Money, Greed, and God: Why Capitalism Is the Solution and Not the Problem

內容簡介

Introduction : can a Christian be a capitalist? -- Can't we build a just society? : myth no. 1 : the nirvana myth (contrasting capitalism with an unrealizable ideal rather than with its live alternatives) -- What would Jesus do? : myth no. 2 : the piety myth (focusing on our good intentions rather than on the unintended consequences of our actions) -- Doesn't capitalism foster unfair competition? : myth no. 3 : the zero-sum game myth (believing that trade requires a winner and a loser) -- If I become rich, won't someone else become poor? : myth no. 4 : the materialist myth (believing that wealth isn't created, it's simply transferred) -- Isn't capitalism based on greed? : myth no. 5 : the greed myth (believing that the essence of capitalism is greed) -- Hasn't Christianity always opposed capitalism? : myth no. 6 : the usury myth (believing that working with money is inherently immoral or that charging interest on money is always exploitive) -- Doesn't capitalism lead to an ugly consumerist culture? : myth no. 7 : the artsy myth (confusing aesthetic judgments with economic arguments) -- Are we going to use up all the resources? : myth no. 8 : the freeze-frame myth (believing that things always stay the same, for example, assuming that population trends will continue indefinitely, or treating a current "natural resource" as if it will always be needed) -- Conclusion : working all things together for good -- Appendix: Is the "spontaneous order" of the market evidence of a universe without purpose?