservative." Please, please don't lump all Christians in with this peculiarly judgemental and rather merciless demographic of the faith. I honestly question their authenticity, anyway.
By the way...the firing referred to in this thread's letter happened as a result of a teacher assigning his students works by Jim Wallis - a passionate advocate of human rights, and also a Christian pastor. Let's put it this way, Ann Coulter brands Wallis as a "lunatic." So from there, you can deduce he's a good man, and a decidedly different example of Christianity than what we see most often today.
You might find yourself pleasantly surprised by his writing, in fact. "God's Politics - How the Right Gets it Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It" is a pretty fascinating and informative read.
Posted by mytwosense on August 21, 2007 09:51 PMJudgmental, mytwosense? Didn't you just judge "conservative Christians"? Do you not judge me on virtually every post you address to me? Was it judgmental to say "conservative Christians" would be the first to nail Jesus to the cross?
Posted by John II on August 22, 2007 11:47 AM