Does Socialism contradict the Bible?

Jay Richards looks to the 10 Commandments to explain why the Bible presupposes an economic system that contradicts Socialism. Richards explains why respect for private property has been important throughout history, and why private property is at the root of Christian thinking.

[Porelcaminitoyotellevare]

You can own anything under socialism, anything but NOT the labor of other people.
The problem isn't owning things the problem is the private property over the means of production and over other people's labor.

[ruben]

"it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God" Matthew 19:24

[potatortheomnipotentspud]

Why yes. You just need to read the 10 commandments to see that.

Thou shalt not murder and thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's things are there very favorite ones to break.

[BennyKoay]

I think u define socialism defined as communism. For 2020, I do not think the world is running pure socialism, pure communism, or even pure capitalism. I do not think anywhere in the Bible encouraging us to live in any ideology, others than live like Christ and love others like Jesus loves his church.

[Sendobren]

>mfw you make a video on socialism and you don't even understand the difference between private and personal property

[claudiogutierrez]

The problem is semantics; when socialists say "private property" they're not talking about personal property.
You can have personal property under socialism.

[damonhoppe]

How does this idea of 'property' justify a few individuals owning everything such that no else can have any property of their own? Does the Bible really teach the slaves are 'property' that someone can do what they please with? In fact does not the Ten Commandments directly contradict your claims...The right to seize someones land, killing most of the population and enslaving the rest is actually forbidden by the Ten Commandments and therefore doing this is against Gods will. God does not grant the powerful the right to steal from the weak, enslave the poor and kill people to satisfy there loathsome lusts.

[samenamest]

Proverbs is very close to an economics text book. A practical Biblical economic theory can be built from Proverbs, along with 1&2 Timothy and 1&2 Thessalonians (not to mention the property law in the Mosaic Law, if you are up for a little more intensive read). These lay out a framework for a philanthropic capitalism system. This system has a stark divide between the unwilling and the unable to work. Also has the same starkness between righteousness and cruelty, prudence and greed, wisdom and pride.

[whateva]

this is totally wrong:

1. do not steal: that is precisely an element of a lot of socialism: that the wealth is not legitimate and specially, even directly stolen, by stealing surplus value, abusing human dignity (buying it cheap), through antecedents of slavery and land robbery and so on.

2. do not covet: socialism is not not made socialists can have things that others don't per se and because they want it: it's so that everyopne can have a life according to human dignity.

3. you probably take the stealing command too literally: there are many ways to steal, like paying a worker a shit salary or selling pesticides like monsanto or financial isntruments that will hurt the economy, or taking more than what you deserve given the service you have done, or what' s actualy agreed to be your part by your community.

4. under socialism you still have what's understood by private property: personal property. it's the stupid toothbrush thing: yes, uder communism you will have your own toothbrush to use it however you want.

[carlosencarnacion]

The aim of socialism is to give access to property to every one, so all can have their needs covered, and not just a few that will have far more than what they need to thrive while denying the excess to others. So that debunks your theory completely. The right to fair wages, to a home, to a job, to education, to health. In Venezuela, Gran Mision Vivienda took the oil money tha multi nationals were hoarding and distributes it into these endeavours, 2.7 millon people now have a home. In the USSR there were projects to house everyone, in Libya there was a similar program. Once the 57 year old embargo is lifted from Cuba, we will see changes. Search Gran Mision Vivienda on youtube.

[lightofjoyministries]

We need to look into the law of the Jewish nation....how every 50 years, they were to observe year of Jubilee. How each got bavk their lost properties. Was it a capitalism?

[r.m.]

Please know the diffrence of personal property and private property. Before you open your mouth. Enough Bible crap comes out of there maybe learning something with facts and logic or even simple definitions will help your case

[flav]

Socialism its main enemy is Christianity; besides the Bible is not economic book, however, we can find verses that show us that socialism is the opposite to Christianity and some fools believe in Christian socialism let's look some verses: The dignity of work: Ephesians 4:28. Private property exodus chapter 22. It condemns theft: Exodus:20:15. Covetousness: Exodus 20:17. it promotes saving Proverbs: 13:22. Land ownership Acts Chapter 4. Investment Mathew chapter 25

[manukauheads]

Right-wing Christians, always willing to bring up the ten commandments.. never willing to bring up the eight beatitudes..

[hackandslash]

Just let the corporations run hog wild then

[ToddSmith]

Does your logic lead to socialists steal and are envious while capitalists work, respect other people’s property, and are not desirous of having what others have?

[huntermears]

There’s a difference between private property and personal property; even Karl Marx’s Communist Manifesto says that. Communism seeks to abolish private property not personal property. The difference between the two is private property would be things like land; personal property is commodities such as a toothbrush or a lamp. Even then the Bible still states that we are not to be selfish, but what do you know, that has been put forth towards the culture capitalism has created. In fact everything which capitalism causes is not virtuous. Acts 4 even talks about distribution according to need. It’s pretty clear now that your argument is fallacious; you are only a product of the influence of post-capitalist society. Arguments such as “what about human nature” or “socialism is when the government does stuff” have been drilled into your heads for your whole lives; now you cannot escape this hive mind of far right propaganda because of the ignorance capitalism gave you. All the bad in the world is from capitalism, For example, 3rd world countries are in starvation because of corporations taking recourse from them, and taking them to 1st world countries like America. First off, this is theft, and second off, this is a product of capitalism as this has only happened because of greed and this is the product of an action called “globalization”, which was agreed upon by countries in the U.N to increase economic growth, but what has this led to, poverty. One question, would the Bible support this?

[andrewthomas]

Render unto Ceasar what is Ceasar's. If you have two coats give one away. There is no greater sin than the love of money. It is easier for a rich man to enter heaven then for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle. Right. . . .

[anadavue]

You sir are equating Socialism with Communism. They are not the same. I live in a Democratic Socialist country and own property. There are more than two political parties

[raymondfranklin]

within the first 30 seconds of this talk, Mr. Richards reveals his biases. 1) His implies that coveting of others property happens from below, with the workers coveting from the owners. However, does not the owner covet wealth? Clearly, he either enslavers workers or owns them as slaves because he covets the surplus. 2) He is projecting on the idea of private property and not collective property. Is the Bible specific in what constitutes property? Also, I am pretty sure Jesus routinely discussed the importance of sharing everything in the common. This video is ideological propaganda and poorly done at that.