Re: Christian Capitalism

As a Christian and a capitalist, I find these arguments (that somehow Jesus espoused capitalism) pretty weak.

Though not a very good Christian and no expert on economics, I’d have to say that the New Testament is pretty much neutral about economics.

Off the top of my head the only two economic concepts I can think of even being addressed are paying taxes and helping out the poor.

21"Caesar's," they replied. Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."

21Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

I’d have to say that the best argument a Christian can make for capitalism is one of implication. It is the capitalist system that has created the most prosperous (bottom to top) nation on the planet, how can that not be the system that does the most to help the poor? I think of my earlier Wal-Mart post. Any arguments that the NT, or Jesus’ teachings in particular, are capitalistic really stretch credulity.

George Will’s recent column on charity (spanking Austin) is not really on topic but is at least somewhat related if it can be presumed that conservatives are generally more pro-capitalism:

Reviewing Brooks' book ("Who Really Cares: The Surprising Truth About Compassionate Conservatism") in the Texas Review of Law & Politics, Justice Willett notes that Austin — it voted 56 percent for Kerry while he was getting just 38 percent statewide — is ranked by The Chronicle of Philanthropy as 48th out of America's 50 largest cities in per capita charitable giving. Brooks' data about disparities between liberals' and conservatives' charitable giving fit these facts: Democrats represent a majority of the wealthiest congressional districts, and half of America's richest households live in states where both senators are Democrats.

While conservatives tend to regard giving as a personal rather than governmental responsibility, some liberals consider private charity a retrograde phenomenon — a poor palliative for an inadequate welfare state, and a distraction from achieving adequacy by force, by increasing taxes.

I quickly concede that much of that giving is church related.