Oct 16, 2009
Is Capitalism Anti-Christian?
Chuck Gutenson Answers
Reaching a simple answer to this question is complicated by the fact that using the term “capitalism” does not name a single position, but rather a spectrum of positions. There are some aspects of a given economy that must be true if one can identify it as capitalist, but those may be implemented in a variety of ways. To judge the relative morality of a given capitalist economy, one must consider the forms that it takes. Unfortunately, too much public debate misses the importance of clarifying the terms, and, I expect, much disagreement hinges on these ambiguities.
However, perhaps we can untangle the complexities a bit by taking a look at one of the basic ideas of capitalism and see how that particular idea aligns with the picture the Christian faith gives of how God intends us to live together. The basic idea is that markets are to be unencumbered by “outside” influence, that property is held privately, and that profits are to be maximized by acting in line with one’s self-interest. Of course, few argue that markets are to be totally free—capitalists and non-capitalists alike see the need for regulations that protect buyers and sellers of goods. The fundamental difficulty with capitalism from a Christian perspective is whether motivation by self-interest is consistent with the life God intends for us. There are many reasons to conclude not.
The inherent difficulties in affirming self-interest as a motivator are obvious from the many creative attempts made to recast self-interest in a better light. Adam Smith spoke of “enlightened self-interest” and the extent to which this served as the “invisible hand” that controlled markets. Of course, those who cite Smith often miss that he only thought this would work in a culture with high moral commitments. John Rawls spoke of “the veil of ignorance” that supposedly objectified our choices, thus circumventing self-interest (itself an admission that self-interest was problematic). One might rightly question the realism of Rawl’s position—in fact, many have.
Moving to what should be the Christian’s primary motivation, Scripture, one finds no end to the call to deny self and exalt the interests of others over our own. Jesus dealt with this directly in the Sermon on the Mount and the periscope of the Great Judgment in Matthew 25. The Parable of the Barns in Luke 12 shows a very successful farmer whose profits have provided an opportunity to retire early. Yet, God judges this good capitalist a fool for failing to see the obligations that go with much wealth—the need to put the interests of others higher than his own. Jesus makes the same point in numerous other places, as does Paul in his writings, and the early church was similarly clear about the need to be motivated by the interest of others rather than our own interests.
At the end of the day, the answer to the question of whether or not capitalism is “anti-Christian” has to be rooted in the extent to which it empowers (or not) living together in the manner that God intends for us: in relationships with each other that could be described as mutually interdependent and that are rooted in a love of neighbor that exceeds our love for ourselves. Minimally, embracing the capitalist position that self-interest is a proper motivator stands in stark contrast with the expectation God lays out for us. Maximally, the pursuit of self-interest is destructive to the very kinds of relationships God calls us to (a fact that is all too evident in the many fissures in modern societies). Is there a form of capitalism that overcomes this tension? Well, that would be a good question for us to take on next!
Chuck Gutenson is the chief operating officer of Sojourners and blogs at God’s Politics.
Is Capitalism Anti-Christian?
Let’s Suppose it is.
Will that make Wall Street close down tomorrow.
Let’s suppose it isn’t.
Will that help or encourage investors make more profit?
I am not even sure Christ had any notion of capitalism (such as it is practiced today) to have preached anything for or against it, though he was certainly against the money-lenders (Venture capitalists?.
It seems to that a more worthwhile question to explore would be: How can we constrain the hurtful impulses (greed, profit at any cost, exploiting the poor in need of work, etc.)associated with, and often emergent from, capitalism, and foster a framework of caring, compassion, and sharing which are essential Christian (and all enlightened) religious virtues.
V. V. Raman
Author of:
“Truth and Tension in Science and Religion.”
(Amazon.com)
Hi Chuck! How have you been?
I think your answer is weakened by being too academic, and you know me, I think the scriptural answer is simple and clear: yes, it is anti-Christian.
Instead of asking next whether there is a form of capitalism which isn’t, which, by the way, by its very asking looks to excuse capitalism (which I don’t think either Jesus or Paul would have done: philarguria is not patharguria), how about asking a more relevant question next: is socialism anti-Christian?
I think since we last corresponded, I discovered Ludwig von Mises’ answer to that question. To paraphrase, he asserted that any objective observer would have to conclude that Christianity was socialism (and I think clearly, he was opposed to Christianity). If the question is that easy for one of the fathers of modern capitalism, why is is so hard for Christians themselves?
Peace and love, until next time, friend. 8^)
This article provides some food for thought, and I’d like to expound upon a few topics. At the end of the article, the author leaves open the field for a possible form of capitalism, which would fall within the moral guidelines of Christianity. This article alone could be a thesis, but the author introduces a few ideas that are left with no discussion, contextually or otherwise.
The author sets up a fascinating introduction with his first paragraph and, much to my dismay, leaves his original premise to discuss the moral validity of one of capitalism’s core assumptions: that profits are maximized by acting in one’s self-interest. He doesn’t discuss the relative morality of any capitalist economy, nor does he clarify ambiguous terms.
Modern and postmodern capitalist terms within the Judeo-Christian context:
Now, as he discusses Adam Smith, I am going to assume that he is referring to a modern capitalist economy, built upon ideas that emphasized a pull away from European tradition, and embraced the Protestant work ethic. Oddly enough, this line of revolutionary thinking, in its time, was meant to dispel the notion that the institution of gentry was selected by God to exclusively hold wealth and power. He derides Smith for assuming that everyone in this system would work with a high moral commitment. It should be noted that Smith was considered, like many of the intellectuals during his time, a deist, not a Christian. Therefore, as a moral philosopher, he would have held personal spirituality and morality above a traditional Christian moral framework. Traditional Christian framework, here, cannot accurately describe Smith’s understanding of Christianity, as Christianity was itself being rewritten, from the European Catholic model to a Protestant model. It is evident, from his writings, that he felt strongly that man would be rewarded for his own work. We must realize that this, like many of the economic and moral writings of his time, was a reaction to hundreds of years under a harsh economic system.
Now, considering that no Western country exists under pure free market conditions, it is unfair to judge capitalism based on the notion that this is its existence. I would argue that Roosevelt’s New Deal sparked an early wave of postmodern capitalism. It is a form that is largely embodied by the writings of John Maynard Keynes. While Keynes, like Smith, held a notion of perfect moral behavior, this time in the form of bureaucratic workers, he introduced the idea that the government should play an active role in a capitalist economy. His writings are apart from Communism in that he did not believe in an equal society, but that the government should provide an economic safety net and be able to regulate the market. Keynes’ policies formed most of the European and American economic policies until the 1970s when the economic crisis of the early 70s caused Milton Friedman’s economic writings to surge. While both of their ideas, equilibrium based upon stable currency, and then equilibrium based upon price stabilization, have proven their faults, they have both been working within a modified system of capitalism. The U.S., and most modern countries, adopted a semi-socialist form of government, and therefore economy, after the Great Depression. This type of economy has, imperfectly, provided a safety net for the sick, elderly, and multiple others. Despite its imperfections, postmodern Europeans, without the ties of Protestantism and subsequent Awakenings, have widely accepted the notion that not all problems are solvable. It is an extreme American ideal that there is a solution to every issue, even if it has not been found.
Postmodern capitalism and the Christian God:
Now, the author does not note two important points, which could dispel his theory against capitalism.
First, the two greatest commandments are 1. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind and 2. Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no statement that explicitly states higher than one’s self. The reason I pick apart this ideal is that much of the absolute truth the author extracts from his Biblical context are from parables. While theologically there is much debate, within the Christian context, over absolutism vs. relativism of Biblical passages, I will stick only to explicit commandments to avoid such theological debate.
Secondly, the author details the economic systems of the early church, but does not note that the church was working within a larger economic system. Considering that a pure empery does not operate as a capitalist system, we cannot automatically shift the early church’s policies from an autocratic empire to a modified capitalist democracy (I say modified here because neither the U.S. nor Europe operate within a pure form of either). To truly garner God’s intentions for government, one must look to the economic system that He, according to Biblical context, created. He created a system where all of the nation was required to tithe ten percent of their belongings to a specific tribe. This tribe held all the governmental responsibilities of its time: tax collection, policing, and social service distribution. The taxes collected were to be redistributed to those in need, namely the elderly and widows who could not make their own living. God allowed people to accrue wealth with their hard work, providing regulatory stipulations such as not over-harvesting land by letting land lie fallow every seventh year. This system, arguably, reflects morals of the world’s postmodern capitalistic countries. These countries allow the accumulation of wealth, but provide a redistributive solution for the needy, and regulations to provide for the safety of a multitude of issues, which would not be protected under the traditional laissez faire system.
Is capitalism anti-Christian?
No, but exploitation, greed, gluttony, the unhindered pursuit of wealth and the uninhibited individual pursuit of self-interest are not the values I think about when Jesus comes to mind.
Andrew Syed
DEMAND DIGNITY Campaign Coordinator
Amnesty International
To say that Capitalism is anti-Christian is to attempt a classic play by Progressives since the early 1900’s. Those Progressives believed, and still do, that the only way to convert America from free market to socialism was to gradually, over time, remove God/Christianity as a foundation of our country.
The truth is, capitalism and Christianity work hand in hand. If you have a mostly Christian country, as we are, that believes in giving directly to the poor and disabled, that believes in right and wrong, then the BEST economic system is capitalism. In capitalism, yes, you work for your own best interests. The value of the individual is paramount.
So if a society of mostly Chrisitians are practicing capitalism, no it will not be perfect. There will be those that cheat. There are laws for them, both criminal and civil. But for the vast majority of them, they get to keep a greater percentage of their income and wealth since there is a weak, central government with low taxes and regs. Then, since they abide by their Judeo/Christian beliefs, they give 10% of their income directly to the poor, disabled, sick, etc. It was this society that created the most wealth and prosperity of any nation in the history of the world from 1800-1930.
Progressives knew that the way to destroy this successful free market/Christian society was NOT to attack Christianity directly. But to demonize capitalism (New Deal, Great Society) and find a way to make other aspects of society the citizens’ God. For example, the environment, the government, academics, etc. Over the last 80 years, the progressives have mostly succeeded in this attempt.
Once the progressives were successful in marginalizing faith in America, they were able to say, “we need a safety net. We need Social Security. We need Medicare. We need funding for Planned Parenthood and ACORN. Only the sweet, kind federal government can take care of you.” A non-religious population will buy into this. So it used to be private citizens would take care of those in need directly…through the church or otherwise. Now, it costs $6 million to stimulate the economy and create 3 jobs. This is what happens when a large central government tries to handle what private citizens and charities used to do.
So to say capitalism is anti-Christianity is ludicrous.
By the way, Jesus never said, “give your money and property to Ceasar so that he may give it out to the poor.” He said that THE PEOPLE should give directly to the poor. No other economic system has resulted in more “lower” class folks rising to the middle and upper class than in our free market American economy. Name one system that uses Keyensian economics that has ever resulted in more people rising out of poverty than our free market economy. There isn’t one.
And for our current President and those who voted for him to believe THEY can reverse what history has proven is just pitiful.
Perhaps not all forms of Capitalism are anti-christain but I suggest the extreme free market values of the past few decades where the Rich have gotten obscenely Rich and the poor are getting poorer are totally against the teachings of the Great prophets and of Jesus himself all of whom clearly warned the Rich. If we see the sermon on the mount as a form of ‘True socialism’ then of course we as Christains have a moral duty to follow the words of Christ and oppose those of Regan-Thatcher-Bush-Blair mould who hijacked christain values to pursue gain for the already well off while the poor got poorer. These policies were diametrically opposite to the words of Christ.
For that reason I say that Capitalist compassion that narrows the gulf between Rich and poor is as good as the True socialism that Jesus certainly stood for when it meant social justice. But then the free market kind circa 1980-present day is most certainly part of the Anti-christ as it preaches self gain and wealth while dilluting the values of compassion and justice. Free market capitalism is then to my mind not only anti christain but is destroying the bonds that hold society together and we see this today as millions pay for the greed of a few due to disgraceful deregulation. I would be absolutely convinced that this wicked amoral dogma called ‘deregulation’ is Anti christain and as Christains we have a moral duty to fight it given its shocking effects on the poorest and most vulnerable in society. One is reminded of Biblical values about ‘Not serving both God and Mamon’ as clear evidence that free market capitalism and true christianity are not compatable.