Comments for Green Christian

Comment on Give me Liberty? by Who should pay tax? – Green Christian

Who should pay tax? – Green Christian — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 11:19:10 +0000

[...] later in his treatment of taxation, he implies that taxation is incompatible with his conception of human freedom and implies, again that government spending is less useful for society than private sector [...]

Comment on What’s the Point of Government? by Poverty and Equality – Green Christian

Poverty and Equality – Green Christian — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:34:45 +0000

[...] such programs can be funded from general taxation, as this is clearly something that fits with the government’s purpose to promote the general well-being of society. He does, however, disagree with the idea that [...]

Comment on Property: Theft or Right? by Free Markets: Do they work? – Green Christian

Free Markets: Do they work? – Green Christian — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:17:07 +0000

[...] argues that the Bible supports a broadly free-market approach. Based on his (highly flawed) view of private property and human liberty Grudem argues that the concept of government owning property is not Biblical, and [...]

Comment on What’s the point of economic policy? by Anthony Smith

Anthony Smith — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 10:51:31 +0000

Thanks for that, Stephen. It’s a shame that Grudem seems to have swallowed that core belief of our age, that prosperity and monetary activity are basically synonymous. The arms trade springs to mind as a counter-example.

Comment on What’s the point of economic policy? by Stephen Gray

Stephen Gray — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 18:51:22 +0000

Hi Anthony,

There are justifications scattered around, but they’re not put forward as a coherent argument. A basic summary of his case would be that economic growth means producing more and better goods, and that these are the benefit to society. I think he assumes that economic growth usually benefits every level of society, and he does suggest that a bigger economy makes the things I mention at the bottom of paragraph 3 a lot easier.

I guess the problems with this position is that it ignores the questions of how the new wealth created by economic growth is distributed (I’ve got a post on the issue of economic equality coming on Friday), the fact that sometimes economic growth comes from industries that are not productive, and the fact that the Earth is a finite resource (though he argues that we won’t use up its resources in the chapter on the Environment).

God Bless,

Stephen

Comment on What’s the point of economic policy? by Anthony Smith

Anthony Smith — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:21:15 +0000

Thanks for these summaries – appreciated.

Does Grudem justify the claim that (in your summary) “economic growth … is something that promotes the general welfare of the nation”? Or does he just assume it?

Comment on What’s the Point of Government? by What’s the point of economic policy? – Green Christian

What’s the point of economic policy? – Green Christian — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:26:29 +0000

[...] economic growth because is is something that promotes the general welfare of the nation, one of the aims of government. He rejects the idea that this approach constitutes materialism, because economic growth is [...]

Comment on What’s the Point of Government? by Education, Education, Education – Green Christian

Education, Education, Education – Green Christian — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 11:36:18 +0000

[...] government has a responsibility to ensure that every child has the chance at a good education (the purpose of government including restraining evil and promoting the good of society). Instead, he fails to justify the [...]

Comment on Should Porn be banned? by Stephen Gray

Stephen Gray — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 20:23:49 +0000

Hi Gypsum,

I think you’ve missed the point of this entry. I’m a Christian, so is the guy who’s book I’m critiquing, and so are millions of people in the UK and a couple of billion people around the world (and the number is growing all the time). This blog post is about how we should look at the issue. So unless you think that people like me shouldn’t be allowed to have or express opinions on these kind of issues, then I’m not sure I see your point.

And, incidentally, on a global scale Christianity is growing faster than non-religious beliefs (which peaked as a proportion of world population around 1989), relativity is irrelevant to any religious beliefs I’m familiar with, and evolution and geology are only relevant to the issue of creationism (many Christians believe God used evolution, and others don’t believe evolution is how we got here but do believe in an old Earth). So your criticisms of religion seem to me to be as ignorant as you’re accusing Christians in general of being.

Comment on Should Porn be banned? by Gypsum Fantastic

Gypsum Fantastic — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 18:59:30 +0000

Can I start off by pointing out that The Bible is the religious book of one of around 3000 religions. Now I know YOUR religion is the one that’s right, even so I don’t think people who can’t grasp the basics of evolution, relativity and geology etc, and who don’t realise religion is just a social construct, should really be the right people to be spouting off about pornography being immoral. Especially considering the amount of suffering caused by religions. You’re being left behind as people becomne more and more educated and a great thing it is to see.

Come to think of it, there’re many more reasons to ban religions.