Does Socialism align with Scripture?

[seer]

Totally false.

A 'free market' isn't capitalism. Socialist systems can have free markets too.

The terms capitalist and socialist refer to business ownership, not how goods are traded.

: an economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods, by investments that are determined by private decision, and by prices, production, and the distribution of goods that are determined mainly by competition in a free market

I am not aware of any type of socialist system in history that bans giving money to charity.

Idiot, I wasn't saying otherwise. Simplicio was suggesting that charity was not compatible with capitalism. That is a non sequitur

[RumTumTugger]

I am not aware of any type of socialist system in history that bans giving money to charity. You seem to be in loony tunes territory.

and if the Government takes your money you don't have it to give to your charity of your choice loony toon

[simplicio]

: an economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods, by investments that are determined by private decision, and by prices, production, and the distribution of goods that are determined mainly by competition in a free market


Idiot, I wasn't saying otherwise. Simplicio was suggesting that charity was not compatible with capitalism. That is a non sequitur

I doubt that Starlight has the extensive understanding you have on political philosophy, but I do not think the word idiot is needed (He is Kiwi after all).

If you attempt to read my post in context, you will see that the question was based on Sparko's rendition of socialism and human anthropology (to the extent that Sparko is a Christian, then he ought to be able to base his response on a Christian anthropology). His point was that the fallen human nature made some political ideologies unworkable.

[simplicio]

and if the Government takes your money you don't have it to give to your charity of your choice loony toon

Oh, how sad. Since you pay taxes to Uncle Sam, you really don't see a need to give money to charities? While it is possible that Starlight is a loony toon, I don't see how his comment shows that he is loony toon. I do not know if you actually know any Christians in real life, but I do. And some of those real life Christians do give money to government and to charities. Which aligns with Starlight's point, and counters your point.

And was private contributions to charities, before the government(s) took on the burden of charitable works, enough?

[rogue06]

Oh, how sad. Since you pay taxes to Uncle Sam, you really don't see a need to give money to charities?

Sarcasm seems to be something that flies over your head for someone whose posts are typically chock full of it. Not giving to charities because that's what you pay taxes for appears to be an issue on the left as multiple studies continue to show that conservatives are substantially more generous when it comes to donating to charities. So much so that the left finds it necessary to try to find ways to explain it away.

[simplicio]

Sarcasm seems to be something that flies over your head for someone whose posts are typically chock full of it. Not giving to charities because that's what you pay taxes for appears to be an issue on the left as multiple studies continue to show that conservatives are substantially more generous when it comes to donating to charities. So much so that the left finds it necessary to try to find ways to explain it away.

No, the sarcasm was not lost on me at all.

The context of the discussion, which seems to fly over your head, is over the roles of private charity parallel to the public actions of the government.

The "right" seems to take the view that government does not need to be in the charity business, that the church is capable of handling it. But was the private sector ever able to fully meet the needs? Government moved into those areas precisely because the churches were not able to effectively meet the challenge. Might want to check out Charles Colson Who Speaks for God (confronting the world with real Christianity). When Ronald Reagan suggested that churches shoulder some of the responsibility, church leaders recoiled at the idea. And little has changed over the decades.

[Cow Poke]

Sarcasm seems to be something that flies over your head for someone whose posts are typically chock full of it. ...

I don't think sarcasm is the commodity of which his posts are full.

[simplicio]

I don't think sarcasm is the commodity of which his posts are full.

Do you think giving to charity can coexist with paying taxes?

[JimL]

Do you think giving to charity can coexist with paying taxes?

Mammon is a bit higher on their list than human beings.

[rogue06]

Never could figure out why those on the left assiduously ignore the fact that their obsession with seizing other people's money so that they can use it for what the want is nothing more coveting.

[rogue06]

Do you think giving to charity can coexist with paying taxes?

Charities are usually far more efficient at helping folks than a bloated bureaucracy is. Hence, less taxes and more charities. This will give the left a chance to put their money where their mouths are. Or are they only good at helping with other people's money and too stingy to use their own?

[Leonhard]

The Bible doesn't support Socialism, and in fact Socialism (at least in the proper sense of the term) is incompatible with Christian life. However at the same time the Bible does not condemn social welfare.

[Watermelon]

Charities are usually far more efficient at helping folks than a bloated bureaucracy is. Hence, less taxes and more charities. This will give the left a chance to put their money where their mouths are. Or are they only good at helping with other people's money and too stingy to use their own?

Do you think at the very least, people should be given the basic necessities to live?

[Starlight]

Never could figure out why those on the left assiduously ignore the fact that their obsession with seizing other people's money so that they can use it for what the want is nothing more coveting.

It would perhaps be coveting if people on the left wanted it for themselves. But, actually, they want it to go to those in need, which is called love, charity, justice, mercy, and compassion. From your posts I strongly suspect you are unfamiliar with those things, so I'm not surprised you don't recognize them when you see them and think them to be a vice.

What I could never figure out was why those on the right can't see the obvious selfishness, greed, love of money, and lack of love and lack of compassion for others, that their positions are all about. I don't see their views as being compatible with Christianity because of this. But so many people seem to think they can be both right-wingers and Christians. Bizarre.

[Starlight]

Charities are usually far more efficient at helping folks than a bloated bureaucracy is.

What about an efficient government system?

I seem to recall reading that Bill Gates, who wants to give away most of his billions, after studying the effectiveness of various charities around the world, concluded that the most effective thing he could do with his money was to donate it to existing government aid programs, rather than private charities.

I also saw a more recent article by Gates saying that Trump cutting US foreign aid will have a big negative impact and there is no way private charity dollars will ever make up the difference.