Biblical Capitalism - The Religious Right's War on Progressive Economic Policy

[Joanne98]

Tea Party ideology is not new but taps into decades of Religious Right instruction on "Biblical Capitalism."

The second annual PA Progressive Summit 2011 was held in Pittsburgh on January 22 and 23. I again gave a presentation on "Biblical Capitalism" or the belief that unregulated capitalism is biblically mandated. The Religious Right is well known for its regressive social activism, but less publicized is the role it has played in the war against progressive economic policy, labor unions, the regulatory structure and social safety net. The sacralizing of laissez-faire capitalism predates the Tea Party movement and has been a major theme of fundamentalist textbooks for more than three decades. Over the next two weeks I will be posting several additional articles providing links to material included in my presentation as well as other resources on this topic.

Hundreds of progressive leaders from around Pennsylvania gathered to participate in the conference sponsored by Keystone Progress, Service Employees International Union, Alliance for American Manufacturing, Democracy for America, Pennsylvania State Education Association, and United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1776.

For those who are visiting the site for the first time, welcome to Talk2action.org! Following is the first installment of the overview of my presentation at the summit. Note that you can search for articles which include specific words or names by using the "TTA site search engine" in the upper right corner. I would recommend that search function as opposed to the second box titled "Find Stories by Topic," since each Talk2action article can only be listed under one topic.

A summary of my presentation from 2010 can be accessed at "Biblical Capitalism - The Sacralizing of Political and Economic Issues" and includes numerous links and resources.

http://www.talk2action.org/story/2011/2/1/132159/0192/Front_Page/Biblical_Capitalism_The_Religious_Right_s_War_on_Progressive_Economic_Policy

[nxylas]

1. I got into it with a winger on an Orthodox newsgroup once

He demanded to know where in the Bible it says that you should pay taxes. Seriously. I thought the answer was so obvious that it must be a trick question. But I played along and posted the "Render unto Caesar" passage, expecting him to come back with "I knew someone would bring that up, but...."

I never heard from him again.

[Joanne98]

3. Interesting. I guess we're all going to have to become biblical experts to fight

this ridiculous mis-interperation of the Bible! Maybe we should start a Bible Fact Check website to be referree.

[BobbyBoring]

10. And we

Get upset about those that misinterpret the Koran??

[66 dmhlt]

6. You could follow up w/ Luke 2:1-7 (KJV)

Luke 2:1-7 (King James Version)

Luke 2
1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David)
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

[noel711]

11. Orthodox newsgroup....?

What Orthodoxy?

If Jewish Orthodox, they'd know that King Solomon was the first to levy
taxes on his people, to fund the building of the massive temple that the
fundies are so crazy about rebuilding.
And old Sol also conscripted his fellow citizens into pharaoh-like slavery
to build the aforementioned 'temple.'

But that crap about biblical capitalism?
Sheesh, I have 2 masters degrees in divinity,
read the scriptures in their original languages,
and can't find anything that borders on capitalism.
Zilch.
Socialism? Yep.
Collectivism? Sure.
But they are way out on a limb with this one.

[nxylas]

14. No, Orthodox Christian

But King Solomon would do from that point of view as well.

[xchrom]

2. good article. nt

[zeemike]

4. I happen to believe that biblical capitalism is the answer.

But the right wants none of that...
And I say that because the key point of the economic system that Moses gave to Israel was the law of the sabbath.
And in this law it required every working person to have one day a week off...but more importantly every 7 years the land would have a rest...(that is right it was mandated by the law) and then the kicker....every 7x7 year of every 50 year was a Jubilee year where all debt would be canceled and property returned to it's owner.
The law of the Sabbath was an economic system the guaranteed that poverty could last no more than one generation...

[Mopar151]

5. That's quite an estate tax! n/t

[zeemike]

9. A targeted one.

Targeted to the very thing that makes people poor....lack of land...farm land.
It is also well to note that property in the city was not subject to that law...so a person in a city could sell his house for ever....but not the farm land.

[raouldukelives]

7. Just like any biblical teaching they claim to champion

Once they scratch the surface of it they run like roaches from the light.

[Enthusiast]

13. True....nt

[4dsc]

8. Its getting harder to fight this menace too.

We need leadership in the party to fight this menace but that leadership is lacking.

[Enthusiast]

12. There is very little leadership

in the Democratic Party on this issue. We do have the efforts of Weiner, Kucinich, Grayson and Sanders. But Sanders is independent, Grayson is gone and Kucinich is probably gone. This ain't good.