When/How/Why did Christianity become pro-Capitalist?

Question

What! There's no "History" section in this arena? I will have to put this in "Religion."

If anyone has any knowledge of this sort of (ancient?) history, it would be interesting to learn. It has never stopped confusing me of how the religion became in favor of capitalism after all the cautionary stories of characters who had great wealth and not much else. That, and then how Jesus lived. If anything it would seem more pro-communal...which is the same first five letters of Communism, which I also wasn't taught enough about in school.
Just why is communism anti-God? Why did Marx want to dethrone God? One would think his philosophy would support a life in Christ.


The argument that people with great wealth can be great Christians if they give their money to missions, organize companies that do (their) Christian activities is debatable.
For one, if they truly gave their all to missions, they wouldn't still be able to live in that extra-fine house of theirs. Second, it's given up to a subjective debate of what truly God would want the money to be used for. I've heard people talk gleefully about their money going to this or that organization across the sea and I fail to see a relation to how it is done in God's wishes, but they say...


Don't read more if you think I'm digressing already too much.
With a society emphasizing Christianity as in favor of Capitalism, then the obvious conclusion among the masses would be (and is to many) that rich people have God's favor, so they are doing things right, and poorer people do not have His favor and are wrong in life. It sets up a society where you must have some material to show off to others so they will acknowledge that you are in the Christian system and have God's favor. People see their neighbors have become Christians and they have a beautiful house, kids and car, so they too should follow and become accustomed to that religion, for they will economically progress as well. God is nothing more than economic progress? Which brings to mind another question about why missionaries believe a brick house is better than a thatched hut. No doubt it is more stable, but is it possible for all the people of the world to live in brick houses? Is it the goal to get as many as possible into brick houses? And why. Are they any benefits from the hut house? Which is easier on the land: brick or bamboo, which is what the people know? Does empowering these women with sewing skills do any good if the job they get after is sewing clothes for designer brands? Does giving new gym shoes to Haitians really do any good when they never had them in the past and suffered nothing from it, and they are hungry? What good does a "real" soccer ball do, when the kids always used old banana leaves and newspaper scraps just fine? Which looks worse on the land, a broken, deflated soccer ball, or paper and banana leaves?

Answer 1

Capitalism does not equal wealth. Capitalism equals freedom with money. It is completely Biblical, so I doubt it is anything new.



Stop viewing the government as your own personal charity. It isn't.

Answer 2

I have no idea what you are talking about...there are many monetarily poor Christians, where do you get the idea that all Christians are rich, spiritually yes i consider that to be true for Christ resides with me what more that is given is an added blessing and for that always thankful



We don't own a home, or don't have a new car either '92', or credit cards or insurances or savings or a bank account or any type of securities for over 10 years now and that was our choice...in fact my husband is laid off from his job and the only thing i asked for was that he gets it back soon.. we didn't have all the money we needed to pay this months rent and our landlord was very kind about it...we have every thing we can part with for sale (we don't have knickknacks or anything like that in our home in fact we don't even have anything on the wall, i don't like stuff, just makes more to clean)...would you be interested in a bird/saltwater tank/table/somepots/and pans/microwave/hp deskjet allinone printer...and a few other items... unless things change soon :) it will be the computerandcable to go also...



Hope you have a blessed day :) Xxo

Answer 3

For most of the Middle Ages Christianity was anti capitalism, you couldn't lend money at a profit for instance, that's why Jews were relied on for capital investment.

Of course that all changed with the end of feudalism and governments actually needed extra sources of cash.

Christianity is nothing if not adaptable.

Answer 4

Wow. Anyone who features to Russia as an illustration of Capitalist failures evidently does not understand what Capitalism is. Capitalism is the separation of State and Economics. We do not have pure separation (i.E., pure capitalism) within the U.S., however there may be almost NO such separation in Russia. An economic process just isn't Capitalist just in view that the federal government engages in capitalistic economic activity. The fundamental industries in Russia are either State-owned or still tightly State-controlled...Or, within the case of oil and other central industries, allowed to be privately owned simplest as much as the factor the place the private owners fail to do the federal government's bidding. That is simply an additional type of State manipulate. Sure, the generation of barracks-Communism is over (at least for now) in Russia, but that does not robotically make their system "Capitalist." EDIT: I agree thoroughly with Socrates. How a couple of response? Or are you truly blind to any logical arguments that don't aid your pre-decided solutions?

Answer 5

When it found money and power in it.



After all, that is what religion is really all about.



Oh! and there is a history section, its under Arts and Humanities.

Answer 6

if you look at history religions have always been large landowners- of course they are going to be capitalist. btw im an atheist who is also very much a capitalist as i run my own business (farm)

Answer 7

i dunno...but i keep kickin myself for not going into preachin