[PEN-L:33234] Christian Economics

[enilsson@xxxxxxxxx]

I've been recently reading the New Testiment as part of a project on modern welfare theories.

For what it is worth, the Acts of the Appostles (in the NT) reports that early Christian communities (in the decades after the Christ was sent to the cross) were communal. Further, members were expected to share with this Christian community _all_ their possessions. According to Acts one husband and wife shared only part of what they owned and they were struck dead (apparently by God). This implicit 100% tax rate (on rich and poor) gave no slack to anyone.

These communities also had explicit "welfare programs" for the poor and needy, particularly for widows. Lacking cost-benefit analysis, and notions of perverse incentives, these early Christians believed this was the right thing to do.

Eric Nilsson
Lapsed Unitarian
.