Money is evil

[Protector]

No, it isn't

What's wrong with you?

[GrandmasterP]

More please.

If I had Bill Gates's money and Bill had a feather up his erse then both of us would be tickled.

Edited December 22, 2012 by GrandmasterP

[Marblehead]

Money doesn't kill people; people kill people.

[GrandmasterP]

Money is the root of all spending.

Pastor of a shabby store front church says to his congregation....

"The good news is we have more than enough money to build a new church. The bad news is that it's still in your pockets".

Edited December 22, 2012 by GrandmasterP

[GreytoWhite]

Pastor of a shabby store front church says to his congregation....

"The good news is we have more than enough money to build a new church. The bad news is that it's still in your pockets".

 

I have seen this. I helped start a church at the age of 16 as the resident techie. All of the pastors had been involved in megachurches previously and decided they needed to emulate what they came from. It was disgusting to hear the leaders of the church requesting 50% of the congregation members' income.

[Aetherous]

I have seen this. I helped start a church at the age of 16 as the resident techie. All of the pastors had been involved in megachurches previously and decided they needed to emulate what they came from. It was disgusting to hear the leaders of the church requesting 50% of the congregation members' income.

 

That does seem evil, to me.

 

To the people that give their money to that consciously, probably not...they are putting money toward something they will appreciate. They feel that churches are good.

 

Seems to me that money you earn yourself (rather than take from others, even through donations), and then use for good purposes in the world, is the opposite of evil. My view is more humanitarian and altruistic, than religious...I don't think we need more churches, but there are always a lot of people that could use help.

[GrandmasterP]

Those mega churches in the USA seem to clean up by the looks of it from what bit one sees on TV

I don't think we have anything to compare to those here in the UK.

There are four churches in this village, CofE, Congregational, Baptist and Methodist and if they get 70 people in total between them of a Sunday I'd be very surprised.

The city churches don't do too well either apart from maybe the cathedral.

[Bubbles]

Quote:

 

"That which is for me through the medium of money – that for which I can pay (i.e., which money can buy) – that am I myself, the possessor of the money. The extent of the power of money is the extent of my power. Money’s properties are my – the possessor’s – properties and essential powers. Thus, what I am and am capable of is by no means determined by my individuality. I am ugly, but I can buy for myself the most beautiful of women. Therefore I am not ugly, for the effect of ugliness – its deterrent power – is nullified by money. I, according to my individual characteristics, am lame, but money furnishes me with twenty-four feet. Therefore I am not lame. I am bad, dishonest, unscrupulous, stupid; but money is honoured, and hence its possessor. Money is the supreme good, therefore its possessor is good. Money, besides, saves me the trouble of being dishonest: I am therefore presumed honest. I am brainless, but money is the real brain of all things and how then should its possessor be brainless? Besides, he can buy clever people for himself, and is he who has power over the clever not more clever than the clever? Do not I, who thanks to money am capable of all that the human heart longs for, possess all human capacities? Does not my money, therefore, transform all my incapacities into their contrary?"

 

Karl Marx- Manuscripts of 1844

 

I am far from being a marxist but I give this little text to my students every year as food for thought and base for discussion.

I know it is a US based board..so if I am banned or cursed for quoting this author here, I say you in advance:

it was good being here, although I did spend here more time than I should. Be well everyone . Bye!

Edited December 22, 2012 by bubbles

[GreytoWhite]

The English are a much more subdued lot than here in the States from what I perceive. Most of these large churches have educational programs that I can only compare to brainwashing and cultish behavior. Of course that only starts after some sensationalist recruitment scheme. The church I grew up in had a weekly block party for the neighborhood youth that included go carts, electric scooters, a small skate park, concession stands, and merchandise. There were overseas "missionary" trips which I believe were really meant to cement the malarkey and create a more submissive group. My little sister went both to India and Venezuela but jumped through so many hoops just to go. Our youth group alone had over 200 members and this was in a city of approximately 300,000 people.

[thelerner]

Money doesn't kill people; people kill people.

Guns don't kill people

Bullets don't kill people

People don't kill people

Massive internal bleeding what's done them in.

Edited December 23, 2012 by thelerner

[Marblehead]

I know it is a US based board..so if I am banned or cursed for quoting this author here, I say you in advance:

it was good being here, although I did spend here more time than I should. Be well everyone . Bye!

Well, if you get in trouble for quoting Karl Marx I guess I will too.

 

Opium is a naughty word too. But then, so is fuck.

[Cat Pillar]

I don't see why you'd get banned for posting that, bubbles. Doesn't seem an appropriate response.

 

Besides, I'd never read that before, and it IS good food for thought. So, thanks for posting.

[Birch]

http://rajpatel.org/2009/10/27/the-value-of-nothing/

 

I should hope the nationality of this board doesn't lend itself to avoidance of the subjects of money, wealth and energy therein:-)

 

[suninmyeyes]

Money has been given too much meaning in our consumerist culture. Force behind use of money has deviated into ridiculus , but huge ever hungry beast that is potentialy leathal. Money has been put on altar of minds of most of people and worshipped. Held so tightly , so that it coloures most of other fields of life.

Mind spins in the place that says -- more money, more money and more money, just give me more so I can spend more and buy more ussles things and fodd that I will not eat and chuck away. Buy more Christamas presents that are going to end up on the shelf or binned. New TV every year and 5000 fancy things that look attractive and could be useful for 1 second of life and than discarded.

Not to mention spending money on the national level and politics involved.

 

More money -- to have so much power and buy , BUY whole world and become a supermonster -- sad ,groutesqe, evil version of human. Human who has so much potential but uses it destructivly like a child playing with matches. Totally disconected and unaware of that what binds everyone and everything -- Respectful Way of Being.

Just to add yes, money is useful used carefully with awerness as most of us are not hunter gatherers any longer.

 

However this is life and it has got to be played. Better to stand up for something than end up falling for everything, learning when to say Yes and when to say No -- freeing the flow .

[Bubbles]

Well, if you get in trouble for quoting Karl Marx I guess I will too.

 

Opium is a naughty word too. But then, so is fuck.

 

 

I don't see why you'd get banned for posting that, bubbles. Doesn't seem an appropriate response.

 

Besides, I'd never read that before, and it IS good food for thought. So, thanks for posting.

 

 

Actually it was an half-joke. I knew I wouldn't be banned for that, it was a slight provocation. I should have made my wording clearer. Thanks for your words anyway.

 

But I personally know a few US citizens (apart from the regulars bums here) who look at most European countries with horror, believing theses countries are mostly filled with people being on a drip of Welfare state funds, incapable of taking responsability for their life etc..Some believe that these countries are applying a marxist program and hearing the word 'socialism' almost get them pass out. To them Marx would the the great Satan in person.

 

But what most people don't realize is that if Marx was still living he would not make much difference between the way european and american gvts from any party (right of left wings) are ruling countries.

 

Lastly, I have reasons to think that there is a lot of difference between Marx thought and Marxism ( the interpretation Lenin constructed based on partial reading of Marx works). Marx would equally condemn USSR-type communism and capitalism as being great source of alienation.

 

 

http://rajpatel.org/...lue-of-nothing/

 

I should hope the nationality of this board doesn't lend itself to avoidance of the subjects of money, wealth and energy therein:-)

 

Thanks! Interesting link, I will dig it.

Edited December 23, 2012 by bubbles

[GrandmasterP]

My great aunty Hesther's mum and dad worked in one of Fred Engels cotton mills in Manchester, he was a right bastard to work for by all accounts.

Housemaid impregnator Marx never did an honest day's work in his life and subsisted by sponging off Engels so Das Capital was funded, in part; by my Great Aunty Hesther's parents' sweat.

Anyone who is not a Marxist in idealistic youth has no heart but one who remains a Marxist into adulthood has no brain.

 

[Bubbles]

GmP-

 

I am aware of very very few philosopher who did walk their talk. That's the difference between philosophy and real wisdom. Philosophy is just that: a talk.

Marx is no exception. What makes him special to you is your family history, and I can really understand that.

 

Problem is, if you want to invalidate a philosopher's thought on account on his life, you will end up with very few of them if you except some of ancient Greeks and Latins in Western thought. And would be unfair to their thought, although legit on a human viewpoint.

 

I assume you won't be interested in it, but just in case, I recommend reading this book (http://www.amazon.co...l/dp/0253336805) which explains very well why it may be legit to make a difference between Marx thought and Marxism.

 

May I repeat that I am not marxist?

 

Be well

Edited December 23, 2012 by bubbles

[GrandmasterP]

Ta.

I teach philosophy of ed for a living.

Philosophy is all good, all contextual and all contested, thank goodness.

It's indoor work and no heavy lifting involved.

This you do not get by ticking the box marked 'coal mining' when it's careers day at school.

[Vanir Thunder Dojo Tan]

Greed is the seed of evil, Money the root, incorporation is the trunk or stem, and CEO/president/etc. are the branches... We the people are but leaves that fall and die every year to decompose and nourish the tree of evil. However, we're also connected ot the tree of righteousness, so it doesn't really mean anything.

[Birch]

I ain't no leaf buddy, I'm a seed:-)

[Marblehead]

I ain't no leaf buddy, I'm a seed:-)

I'm not going to ask you if you are about ready to germinate and grow.

 

[Birch]

Hahaha, it's winter Mr MH. Doing likewise:-)

[3bob]

money is just another form of energy... that can take twists and turns for better or worse.

[Vanir Thunder Dojo Tan]

s'alrite, imam water anyways haha

[GrandmasterP]

Seed money starts businesses.