Capitalism is the Antichrist
Isn't it obvious?
Jesus Christ didn't say, "before I heal you, you need to pay me, and I need to see proof of insurance."
I am reminded of the Mark of the Beast, 666, and how this is a metaphor for the buying and selling of human life. Only $9.99. The Author of the Book of Revelations writes in the manner of a prophetic dream. Symbols are metaphors, and the mark of the beast symbolizes the worst kind of enslavement. My Social Security Number is certainly the mark of a beast. I'm still trying to figure out which one.
Capitalism is an -ism, which is in effect a belief system, like Mormonism, Catholicism, Mysticism, Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, etc. Capitalism is the religion of wealth. Wall Street is it's Holy City. Like any -ism, Capitalism originates in the human imagination, and it seeks to control human society and consciousness.
In Capitalism, advertising propaganda abounds. What is less obvious to the distracted eye are the low wages of the people that sell the vitally nonessential material prejunk. I call it prejunk because although these things start off fancy, trendy, pricey, and new, after the passage of five to ten years, the new stuff becomes what it was ontologically destined to be. Junk. But, hard working people continue to spend their survival tokens on this prejunk in attempts to fill the hole in their lives created by the need for more stuff. Most call this the progress of technology, which it might be, but it sure does create a lot of $hit. And mono-cultural consumer zombies.
All the wars since World War II have been fought in the name of Capitalism. Back in the day, we had our arch nemesis, the Communists, who represented the antithesis of capitalism. Many skirmishes were fought, many lives lost. But thanks to that great patriarch Ronald Reagan, the Capitalists won and paved the way for Free Markets to take over the world. Then, all of a sudden, the Terrorists attacked (they don't like Capitalism either). America was plunged into another decade of war so that we could spread Free Markets to consume the governments of Middle Eastern shepherds (they stand between us and the oil beneath their dirt poor feet).
Speaking of poor and hungry people, imagine how much food we could provide if the $400 billion a year that Americans spend on the military went to feeding and providing medicine to the poor instead? I know, these are wussy thoughts that don't reflect the animalistic and sometimes violent requirements of modern security. The last perfect hippie that preached love and fed the poor without charging money was executed on a cross, or so they say.
Now, I'm not saying Capitalism doesn't have its upsides (for I am well aware of these).
I'm just saying, if there ever was the perfect antichrist, Capitalism is it. Now whether or not I actually believe this is another thing...
posted by sourmonkey at 12:43 AM
25 Comments:
Capitalism is the Antichrist because it took a christian festival celebrating the birth of Christ and turned it into a materialistic binge adorned with pagan symbols.
Capitalism is the Antichrist because profit is a convenient term for what is essentially greed.
Capitalism is the Antichrist because it embraces the worship of false idols (just ask Simon Cowell).
Capitalism is the Antichrist because the homeless have no home.
Don't forget to mention that most of us are held hostage to products/services from the mega corps(es) who then use their insane profits to do things we don't agree with, for example bribing legislators for more power so they can further rip us off.
In other words, as the companies consolidate and we have fewer choices to purchase things (or find employment), the companies use that money to bribe our legislators to enact laws that make it easier for the companies to gain more power over us. It's evil!
I am also very upset at the charlatans who cry out "family values" but act in the exact opposite: they force their views of religion on others, they are eager to rush off to other countries to find the most desperate populations they can pay the lowest wages to, etc…
Awesome comment.
Capitalism is the antichrist because it turned good natural food into junk food, and it made people forget how to be self sufficient with God's green earth.
I am not so sure the anti-Christ is an "ism." I do not doubt that such a being tries to rally people around an "ism."
As far as Capitalism, like any philosophy, people may claim to love it and follow it, but in reality people pick and choose the parts they like and also have other "isms" they use as well. Jesus was probably the only one, in my opinion, who single-mindedly stuck to his philosophy.
Capitalism, which can mean a variety of things to people, has the problem of greed, to me greed is the real problem. But any philosophy can find greed creeping in. This is the problem with trying, or pretending, that any society or group can be "pure." In the past many attempts to adhere to "the supreme" philosophy of the time looses its purity as the leaders flog everyone in to following it, or killing them if they don't.
I think Paul is the key figure who mentions "antichrist." But I am more inclined to believe the description in Rev 13. There are a number of ill beings. Throughout many OT prophecies there is talk of multiple horns and such. Rev. 13 indicates there are 3 or 4 primary bad guys. The last one is arguable since, if memory serves, it's an idol the last beast sets up, but that idol appears to be alive.
I will admit that I am not wedded to the notion that these are individual beings, flesh and blood, like we think of. It's quite possible that these beings are mainly spiritual, but do have some embodiment of some form, i.e. money, physical bills and coins. I also think that it's possible that one or more of the beasts is a company.
The reason I also consider those is that I am convinced that, like it's prophesied, most people just don't get it. If people are looking for the beasts or anti-christ to be a person then I would not be surprised if it's not, that it's a company or a govt.
Various TV preachers like to say that God is for capitalism and God hates socialism. But I ask them, who made societies? God or the devil? Who made money? God or the devil? :-)
However I do think people are entitled to what they've worked for. But what many of those TV preachers, and others overlook is that throughout the OT and NT God/Jesus say many times that everyone will get what they deserve. Also Jesus tells a parable of who to invite as guests to your dinner parties, does he say to invite people who can pay you back or does he say to invite people who can not pay you back? Clearly, to me, these TV preachers are taking serious handouts from money-lovers and trying to spread their message, vs. the messages Jesus taught us.
To me this is probably worse than another religion they rail against, the Roman Catholics and their history of such things as selling indulgences.
Thanks for your thoughts. You've brought an added dimension of thought to this post, and that's exactly what I was looking for.
-sourmonkey
Gladly. Talking about God/religion is one of my favorite things to do.
However I do think people are entitled to what they've worked for. But what many of those TV preachers, and others overlook is that throughout the OT and NT God/Jesus say many times that everyone will get what they deserve.
I would add to this another related comment that seems to be at odds with many TV preachers. Where did Jesus say we're to aim obtaining our reward? Did Jesus say, "make sure you get your rewards on earth, because it will be too late when I come back," or did he say "don't strive to get your rewards on earth, because getting them in heaven is better?" :-)
If I may be so bold as to write another comment on this thread, thus writing far more than the original post. :-)
In Rev. 13 there is:
1. the dragon,
2. the beast out of the sea
3. the beast out of the earth
4. #3 orders an image set up of #2, and it appears to be alive.
I've considered this from both ends. At times I think it can be handy to work "backwards," thus starting from the last being and working to the first.
Thus I tend to consider the last one (#4) is perhaps money. Since both money and the last image/idol are inanimate but appear to be alive, and are worshipped, it seems logical.
Therefore it's quite possible that #3 is corporations (or a specific one, or perhaps the concept of them gone bad).
Thus, I think, #2 would be what is required for corps to exist, and that would human govt.; or perhaps human govt. gone awry; aka. societies.
That leaves #1.
What do you think?
#1 the dragon, in many societies, is a symbol for wisedom. I'm come from the belief that the author of Revelations was high on something from that island he was stuck on. Now, I'm not saying that the Holy Spirit wasn't a part of this. On the contrary, I think there is a spiritual depth here that our western society has overlooked thanks to many centuries of cultural suppression and institutional control. But I digress...
The dragon might be a figurehead, but it is most certainly a symbol replete with mythological and archetypical baggage. I would thus classify The Dragon as a symbolic force that we may never understand, humbly speaking.
I'm not fully convinced that Capitalism is the Antichrist, and as you said before, people have a right to earn what they work for. The question for me is, what are they working for? Survival? Or paper survival tokens and debt that are used to promote decadent material wealth?
Who are people dependent upon? Themselves, or the "free market"? Why do we wage wars? For liberty, or for the "free market"? Why does poverty exist? Because we're lazy, or because of the "free market"? I know, these are loaded questions, but really, everything is loaded to some to degree.
Anyway, I don't even know that the whole Antichrist thing is true, and who really does? But I think that if the Antichrist were true, Capitalism would at least be a part of it.
They are working for money. Money allows for easy bartering. Bartering allows me to leave a comment on your blog with a computer I did not build. They are working to make all their non-working time a little easier/more pleasurable.
Sure, money makes life easier, kinda like drugs. But money has no value unless more than one mind agrees on the value of money (i.e., bartering), whereas plants produce drugs for specific biological purposes (like regulating circadian rhythms).
In other words, money is a religion. Religions can do many things too, like making cities and defensive wars possible, and I admit that money makes blogging on a computer possible (and more efficient), but it also makes war possible (and more efficient too).
I am reminded that there are limits to what we can know, and although knowing a lot about money can make a person powerful, such power schemes often limit what we know about our own basic survival. This is why people know more about surviving within the economy and less about survival in the natural world... God's world (if one believes in such a thing as God).
I'm not saying there aren't positive aspects to capitalism, just that no one can serve two masters, but capitalism makes us believe we can.
-sourmonkey
Hi Michael, Yes money is used as the lowest-common-denominator for trade. And in an ideal world it would be just that, an equilibrator, a most liquid asset. I have used the same line of reasoning before, myself, in conversation, that money is just a tool for trade.
However, in this world money seems to be more often used as a weapon.
How much is something worth? One person says it should cost $1. Another person says it should be worth $2. Still another person says it should be worth $100 because he thinks the buyer has that much money.
Some people lend money at exorbitant rates they know the borrower can not repay, or is a massive gouge from a shallow pond. This is just another form of slavery; trying to force people in to servitude, then they pat themselves on the back "you signed up for it." Instead of treating others like they want themselves treated, they keep mum on the real solutions, and steer people towards their own rip-off plans.
And it's not just loan sharks on the one-on-one level, or "legal" loan-sharking of payday loans. Bill Moyers interviewed a man who worked for the World Bank and wrote a book about how whole countries are given loans which they can't repay, in order to get them in debt and force their politics in various directions.
I agree that money is akin to religion. To many people, obtaining money is their religion. This shows that money is an idol. They turn to money for "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." And they don't care how badly they treat people in order to obtain greater sums more quickly. (Rushing from one desperately overpopulated country to another.) But just like religious idols, money can be (is) mass-produced. And the end result of that is not "more god," but their god's value is greatly decreased because there is more of it.
They know this, this is why they work hard to hog as much of it as they can. I guess this also shows that they don't just consider money god, but themselves too.
@ sourmonkey, "#1 the dragon, in many societies, is a symbol for wisdom." & "The dragon might be a figurehead, but it is most certainly a symbol replete with mythological and archetypical baggage. I would thus classify The Dragon as a symbolic force that we may never understand, humbly speaking."
Yeah, I would not get too hung up on the specific imagery of the dragon. You're right about such symbols having varying interpretations in various cultures. But, to me at least, the thing to keep in mind is the underlying concept. The first negative force/entity later finds another to bow to it, then the first grants the second its own authority.
We can see this in the story of the temptations of Jesus. He patently refused to bow to Satan and receive Satan's promise of worldly power and riches.
I would also add that we will understand. 'Cause Jesus pretty clearly states that nothing is hidden, except to make it known later. That, plus a number of OT prophecies which talk about various things being exposed or coming to light.
"I'm not fully convinced that Capitalism is the Antichrist, and as you said before, people have a right to earn what they work for. The question for me is, what are they working for? Survival? Or paper survival tokens and debt that are used to promote decadent material wealth?"
Yes, what are they working for? ;-) Many people are just trying to keep up on the treadmill set before them, and like you imply, it's an arbitrary work/reward system set before them, which they have little-to-no control over. But some overlord from above decided what was "fair" (or worse--barely tolerable--depending on the size of the line outside seeking employment), and used that as a measure of payment. Even those who work for themselves and congratulate themselves for being "their own bosses" and so forth, are just pawns in someone else's game.
Why does poverty exist? Because we're lazy, or because of the "free market"?
Poverty is easily defined as a lack of resources. What is the most sure method to have depleted resources? A burgeoning population, this can be seen on the smallest scale (household) as well as largest (country). The more mouths there are, the more food is needed, clothing is needed, shelter is needed, water is needed, and the harder it is to given them a good education, which requires low student-teacher ratios. This is a nasty and self-destructive cycle.
As the population booms, less essential knowledge is passed down, particularly the importance of various plants and how to ensure their continued replication in the countryside. Population growth leads to not only one society going into poverty, but then since it needs more, it either wars with neighbors or invades neighbors as it tries to equilibrate with its needs/desires for resources.
Anyway, I don't even know that the whole Antichrist thing is true, and who really does? But I think that if the Antichrist were true, Capitalism would at least be a part of it.
My first thought is Jesus told us to look for the Kingdom of Heaven and God's Righteousness first. Also, that if we seek, we will find. I, for one, am very troubled that so many preachers I've seen on TV are constantly harping on "anti-christ" versus feeding their congregations on what they should be looking for/doing.
To me, the issue is not Capitalism but the Tweedledee and Tweedledum: greed/jealousy. Those two do not realize that everyone is repaid to the last atom of what they deserve, as well as repaid spiritually. And not just repaid exactly, but repaid more!
For sure there is evil and while it may coalesce at times and appear to be "one," we must also keep in mind what Jesus said, that in fact, evil is a house divided, and this is why it ultimately fails (even if it does manage to kill off the good people and seem to take over).
I am also troubled by the foul-mouthed TV preachers who seem bent on declaring Obama the anti-Christ. Clearly this shows these preachers are more concerned about short term political power than actually caring for the truth, love, and the minds they are reaching. Prophecy clearly states, in both the OT and the NT, that the principle evil being(s) use others to do their bidding, while they stay behind the scenes. This only makes sense; they do not want their evil deeds to be seen, they want to put on a fake front. They want others to take the fall for their corruption.
Prophecy clearly states that in the end times the kings who rise to power are merely pawns for turning their authority over to the real evil beings. Frankly this seems how Obama fits in. It sure seems like he has abdicated his authority to the war-mongers, and fear-mongers who have their crooked philosophies disguised as righteousness.
Money is a fact today ..for the entire globe..and an driving force for day-2-day drive up-wards....
Not sure anyone is still following this… sourmonkey, you still here?
But on tonight's PBS News Hour there was a Paul Solmon segment where he really took on your hypothesis, um, with a less religious slant. :-)
Let me see if it's on their website…
What Drives Motivation in the Modern Workplace?
There you can watch the clip and read the transcript.
Here are the opening paragraphs:
The candle, box of tacks, book of matches, an old puzzle with a strangely relevant economic message. Objective? Fix the lit candle to the wall so no wax hits the table.
Economics: The faster you do it, the more money you make. Punchline: Conventional economics is wrong, because the greater the monetary incentive, the longer the solution takes, a solution you will see in a bit.
Relevance? Executive pay and Wall Street bonuses, which might not enhance, but actually retard, high performance, or so says writer Dan Pink, once Al Gore's chief speechwriter. Pink's first book, "A Whole New Mind," made waves by arguing that skills linked to the creative right side of our brains dominate today's global economy, instead of left hemisphere thinking.
Money is a fact today ..for the entire globe..and an driving force for day-2-day drive up-wards....
I have to call this out as the BS it is, again.
1) we are not driving upwards,
2) greed has driven us in a ditch
3) money is inanimate and does nothing in an of itself
4) the REAL reason people's lives have improved is because HUMANS have worked, fed by PLANTS and ANIMALS, and used both of those as tools and helpers.
5) God deserves credit too and in time people will realize how much
I know some people will say something like "without money investments could not have been made." But this completely overlooks the fact that teamwork is TOTALLY POSSIBLE WITHOUT MONEY! And for what is probably the biggest stretch of human existence, money was not needed to facilitate teamwork.
A corporations only duty is to its shareholders, not the public at large. A being that only cares about itself without concern for any other being-- is there another definition of evil that doesn't reference the opposite of "good"? Isn't that self absorbed concept the essence of original sin--as to say "me not God"? It is not money that is evil but the love of it--greed. So is it fair to say that Corporations are inherently evil and that they cannot exist absent a capitalist framework? So one facilitates the other not unlike the description in Revelation. AS to money, give to ceasar what is caesar's-- it is convenient but not essential to a society--electronic money is more convenient and certainly will require security features such that an electronic mark will be necessary. As to the number 666 there are two references outside of revelation one in chronicles and kings where it described how much money solomon received in tribute each year in addition to other revenue. All the other wealth references there are in rounded numbers but not that one. curious observation. Distributivism is another ism but is more people friendly
Capitalism is the beast system mentioned in the book of revelation. It has some good to it but also promotes greed and corruption. The goal of capitalism is to raise more capital or money. The goal of the corporation is to amass as much profits with little or no regard for the people or the planet. 1 Timothy 6:10 spells capitalism out pretty well: For the love of money is the root of all evil.
Capitalism is the most used economic system on the planet today. Through past and coming trade agreements (TPP, TTIPS, TISA) the corporations and global bankers will be the new Kings and Rulers of the world as they usurp power and laws away from world governments, rendering the world governments and their laws impotent.
Today a man made artificial entity, the corporation is considered a person and has been granted as many or more freedoms, rights and protections than a real person made in the image of God. If this isn't evil I don't know what is.
I believe America represents the anti-Christ. Look at our history. What we did to the Native Americans. Slavery. Exploiting third world nations for their natural resources at the behest of the corporation. Our violent culture. Our perpetual war state. Leading Christian leaders who teach end times will tell us to look to Europe for the anti-Christ. Perhaps its the old "look over there, not over here" trick?
Perhaps the scarlet beast mentioned in the book of Daniel represents todays American Christianity. Scarlet crosses symbolized the flags and masts of the Christian crusaders. Todays Christian leaders preach hate and fear of Muslims, Gays and Lesbians, Illegal Immigrants, liberals, socialists yet remain silent on the greed of Wall Street, the sin of usury, while teaching the wealth doctrine to their flock.
How many American Christians oppose affordable or free healthcare? How many American Christians demonize the poor, those on welfare? Are these the teachings of Christ or the anti-Christ?
Welcome to American Babylon, baby. Now go serve our corporate masters. Worship Mammon and bow down to capitalism.
Christianity had already stolen the pagan festivals and made the pagan symbols “evil”.
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