Is capitalism a subset of Christianity?

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Was Jesus a capitalist?

You'd be surprised at the stuff you can find by just googling that question:

No. Capitalism is an economic system that can exist in several religious contexts or no religious context at all. It is private ownership of the means of production which consists of physical capital and private acquisition of financial capital to purchase physical capital.

The only requiremet for capitalism is a firm system of law the recognizes property rights.

ruveyn

Of course not. Capitalism is just a system that works better than a system of stealing from everyone for the good of the State.

Not at all. When the Great Empires of the Ancient World (BCE) weren't trying to wipe each other out of existence, their merchants were engaging in trade for profit.

If considered for it's alleged historical content, even the Bible mentions Merchants in Proverbs 31:14, Song of Solomon 3:6, Ezekiel 27:3, and Hosea 12:7. all of which predate the birth of Jesus by at least 400 years.

Capitalism is not a Christian invention.

The relationship between Christianity and any material monetary structure is a politically convenient construct.

"Equality of opportunity" was certainly not present in the parable! That parable's focus is on serving God with what you have. Sure, the one with more talents gets more cities, but I don't see that as important. The talented people do tend to get the glory...

While Jesus didn't endorse socialism, he denied the capitalistic idea that those who were rich "deserved" or "earned" it (it was commonly believed at the time that the rich were that way because they were "more blessed" by God), and said that it is difficult for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God, because their money comes before God.

Jesus is neither capitalist nor socialist - his focus was spiritual, not material.

No it turns out that when they say you are supposed to love your neighbor, they mean with your works.

Acts 4:32-35 ESV

Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

Acts 2:44-45 ESV

And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.

Matthew 19:21 ESV

Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

2 Corinthians 8:13-15 ESV

For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”


Luke 6:20-24 ESV

And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. “Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets. “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.


1 John 3:17 ESV

But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?

Ephesians 4:28 ESV

Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.


Galatians 6:2 ESV

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Proverbs 1:13-17 ESV

We shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with plunder; throw in your lot among us; we will all have one purse”— my son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths, for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood. For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird,

Deuteronomy 23:24-25 ESV

“If you go into your neighbor's vineyard, you may eat your fill of grapes, as many as you wish, but you shall not put any in your bag. If you go into your neighbor's standing grain, you may pluck the ears with your hand, but you shall not put a sickle to your neighbor's standing grain.

Galatians 5:14 ESV

For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

The trouble with Capitalism is that it has it has no history of ever working for the benefit of society as a whole. It is the economic and social system in which the means of production are private owned; production, pricing of goods and services and the distribution of income and wealth are determined through a market economy. Problems arise for the population as a whole if the private owners of production, labour, and services abuse their position knowing that demand for what they own can generate a disproportionate price at the expense of the consumer. For example the controllers of a labour supply that mines coal, might wield disproportionate power, knowing when coal is in demand by the community to heat their homes or fuel their power stations, then a disproportionately high price can be demanded for the labour.
Similarly a pharmaceutical company might demand an unfair price for lifesaving drugs, putting profit before humanity. If a company is operating with little or no competition within a capitalist regime, it is able to reduce the supply of its product or service. Due to the economics of limited supply and a greater demand this will raise prices, in spite of there being a general ability to meet all demand. This could for example occur in the housing market, where a shortage of housing significantly raises prices.
In the western world we do not experience true free market capitalism, because the state has sought to intervene, limiting for example the power of those that control the supply of labour i.e.: the workers and their unions, but not especially limiting the power of the private owners of capital. Thus in the “Capitalist” World we experience a hybrid type of capitalism where corporations are largely to free to operate in competition with each other but where the state has actually intervened in the markets to protect and advance interests of big business. This system has much in common with “State Capitalism," which is far removed from the ideals of true capitalism.

There has been a steady widening of the gap between the rich and the poor, because individuals within society do not receive what they are necessarily worth to the community, but some receive the income that they can extract. Therefore the chief executive of a corporation may not be as valuable to the community as a Prime Minister, yet the chief executive may receive a higher salary, and a cleaner of a hospital may be more valuable to the community than the owner of tobacco company, but the cleaner is paid less.


Social Darwinism and Capitalism go so well together.

Capitalism is high on the list of "least worst".

It's not the capitalism that is the problem - it's unchecked robber barons and the resulting sequestration of wealth.

I would have to disagree I am a anti-Capitalist but I am not a communist I am against that Idea to.