Do you think religion goes well with capitalism?
831241
I find religion goes well with Linquine Alfredo and a light Chianti. Capitalism and religion is an unholy alliance. Churches like the Catholic and Mormon Church are more profitable than many large corporations or even nations. Money is a necessary evil for churches.  The Mormon Church used to advise its members to abstain from Pepsi and other drinks that contained caffeine, until they bought large amounts of Pepsi stock.  Money in religion is the tail wagging the dog. As tax free entities they have a huge advantage. No one is forced to put money in the collection plate, but it is hard not to feel obligated when everyone around you does. This doesn't bother me. They have to pay the bills. What does bother me is the thought of TV evangelists flying around in Lear jets to talk little old ladies into putting them into their will. Still there is the good side. I took a load of used goods to a Salvation Army donation site and the man told me there were fifty men working in the warehouse trying to turn their lives around. The money was being used to change lives and not make the man at the top rich. But money does corrupt and leads to abuse, even among the faithful.
354750
There are many aspects of the Evangelist philosophy which are intertwined with Capitalism (especially the neoliberal capitalism). First there is the Globalization goal to bring the entire world into the Global economy. This mirrors the evanglist goal to spread their brand of Christianity to all of the planet. Even religious leaders have suggest that faith is becoming a "commodity" and Capitalism is paving the way for Christ's Kingdom. There is also the idea that prosperity is to be celebrated (which some may argue is against a fundamental aspect of the Gospels) as the Capitalist seek profit at every turn. Whereas the protestant work ethic philosophy tends to say that worldy wealth is a sign of God's grace and favor and therefore being prosperous is among the things that humans are called to be. It could also be argued that one of the main goals of the new Capitalism is to create as much personal consumption and investment as humanly possible. This forces communal aspects of life to be lessened in importance. One could also argue, the Evangelical desire to proclaim a very personal relationship with God and a personal specific salvation runs in concert with the idea that individuals are to consume everything on the personal, not communal level.\n\nEach of these things are among others in how Capitalism and the evangelical christian movement often go hand in hand. Whether this is good or bad...is up to the observer.
640938
I would say yes. The problem would be that "truly good and decent" people can be defined in more than one way. They would need laws demonstrating they respect eachother's varying choices, even if those choices all seem inherently good to each individual member.\n\nAn example would be in cooperative relationships and commerce. Likely these people would cooperate and would need laws or agreements to do so. \n\nOne person may believe their society will be communistic and perhaps act in a manner to fulfill this with truly good intentions, and violate another's capitalistic ideas.\nThey will need agreements on property and privacy as there can be varying approaches that are inherently good, yet conflicting.\n\nI think inherently good people could easily construct the laws needed and they would not have to include such petty laws as we have in societies filled with injustice, inequity and even evil.\n\nGreat question.
668717
I have.  And it looks good to me.  No religion is perfect I must confess, but there are certain beliefs that are needed.  I found my faith that is the best beliefs.  I had analyzed many others, but all weren't biblical.  I don't need a priest, I just need me and God.  And the beliefs that God gave us.  Like eating healthy, following His law for our own benefit out of obedience, the Sabbath, etc.  If we all looked at our beliefs and religion, we would be a perfect religion.  But again, there are different beliefs and people would still disagree.
549405
The Evangelists are trying to take over the world with their televangelist programs that are being telecast across the world. This isn't real, and is called to for attention in the Bible by the Lord. Capitalism is not a religion, it's only a process.
969720
Yes, because it would not be stiffled by dogma!\nIt takes room to grow and expand, but religion puts up road blocks in the mind that prevent people from being able to do this!\nTear down the walls!
278381
Communism and capitalism are each kind of like religions, or philosophies.  A premise of communism is that it's degrading to human beings for some to be cast as workers who are forced to sell their labor to owners in order to live.  A premise of capitalism is that its degrading to human beings to be forced to be equal to each other in wealth.  Each sacifices some values or comforts in service of what it considers to be a higher value.  Jesus would probably be a communist (less greed, more equality), but capitalism seems to work better in certain ways among mortal people.
437550
The Bible is a product of the church, written to retain social control over the masses that believe in it. 'God's Will' seems to favour the bourgeoisie ideology not the humble proletariat  who had nothing. Religion is so mixed up now and along with money is the only other reason why so many wars are breaking out. I think that your sexuality is biologically determined - In your genetics before you are born. Believe in what you choose too, but always remember to stay true to who you are.
533695
You can bet your bottom dollar there would be different religions though .... so all hell would break out anyway ... in one way or another ....
453106
Capitalism is an other word for greed. Communism is about sharing, neither work very well in its entirety. However some socialism in a mix with capitalism would work if you could get the capitalist to see that it would restore order to a chaotic society.
1172014
i think the bible is a good book yet fiction, religion is a money and war machine IMHO.  on the other hand people need hope and that is where many find it, we're best off never knowing
438699
Based on the following I don't think capitalism exists anywhere.  Even the US has it's controls on business and it's welfare agencies.  Prior to it's turn over to China, Hong Kong was probably the closest thing to pure capitalism on the planet.  At least that is my opinion.\n \ncap·i·tal·ism (kăp'ĭ-tl-ĭz'əm) \nAn economic system in which the means of production and distribution are privately or corporately owned and development is proportionate to the accumulation and reinvestment of profits gained in a free market.\n\nSocialism, general term for the political and economic theory that advocates a system of collective or government ownership and management of the means of production and distribution of goods. Because of the collective nature of socialism, it is to be contrasted to the doctrine of the sanctity of private property that characterizes capitalism. Where capitalism stresses competition and profit, socialism calls for cooperation and social service.\nIn a broader sense, the term socialism is often used loosely to describe economic theories ranging from those that hold that only certain public utilities and natural resources should be owned by the state to those holding that the state should assume responsibility for all economic planning and direction. In the past 150 years there have been innumerable differing socialist programs. For this reason socialism as a doctrine is ill defined, although its main purpose, the establishment of cooperation in place of competition remains fixed.
487217
Only choosing between the 2.. capitalism FOR SURE...\n\nCommunism will not work at all in combination with human nature. We as humans want our efforts to go towards our family and our well being. Would a person willingly work extra hard and watch the benefits of the extra effort going to the lazy SOB down the street who does NOTHING???\n\n*********\nAnd to the ignorant youth who spout off their little "anarchy" crap... the best thing you can do is shut up. Your little attempts to look rebellious or special are just plain ridiculous. A society with no laws would not be a good thing. And the little "look at me" geeks who spout this crap would be the first ones actually weeded out in a 'survival of the fittest' anarchist scenario....
817397
It doesn't sound like any religion in particular, but it does sound like a utilitarian utopia. Perhaps that helps.
864351
Absolutely.\n\nReligion and God(s) are not responsible for our development of a "moral compass." Morality is determined by society and as society changes, so do morals.\n\nThe Marquis de Sade stated it nicely, "Moral science is simply geography misconstrued." What might be acceptable in Los Angeles would be considered wrong in Bangkok and vice-versa.\n\nMany have suggested that religion is an invention in order to lay a moral framework. If you think of Santa Claus and the threat of no reward if you didn't obey your parents, you can see the similarities.\n\nAnd to your question of "what's the point of it all?" I'm not sure what you're referring to - but if it's "religion" then you could always go with what Karl Marx said: "Religion is the opiate of the masses."\n\nHe was stating that the promise of a "great reward in the hereafter" kept the worker (proletariat) in line and complacent with their station in life which then benefited the wealthy (bourgeoisie). \n\nDefinitely good stuff to think about and discuss with a group of friends :-)
89367
I personally think that religion is what everone thinks they should know to be a good person.  Spirtual I think is not commercialized but what your heart tells you is the right thing.  It is something so wonderful that you and only you knows the secret.
92923
There may be a conflict here, however  you can not have one with out the other.  True Capitalism will only work in a true democracy.  Whenever the government steps in to control all business you will usually find one type of totalitarian government or the other running things and this takes capitalism out of the equation and make for a very dreary life for those working in that country.  Capitalism is a system of hope, if you are poor in a capitalist society you have hope of climbing out of being poor.  In a non-capitalist society if you are poor that is where you can expect to stay.