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...