My favorite is - “If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not treat it like a business deal; charge no interest.” - Exodus 22:25
That’s one of the reasons a lot of Medieval kingdoms kept Jews around despite despising and occasionally massacring them- they could make loans. Of course, that’s where the “Jewish banker” antisemitic trope came from.
Isn’t that passage lifted directly from the torah, though? Why doesn’t everybody abide by it? Islam isn’t too keen on interest either, as I recall. It is a peculiar thing.
Lending without interest discourages lending, which is actually really terrible for even pre-modern economies. Money gets hoarded by the rich instead of at least used in some capacity by the rich. Cultures which maintain that absolute stance on interest are often overtaken by similar cultures which do not maintain that stance, because a functioning finance system, even in its most primitive form, is a huge advantage.
If only that same text said something about not committing adultery or theft or being covetous…
My favorite is - “If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not treat it like a business deal; charge no interest.” - Exodus 22:25
Funny how you RARELY hear about that one.
That’s one of the reasons a lot of Medieval kingdoms kept Jews around despite despising and occasionally massacring them- they could make loans. Of course, that’s where the “Jewish banker” antisemitic trope came from.
Isn’t that passage lifted directly from the torah, though? Why doesn’t everybody abide by it? Islam isn’t too keen on interest either, as I recall. It is a peculiar thing.
The key is ‘to one of my people’ here. You can charge interest, just not to your fellow countryman.
Edited to add: There is more far nuance to this than I’m familiar with, but I’m pretty sure that’s the basic idea.
Two reasons:
Lending without interest discourages lending, which is actually really terrible for even pre-modern economies. Money gets hoarded by the rich instead of at least used in some capacity by the rich. Cultures which maintain that absolute stance on interest are often overtaken by similar cultures which do not maintain that stance, because a functioning finance system, even in its most primitive form, is a huge advantage.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Donald Trump is the personification of the seven deadly sins; pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony and sloth.
And his devotees know and don’t care. Then they turn around and act pious.
Right? If I weren’t an atheist I’d swear he’s the Antichrist
Oh you have no idea.
I’m not a Christian, but yeah that’s disturbing. If he gets re-elected next year somehow I’ll believe it 100% and go get baptized