Religion, Marxism, and Capitalism

Before I get into the gist of this particular post, I think I'd just like to point out that, as we in the States are in the midst of a very close, very intense political campaign for the White House, this entire topic is very relevant to me. I wish that Gretch would find it as relevant, as well, but I am coming to terms with that fact that certain individuals in her life have made her, already, cynical and apathetic toward to the system of government in our nation, and even more so to the method of selecting representatives. I am tempted to go off on a tangent here, but I think I will reign myself in and leave this thought before going on:

Edmund Burke is credited with saying that the only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. I have thought about it a lot and realised that the statement would be most accurate if he had said that the only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do something else. We are always doing something, but what we need to be doing is the right something. And the reason we need to be doing the right something, when it comes to politics and voting, is because if we don't, we lose. Because there will always be someone who votes. And if we allow the wicked to cast all the votes, then the wicked will triumph by default.

One of the blogs that I read frequently is Mormanity. It is written by an LDS apologetic, Jeff Lindsay, and I find his academic exploration of Mormon culture and beliefs to be quite interesting. If you've never visited his blog or his site, I highly recommend it. Recently, he posted some thoughts about Mormonism and Marxism. His argument is that Marxism runs counter to not just the LDS theology, but all theologies, because Marxism does not respect or acknowledge religious organisations. I completely agree with this statement. Although I feel that Marxism has gotten lost somewhere in the midst of the fuzzy borders separating communism and socialism, I consider all three to be rooted in something that is contrary to God's plan for His children. Someone commented that capitalism also runs contrary to Christian practices, although there was no alternative offered. This surprised me. Perhaps more than it should, since so many in the world are convinced that capitalism is a system of promoting unfettered greed, but I was surprised nonetheless. The following is my response, which has was posted on the blog, as well as on my other blog:

I am a true believer in capitalism. Not the type of hindered-wannabe capitalism that we see today, in which individuals and corporations are controlled by the government, but the kind of capitalism that exists in a truly free market. The capitalism that leads great minds to produce great products. The capitalism that leads the producers to provide the very best for the consumers so that the consumers will want to come back. the capitalism that leads the consumers to willingly pay for the products they desire. The capitalism that leads to growth and innovation. The capitalism that provides employment opportunities for all who desire to work. The capitalism that rejects the parasite who asks for something in exchange for nothing.

How is this incompatible with a religion that teaches that the labourer is worthy of his hire, and that the idler shall not eat the bread of Zion? The religion that teaches that work is an eternal principle, and that the system of the dole is evil? The religion that teaches that we must each do our part? The religion that teaches that we must abide the laws of the world in which we live? The religion that teaches that before we can abide celestial laws, we must prove our ability to abide terrestrial and telestial laws?

Where is the conflict?

So as we prepare to elect our next leaders in just a few short weeks, I hope that everyone will take the time to look closely at what the individuals stand for, and vote for those who will turn our country away from a path of destruction and toward a path of freedom and liberty for all.