Statement 3
It does not matter whether you are poor or wealthy; we all have equal dignity. As the Bible teaches, “The rich and the poor have this in common; the Lord is the maker of them all. “accordingly, unjust possession of the goods of creation is to be rejected. All persons have an equal right to education, property, health insurance, credit, the markets, and all other means necessary for human flourishing.
Introduction
Christianity is defined as the religion that bases its faith in the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. While culture refers to ideas, social behaviour and customs of a specific society. Culture and Christianity relate to each other in that it entails social welfare. Christianity, as a religion has always been a cross-cultural. Christians have since time immemorial lived in different cultural contexts. I agree with these statements because the Bible states that all people are equal regardless of their wealth status (Murray). Every man is the same, according to God and the law.
Plato’s view on Wealth is that the people should not be focused on their private interests, but instead, they should use their Wealth to assist the community in case of rich men. Plato advocated for abolition of property rights. This ideology was aimed at making the society a better place for everyone as it would eliminate the idea of rich and poor (Lodge 470). The rich, according to him if they made more Wealth than allowed, should be distributed to the poor. But his critics thought otherwise and instead claimed that it would be donated to places of worship. People should have equal opportunities for society to be just.
According to Aquinas, there are two types of Wealth; this is Natural Wealth and artificial Wealth. Natural Wealth denotes the things needed for survival like food. The Artificial Wealth is the what is invented by men like money which is a measure of value. Aquinas thinks that natural Wealth cannot bring us happiness as compared to artificial Wealth which brings joy to men. He goes on to state that our aim in life is not natural Wealth. Aquinas says that no wealth can bring mankind happiness (Das Neves et al 649). From this, we can see that he thinks Wealth should not be the measure of the dignity of men as we are all equal with or without Wealth.
Marx believes that in societies that have classes of people, Wealth is used to exercise economic power. He thought that Wealth was the source of political power. Therefore, to him, the poor and the rich were not equal. He saw that the slave owners were higher placed than those who didn’t own slaves. Marx thinks that the poor can’t be equal with the rich as the rich have the power to control the poor in whichever way they please (Murray).
According to the book of Genesis (13:2), Wealth isn’t bad at all but how we react to it is a problem. God is not against riches as he is the giver of Wealth. The Bible is keen to advise men to save their excess Wealth for later use. The Bible, therefore, doesn’t condemn Wealth, but rather it encourages men to seek Wealth so that they may be in a position to help others. He says that being poor limits one from helping the other people.
Pope John Paul II views Wealth as not being wrong. He encouraged men to make profits, but he said that Wealth was not the only indicator for a business position. He stated that businesses should not mistreat their employees in the name of amassing more Wealth and profits. The pope was not against Wealth, but he condemned any oppression of the poor employees in a bid to increase business profits. According to him, it was wrong for businesses to mistreat the employees.
Gaudium’s view on this issue is that Wealth should not be used to judge the poor nor to oppress them. He views Wealth as not being a measure of dignity. He says that poor people should not be oppressed by those who are perceived as rich. Gaudium believes that the rich and the poor are equal before God and should be treated that way by society.
C.S Lewis views Wealth as evil. He states that a lot of Wealth is dangerous. Lewis explains that when one gets a lot of money, they may forger their need to serve God and start worshiping money. He says that money and the accompanying happiness can corrupt humankind to become evil and forget the Lord, who has given them that Wealth. So basically, Lewis views Wealth to be evil as it makes people immoral.
Nietzsche views Wealth as a danger to society. He insists that only men who had spirit were supposed to have Wealth. He goes ahead to state that Wealth and possessions were dangerous; this was because once men attained Wealth they still would go after more Wealth. Nietzsche thinks that Wealth makes people lack time for their families, society or even time for God (Robin 112).
Smith views Wealth to be evil. He states that Wealth ought to make the rich to be adored in the society and return make the poor to be hated. Smith views that the wealthy can make people like them. The dignity of the poor is low in the society filled with the rich (Fleischacker).
Pope Francis criticised the wealthy he says they are rich few who amassed what is meant for everyone in the society. He goes on to warn the rich men who value money over the sacraments. The pope further adds that true Wealth is the relationship with Jesus. He informs them that those who put their faith in financial resources are mistaken as the only Wealth is helping the poor in society (Gregg). He views that earthly Wealth is not superior to true Wealth that is found in Jesus.
Conclusion
I support that Wealth is evil and dangerous. Wealth is used as a weapon against the poor in the society. Rich few people are seen to oppress the poor people who work go them since they have Wealth which gives them power. Dignity, in my opinion, should not be measured through Wealth but rather ones act towards the less privileged. I can support the idea of Nietzsche that says only those with the spirit ought to have Wealth.
Works cited list
Das Neves, Joao Luis Cesar. “Aquinas and Aristotle’s distinction on wealth.” History of Political
Economy 32.3 (2000): 649-657.
Fleischacker, Samuel. On Adam Smith’s Wealth of nations: a philosophical companion.
Princeton University Press, 2009.
Gregg, Samuel. “Pope Francis and Poverty.” National Review Online (2013).
Lodge, Rupert Clendon. “Soul, Body, Wealth, in Plato. (I).” The Philosophical Review 32.5
(1923): 470-490.
Murray, Patrick. The mismeasure of Wealth: essays on Marx and social form. Brill, 2016.
Robin, Corey. “Wealth and the intellectuals: Nietzsche, Hayek, and the Austrian School of
Economics.” Hayek: A Collaborative Biography. Palgrave Macmillan, London, 2015.
112-158.