CAPITALISM AND CHRISTIANITY: THE UNEASY PARTNERSHIP?

In the 20th century the free market proved superior for meeting human needs than socialism. Yet many Christians, rightly concerned about the poor, blame capitalism for the world's ills. The author argues that the biblical Kingdom of Heaven does not come through enforced government economic plan...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal on world peace 2002-09, Vol.19 (3), p.39-55
Main Author: Bandow, Doug
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Capitalism
Christian socialism
Christianity
Collaboration
Equal Opportunity
Income Distribution
Income Inequality
Liberalism
Market Economy
Peacefulness
Poverty
Social Welfare
Socialism
Socioeconomic factors
Wealth
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Summary:In the 20th century the free market proved superior for meeting human needs than socialism. Yet many Christians, rightly concerned about the poor, blame capitalism for the world's ills. The author argues that the biblical Kingdom of Heaven does not come through enforced government economic plans. Rather, it derives from virtuous, hardworking men and women who strive to abolish poverty through acts of charity. While some government safety nets may be in order, government redistribution of wealth is usually a disincentive for production, lowering economic production and exacerbating social problems. Equal opportunity to succeed in a free society is what is required. Christian men and women can help people in poverty by ensuring they get the education required to prosper and that they are not kept in poverty through the unjust actions of others.
ISSN:0742-3640
2328-2851