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- Ezra Pound discussion list of the University of Maine <[log in to unmask]>
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Fri, 23 Jun 2000 09:33:04 EDT
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In a message dated 06/22/2000 11:48:27 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

<<
 How is this so?  Jesus, as a carpenter, produced goods.  There is no
 indication in THE WORDS of Jesus himself, or in the life, to show that the
 production of wealth itself is in any way immoral.  Of course there is the
 saying, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it
 is for a rich man to enter heaven.”  But one may only conclude from this
 that riches or the private ownership of riches by an individual is immoral
 (becoming a rich man, while others are poor or starving).  The production of
 wealth would appear to be perfectly acceptable, as long as one does not do
 so for selfish reasons, but in a cooperative relationship with others.
 Producing  food, housing, medicines, good books, and other useful goods can
 all be a part of “loving one’s neighbor as oneself.”


Even if one takes the very narrow view that one should live one’s life
exactly as Jesus did (which is clearly impossible), one cannot exclude the
act of producing goods as something completely extraneous or contrary to the
life of Christ as it was lived.  In addition to his life as a carpenter, and
as a fishermen (both productive activities) Christ also engaged in
productive acts during his ministry.  His changing water to wine could be
considered an act of economic production.  (Of course for most people it
would be easier to change grapes into wine, but in any case, Christ could
have nothing to say against those who manufacture and distribute wine, since
he did so himself).  When Christ turned a few fish and loaves of bread into
food for the multitudes, that was also an act of economic production.
Christ’s life does not teach us that those who produce bread and who go
fishing are immoral, and should therefore give it up.

  >>

huh?  is this the eye of a needle that's stuck, or what?  your reasoning is
as convoluted and as warped as an Antonin Scalia legal opinion!   what in the
world do you think the production of wealth involves, making a table?  sewing
a dress?  at the level of the individual this doesn't usually produce wealth,
it barely manages subsistence.  the production of goods and services is not
synonymous with producing individual wealth.  the logic of your remarks above
suggests that it's okay to become wealthy,as long as one does it in the
absence of the poor; would you mind pointing out exactly where this situation
obtains?  are there boundaries involved here?  one can get wealthy in Peoria
as long as all the poor live in Chicago?  I'll tell you what's clear; you
miss the spirit of the teaching of Christ just as badly as you miss the
spirit of the poet in Pound.  your crass reductionism and deliberate
misreadings litter your criticisms, making them virtually useless.  anyone
who would claim that the miracle of changing water to wine is an act of
economic production with a straight face must be truly desperate!  and while
it's true that not everyone could live life exactly as Christ lived, no one,
including Christ, ever expected that they could -- but it is expected that a
Christian should base his or her life on the ethical and moral dimensions
that Christ taught, and which was exemplified in his life.

jb...

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