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#1
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Re: Is libertarianism at odds with Christianity?
Lets say all welfare programs were ended with the idea that Christian Churches would pick up the slack.
Would non-Christians be eligible for foodstamps and other aid? |
#2
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Re: Is libertarianism at odds with Christianity?
[ QUOTE ]
Lets say all welfare programs were ended with the idea that Christian Churches would pick up the slack. Would non-Christians be eligible for foodstamps and other aid? [/ QUOTE ] If you're directing this question at me... How the hell should I know? [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] ...but seriously, who could answer this? |
#3
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Re: Is libertarianism at odds with Christianity?
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ] Lets say all welfare programs were ended with the idea that Christian Churches would pick up the slack. Would non-Christians be eligible for foodstamps and other aid? [/ QUOTE ] If you're directing this question at me... How the hell should I know? [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] ...but seriously, who could answer this? [/ QUOTE ] I direct it at anyone who wants to read peoples thoughts. My point is all the wonderful christian aid that third world contries recieve comes with a religious lecture and a bible. Not to disparage anyone's future saints, but Mother Teresa actually encouraged poverty in the places she worked. (dont make me look it up, i dont have enough time today) |
#4
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Re: Is libertarianism at odds with Christianity?
If Christ as Man was hypothetically living on the Earth today, He would be a monarch and things would be structured a lot like Medieval Europe but with no wars and flush toilets.
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#5
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Re: Is libertarianism at odds with Christianity?
From an economics point of view we should support capitalism because it provides the best possible outcome for all of society. In other words, one should oppose welfare programs because they destroy value, slow growth, and hurt the very people they are trying to help.
I have no fundamental problem with government services and wealth redistribution. I don't take a moral stand on those issues like say PVN does. I believe they are bad policy because they have been proven wrong in thoery and practice. It is not a moral question of weighing one thing against another, these policies are simply bad. They cause more problems then they solve. Do I disagree with private charity, no. I think it is a far more effective medium. We would do much better to return tax dollars to the public and let them use thier own conscious in determining what to give. Charity at gunpoint is not charity. As for social matters, I think it is still possible to be a fundie christian and a libraterian. You simply need to acknowledge that moral matters should be taken out of the hands of government. It doesn't require you give up your believes, it just requires you settle them as an individual in the public square rather then as a voter. |
#6
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Re: Is libertarianism at odds with Christianity?
[ QUOTE ]
From an economics point of view we should support capitalism because it provides the best possible outcome for all of society. In other words, one should oppose welfare programs because they destroy value, slow growth, and hurt the very people they are trying to help. I have no fundamental problem with government services and wealth redistribution. I don't take a moral stand on those issues like say PVN does. I believe they are bad policy because they have been proven wrong in thoery and practice. It is not a moral question of weighing one thing against another, these policies are simply bad. They cause more problems then they solve. Do I disagree with private charity, no. I think it is a far more effective medium. We would do much better to return tax dollars to the public and let them use thier own conscious in determining what to give. Charity at gunpoint is not charity. As for social matters, I think it is still possible to be a fundie christian and a libraterian. You simply need to acknowledge that moral matters should be taken out of the hands of government. It doesn't require you give up your believes, it just requires you settle them as an individual in the public square rather then as a voter. [/ QUOTE ] Pretty good, it is actually more simple than people are making it out to be. Libertarians have no problem with people determining their own morality (whether it be Christianity or whatever), so long as they don't impose those morals on others forcefully. Examples of this in modern America are laws against pornography and gambling. |
#7
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Re: Is libertarianism at odds with Christianity?
WARNING HIJACK,
hey lehigh do you think the capitalist system works long term with no wealth distribution? Since you're taking a practical and not a moral stand, do you thing (right or wrong) that as the gap between the rich and the poor grows the poor demand some kind of redistribution, and get it even if the gap continues to grow? I can make this clearer if need be. |
#8
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Re: Is libertarianism at odds with Christianity?
I got it up until your last comma, then it seemed contradictory?
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#9
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Re: Is libertarianism at odds with Christianity?
If we're going to talk about this issue, we should also talk about Jesus' teachings on taxation.
Jesus was emphatically NOT against taxation -- even paying taxes to the brutal Roman government that ultimately crucified him and persecuted his followers. Think about that. His central teaching was "render unto Ceaser that which is Ceaser's, and unto God that which is God's". The question of the "temple tax" also was raised to him, and he answered that it should be paid, and if one could not pay it then God would even provide the means to pay it. The Libertarian Party / laissez-faire talking-point that "Jesus wanted no tax-supported services" is simply wrong. There is NO evidence for this view ANYWHERE in Jesus teachings. In fact, the only way they can try to sell this view is by equating taxation with theft, which is a view Jesus explicitly did not support. Anyway, good topic. Hope this provides some good fodder for this discussion. q/q |
#10
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Re: Is libertarianism at odds with Christianity?
[ QUOTE ]
If we're going to talk about this issue, we should also talk about Jesus' teachings on taxation. Jesus was emphatically NOT against taxation -- even paying taxes to the brutal Roman government that ultimately crucified him and persecuted his followers. Think about that. His central teaching was "render unto Ceaser that which is Ceaser's, and unto God that which is God's". [/ QUOTE ] The context here is key: the Pharisees sought to trick Jesus into publicly denying the authority of Rome. They knew Jesus put the authority of God first and foremost, and above the authority of Caesar. So, they sent a lawyer-type to inveigle Jesus into making a statement for which they could have him arrested and executed. Jesus, however, perceived the attempted trickery and answered wisely, segregating in his reply the things of God from the things of Caesar, so that he did not thereby deny the authority of Caesar. When the Sadducee asked Jesus if it was lawful for Jews to pay tax to Caesar (the Jews considered God, not Caesar, to be their Lord), Jesus asked the Sadducee to hold up a coin, and asked him, whose likeness is on that coin? The Sadducee answered, "Caesar's", whereupon Jesus replied, "Render therefore unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's." So Jesus' statement may be taken more as a declaration of the compartmentalization of two distinct realms, than as an outright endorsement of taxation or tribute. For a much more detailed explanation of this, from a religious scholar and true believer's perspective, here is a link I found: http://www.hiscovenantministries.org...e/romans_2.htm |
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