Is capitalism a religion?

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

Discuss.

 

[Peter Deadpan]

I think society worships plenty of bullshit theories and models.

- - - Updated - - -

In short - sure, why not.

 

[Maou]

That's like saying science is a religion.

It is a tool/structure in which we can use to operate as a society. Everything else is nuance.

Religion by definition requires faith, doctrine, superhuman elements, or pursuit of interest in said faith. Its better to scribe money itself as a religion, but not capitalism. Just like meditation is a tool of a religion, doesn't mean meditation itself is a religion.

 

[???]

I was watching one of my favorite twitch streamers the other day and he said something that made so much sense, but I just never connected the dots. Maybe because I don't feel my experiences should have any precedence for other people. But anyway,

He said when it comes to politics, people feel compelled to support the things that work for them. But when other people invalid that, it's like they are personally being invalidated. And I think that's true.

So yeah, I'm sure there are die-hard capitalists that have made fortunes off of it and think it's great; and would put down people that don't do well with it or call anyone that is critical of capitalism a communist or socialist or nazi or some such thing. And in that way, yeah it is kind of a religion. But I guess that would be true for politics too then (an idea I think I've heard before).

 

[Peter Deadpan]

People will worship whatever they believe in. The human mind is prone to dogmatism and blind faith. I do not think this stops where religion ends.

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

So yeah, I'm sure there are die-hard capitalists that have made fortunes off of it and think it's great; and would put down people that don't do well with it or call anyone that is critical of capitalism a communist or socialist or nazi or some such thing. And in that way, yeah it is kind of a religion. But I guess that would be true for politics too then (an idea I think I've heard before).

This is a good point. I mean, I've seen lots of threads here comparing various political ideologies to a religion. So if that's the case, then why not capitalism?

 

[Justin of Flavia Neapolis]

What most think of as "Capitalism" is actually an ideology called "Neoliberalism" which exists within the framework of Capitalism.

In short, Neoliberals are called "Libertarians" these days. They can be found preaching the gospel of John Galt and other Ayn Randisms.

It is written in the Holy Scriptures that these are the worshipers of Mammon, the demonic prince of greed, as Rand so aptly admitted in an interview when she stated "There's nothing wrong with greed."

 

[Tomb1]

libertarianism/neoliberalism is just social darwinism-in-a-skirt.

 

[ceecee]

That's like saying science is a religion.

It is a tool/structure in which we can use to operate as a society. Everything else is nuance.

Religion by definition requires faith, doctrine, superhuman elements, or pursuit of interest in said faith. Its better to scribe money itself as a religion, but not capitalism. Just like meditation is a tool of a religion, doesn't mean meditation itself is a religion.

It's like saying socialism is a religion or liberalism is a religion - both of which have been threads posted fairly recently. Capitalism is a social and economic mode of living - not necessarily a bad thing. People should be free to pursue their interests socially and economically but that's clearly not what capitalism has become.

Neoliberalism is a political ass boil outgrowth of capitalism. It removes any and all barriers to accumulating wealth, including harm to anyone and anything that gets in its way, without government interference, with political power as it's ultimate goal.

In a nutshell, capitalism is socioeconomic way of life. Neoliberalism is an politico-economic means of social control. And it's done more to destroy this world and everyone in it than any other religion could claim.

 

[anticlimatic]

Definitely. I'm a believer.

How capitalism saved generations from crippling poverty

Unlike all these idiotic socialist Bernie supporting moron dipshit loser bitches who piss the bed every night and shit their pants every time they sneeze because of how extra stupid and evil they are....

/end ceecee impression

 

[ceecee]

Definitely. I'm a believer.

How capitalism saved generations from crippling poverty

Unlike all these idiotic socialist Bernie supporting moron dipshit loser bitches who piss the bed every night and shit their pants every time they sneeze because of how extra stupid and evil they are....

/end ceecee impression

My post in this thread didn't attack people that believe in capitalism, such as yourself. Stick to what I wrote, not your own sensitivity.

I am curious what you would do with a capitalist, gun owner that's also a huge Bernie supporter, other than claim they don't exist.

 

[Coriolis]

I don't consider capitalism or any of these other political or economic -isms to be religions, as they don't profess any belief in a deity or supernatural entity. They are at most philosophies or world views.

 

[Siúil a Rúin]

Doesn't the Right in politics have a few mass demographics - first the Wall Street corporate types, and the military hawks, but that wasn't enough to win national votes, so they slapped some morality onto it to scoop up the Bible Belt people who think it's part of their religion.

 

[Coriolis]

Doesn't the Right in politics have a few mass demographics - first the Wall Street corporate types, and the military hawks, but that wasn't enough to win national votes, so they slapped some morality onto it to scoop up the Bible Belt people who think it's part of their religion.

Yes, the so-called "religious Right" is a significant part of those who align with the Republican party politically, but that doesn't make the political perspective itself a religious one. There is also a significant "religious left", to use parallel terminology. These are the people who are motivated by Jesus' message of inclusion and caring for others to favor political action that provides a generous safety net for the disadvantaged, and protects minority rights/opportunities. These folks have so far not used religious justifications to support their political positions nearly as effectively as those on the right have, though the arguments are just as compelling, perhaps moreso.

 

[ceecee]

Yes, the so-called "religious Right" is a significant part of those who align with the Republican party politically, but that doesn't make the political perspective itself a religious one. There is also a significant "religious left", to use parallel terminology. These are the people who are motivated by Jesus' message of inclusion and caring for others to favor political action that provides a generous safety net for the disadvantaged, and protects minority rights/opportunities. These folks have so far not used religious justifications to support their political positions nearly as effectively as those on the right have, though the arguments are just as compelling, perhaps moreso.

For sure. Think Jimmy Carter, progressive evangelicalism or liberal evangelicals.

 

[Lark]

I don't consider capitalism or any of these other political or economic -isms to be religions, as they don't profess any belief in a deity or supernatural entity. They are at most philosophies or world views.

I can see what you mean here but not all religions are monotheistic, some have multiple Gods, some have none at all, while most profess belief in mysteries, which could be supernatural in character (even Taoism and Sikhism believe in possibly "magical" deeds by key figures).

However, capitalism involves some beliefs which in their popular format resemble this kind of believing behaviour, like trickle down economics or the invisible hand of the market which is supposed to perform simultaneous equations without a computer AI and produce prices which reflect are resource allocatively efficient, equitable and the cornerstone of spontaneous order.

I think that perhaps it could be more accurate to talk of them as both possessing similar features, including myths, definitions of virtuous behaviour etc.

 

[Lark]

For sure. Think Jimmy Carter, progressive evangelicalism or liberal evangelicals.

I'd be skeptical of such things.

Outside of liberation theology I'm not sure if there is such a thing as a progressive Christianity in the modern world and LT is largely extinct.

 

[ceecee]

I'd be skeptical of such things.

Outside of liberation theology I'm not sure if there is such a thing as a progressive Christianity in the modern world and LT is largely extinct.

Just because right wing politics fused with Christian fundamentalists doesn't mean liberal evangelicals are extinct. Last I checked, President Carter was still with us, so there is at least one of them. I met him at a Habitat for Humanity event about 6 years ago, my husband got an award from them. The man walks the walk.

 

[Lark]

Just because right wing politics fused with Christian fundamentalists doesn't mean liberal evangelicals are extinct. Last I checked, President Carter was still with us, so there is at least one of them. I met him at a Habitat for Humanity event about 6 years ago, my husband got an award from them. The man walks the walk.

Yeah, I read about him and I think he's kind of an anomaly, I like the guy.

I didnt like the extent to which his being an evangelical seemed to swing the election for him.

Besides Kennedy where there ever any RCs in the presidency?

I just think that liberalism has put A LOT of clear water between itself and religion these days.

 

[ceecee]

Yeah, I read about him and I think he's kind of an anomaly, I like the guy.

I didnt like the extent to which his being an evangelical seemed to swing the election for him.

Besides Kennedy where there ever any RCs in the presidency?

I just think that liberalism has put A LOT of clear water between itself and religion these days.

There haven't been any Jewish presidents either. Yet. But with the changes Francis is considering, that might win back some center right libs.