Tony Campolo, Glenn Beck, and heresy

Over the last couple of days Father Orthoduck and I have been discussing short-term missions, theology, and social justice.  Let me now return to short-term missions with a quote from the article by Tony Campolo that was cited earlier. In this quote, Tony Campolo provides the link between Glenn Beck’s disdain for government and private donations to organizations that serve the poor. And, if... [Read more]

Glenn Beck and social and economic justice

Recently Glenn Beck said on his radio shows that if their priest or pastor or preacher is using the terms economic or social justice that they should leave their local congregation. To make sure that you do not think that Father Orthoduck is misquoting Glenn Beck, please go here to read his defense on his own website. In fact, Father Orthoduck thinks that there is some interesting stuff in his own... [Read more]

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A Christian view about Wall Street

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c Jim Wallis www.thedailyshow.com Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Crisis Have you ever asked yourself whether there is any other Christian view than the viewpoint of the Religious Right? Is there no other option but to say that God completely opposes placing any limits on anything an owner may wish... [Read more]

On science fiction and capitalism

Many science fiction writers–but not fantasy writers–are, in many ways, our secular modern version of the Delphic oracles who tried to look into the future. These writers have to construct imaginary worlds based on what is currently known about science and human history and posit various future histories based on what we have now and looking towards the future. So, why do I find myself... [Read more]

On the Orthodox and economic theories

Father Orthoduck wishes to point out that Fr. Ernesto was completely unaware that there have been two discussions on the very subject on Ancient Faith Radio, the section called The Illumined Heart. Look under April 17, 2009 for the first part of the discussion. Look under the June 26, 2009 podcast for the second part of the discussion. Fr. Ernesto was not aware that the second part of the discussion... [Read more]

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The Old Testament God was a socialist; the New Testament God is a capitalist, part 05

Well, some final thoughts, I think. As Orthodox Christians we can never run our personal economic system purely on what maximizes the market neither on what gives the most profit to owners and investors. Part of the point of citing the Sabbath Year and the Jubilee Year was to point out that even though the policies of those years were not free market policies, yet God decided that the care of the poor,... [Read more]

The Old Testament God was a socialist; the New Testament God is a capitalist, part 04

I had a delightful time tonight in a discussion with a person who works in one of the chemical industries. It was over politics and religion. I am afraid that we missed talking about sex, which is just fine with me. However, I realized that it might be good to take a moment to more clearly define myself. I am not a laissez faire capitalist. You probably knew that already. Neither am I a socialist.... [Read more]

The Old Testament God was a socialist; the New Testament God is a capitalist, part 03

As you can see from the comments to previous posts, there is a very strong reaction in America to posts having to do with economics. So, let’s keep going. The Year of Jubilee The biblical requirement is that the Jubilee year was to be treated like a Sabbatical year, with the land lying fallow, but also required the compulsory return of all property to its original owners or their heirs, except... [Read more]

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The Old Testament God was a socialist; the New Testament God is a capitalist, part 02

Now, you may expect me to advocate a particular economic viewpoint from the Old Testament, but I am not. In fact, I may say something that will surprise you. There is no way, with certainty, to support either one economic system or one political system simply from reading the Old Testament, or even the New Testament. But, what one can get is a general sense of what is important to God in both the realm... [Read more]

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The Old Testament God was a socialist; the New Testament God is a capitalist, part 01

One of the raging debates in American Christianity today has to do with whether President Obama is a socialist. Much has been written about how God is not against people being rich, therefore implying that any attempt to regulate how people make riches is tantamount to opposing God’s economic policies, therefore it must be sin. Much of the debate over God, riches, and poverty frankly comes from... [Read more]