[PEN-L:33244] Re: Christian Economics

["Ian Murray" <seamus2001@xxxxxxxxx>]

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From: <enilsson@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <pen-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, December 19, 2002 10:11 AM
Subject: [PEN-L:33234] Christian Economics


> 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
> .
=======================

According to Richard Horsley and John Hanson, this was in response to
the prevalence of social banditry.

"Am I leading a rebellion," said Jesus, "that you have come out as
against a bandit with swords and clubs to capture me?" [Mark 14: 48]


Ian