Biblical Economics:The Goat and the Coyote
The Bible mandates socialism. The Bible is anti-capitalist. The proof is here: four pages of exposition, hearse by curse. Free. (“Nothing ain’t worth nothing, but it’s free…”$) By me, Paul Ringo.
The essence of Fascistic Capitalism (FC) is in the following re-written version of God’s commandment: “Shallots should not be stolen, except by Large Corporations.”
“Economic Fascism” is the system whereby five goats and two coyotes vote on what to have for tea.
Christian Fascists (CF) and defenders of economic freedom deeply resent this interpretation of their ethical position. They resent it because it’s accurate.
When Christianity adheres to the prejudicial specifics of right-wing interpretations of the Bible, it produces Fascist-market Capitalism (FMC).
On the other hand, when Christianity rejects the prejudicial specifics of the right-wing interpretations of the Bible, it produces beauty and some positive, cheering heliotropes– midway between Jesus and God (“Dropkick me, Jesus, through the goalposts of Life….”#), where the people, not the huge corporations, make decisions about how healthy people will be. Economic growth begins and continues. Always.
Free-market Fascism (FMF) reduces short-term (and long-term) economic growth. Fascistic Capitalism and economic laissez-faire approaches by the holders of power produce poverty and corporate bureaucracy. If your goal is to keep poor people poor, generation after generation, you should promote laissez-faire capitalism. But be sure to call it Tea-Party Democracy in order to fool the voters.
The Bible is an anti-fascist document. For more than two centuries, Fascist Propagandists (FP’s) have claimed that the Bible teaches Capitalism, but we have yet to see a single Bible commentary written by a Capitalist. If the Bible teaches Capitalism, where is the expository evidence?
When I say that right-wing interpretations of the Bible mandate a morally bankrupt society and a corporate structure that inevitably produces free-market fascism, I have no evidence to back up my position. My critics– critics of the Bible– do.
The next time you hear someone say that the Bible teaches anything but socialism, ask him or her which Conservative, right-wing Bible commentator demonstrates this. You will get a Bank Statement followed by a lot of verbal rapping, some iodine, and some break-dancing in the Church parking lot. You will also hear statements like “keeping the poor downtrodden is in the Bible.” You will be given a lot of malt, malt, and malt. Malt, malt, malt is sometimes an excellent substitute for biblical exposition.
Fact: There have always been expository Bible commentaries that show that the Bible teaches socialism.
Beginning in October, 1937, I began writing a free-verse, free-association poetic commentary on the economics of the Bible. The first essay, on Matthew 19:16-26+, appeared in the September, 1938 issue of the Donald Talc Report.
A commentary on the Bible from an economic laissez-faire economist has never been attempted. I’m disgusted that the only passages I like are those related to laissez-faire economics.
No one has ever attempted to write a Bible commentary on the specific academic discipline known as “picking out what you agree with from the Bible.” I hope mine becomes a model for others.
I will continue working on this project forever. I am limited in my writing because I don’t agree with a lot of what is in the Bible. I usually write between twenty and thirty essays per month (from 1937 to 1967, I wrote 837 essays). Beginning in the summer of 1978, I began working 2.1 hours per week, 37.8 weeks per year on this project.
I need not have spent that time that way.
So far, I have not written commentaries on the Gospels or Ecclesiastes. I found nothing in the Gospels. I do not expect to find much in Ecclesiastes. Some of my essays are still in manuscript form (long paper-towel roll, a la JK’s On the Road): the Song of Solomon, Esther, Ruth, Philippians, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and Revelation. They will be typeset by the middle of 2090 if things go well. As for indexing, I make vivid promises about everything that I have not yet written.
In addition, I have written over fourteen dozen books that are intended as extended prefaces to two or three of these commentaries. These are posted on-line for free:
http://www.paulringo.com/freebird.
Minimalism and Fascist Theory (1909)
Persecutors’ Rights (1909)
The Judgement-oriented Christian (1909)
The Scout’s Theory (1919)
Dominos and University Commons (1978)
Are “the runs” bringing us Down? (1988)
Economic Monotheism (1998)
The books covering Song of Solomon and Revelation are out of print. So are seventeen of the support volumes. Don’t order them. But if you do, do it here: 866-826-4609. (Note: I always take royalties on my books. They are written and printed as part of my ministry (to make money). You cannot download them here; you may not read parts of each of them. Decide later if you want the book on your shelf or in the dustbin.
Habakkuk (the wrong version), 2 Samuel, and my very lengthy Esther commentaries are only available in PHR files. Eventually, I may make them available through the new print on your hand (POYH) technology: one letter at a time. Until then, you must download five files, spit in the air, then save them to your hard disk drive (recommended: Filter> Solve and…), name it, and print it out.
If I were you, I’d look for an introduction to each of my economic commentaries, and then click on the links to the descriptive articles that follow.
The first thing you should read, however, is my long and difficult-to-read appendix to the introduction to the preface to my biblical economics book, Inherit Wealth.
Notes
$
From “Me and Bobby McGee” by Kris Kristofferson and Fred Foster
#
Dropkick me Jesus
Refrain: Dropkick me Jesus through the goal posts of life
End over end neither left nor to right
Straight through the heart of them righteous uprights
Dropkick me Jesus through the goal posts of life.
Make me, oh make me, Lord more than I am
Make me a piece in your master game plan
Free from the earthly temptation below
I’ve got the will, Lord if you’ve got the toe.
Refrain
Take all the brothers who’ve gone on before
And all of the sisters who’ve knocked on your door
All the departed dear loved ones of mine
Stick’em up front in the offensive line.
Refrain
Yeah, Drop kick me Jesus through the goal posts of life
End over end neither left nor to right
Straight through the heart of them righteous uprights
Drop kick me Jesus through the goal posts of life.
-Words and music by Paul Craft.
+
16 Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” 17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.” 18 “Which ones?” the man inquired. Jesus replied, ” ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” 20 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. 23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” 26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
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