Jesus: The First Communist?

In a recent article from the blog, "On Faith," Gregory Paul wrote a piece explaining the incongruities that arise from the marriage of fundamentalist Christianity and free-market capitalism.


Gregory Paul points out that much of the Christian bible actually promotes a kind of socialism in which all of the congregation live in shared communities because they were supposed to be more concerned with riches in an afterlife for which they strove. Paul goes on to suggest that Marx likely took inspiration from bible verses.


What Gregory Paul neglected to point out, however, is that not only do Christians have to "cherry pick" those portions of the Christian bible that lend support to their own oddly objectivist inclinations, but they have to cherry pick quotes from Paul in opposition to Jesus!


For example, Jesus said:


On taxation: 
Mark 12:17 "And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him."


On the virtuosity of the rich: 
Mathew 19:24 "And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."

On the redistribution of wealth:
Matthew 19:21: "Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me."


Luke 12:33: "Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth."


On the pursuit of material wealth:
Matthew 6:19-20: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal."


Matthew 6:24 "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."


But American evangelical Christians aren't interested in any of that. Instead, they would rather think about what St. Paul said in II Thessalonians, an epistle about which there is speculation concerning the authenticity of the authorship:


II Thessalonians 3:10: "if any would not work, neither should he eat."

An FYI For The Anglican Archbishop: Argumentum Ad Hominem Does Not A Refutation Make

Archbishop Rowan Williams of the Anglican church recently criticized modern atheists for being attracted to the cause of atheism because of some kind of "coolness" or "trendiness" factor. Hence, the archbishop conveniently sidestepped dealing with a real discussion that might address the many arguments atheists, such as Dawkins, have directed towards the Christian church. Rather than taking the opportunity to present an alternative argument to that presented by atheism in books such as The God Delusion, the Archbishop chose, instead, to belittle those who have challenged the Church's doctrine. By saying that modern atheists have somehow been persuaded by the philosophy's "coolness," the Archbishop is condescendingly saying that atheists are superficial and gullible individuals that are easily persuaded by fashionable ideologies. Furthermore, this is insulting to the highest degree, even more so when one considers the fact that atheists are, by and large, more educated than the average member of the Christian church.

The Archbishop's aversion to a genuine discussion concerning the truth regarding the doctrine of his church, however, is not surprising at all. When one is defending an extraordinary position for which there is not a shred of evidence, there is little else one can do but try to distract the jury's attention with diversionary tactics such as ad hominem attacks.