So there's a thing called the "Prosperity Gospel". It's a specific religious movement that claims essentially that if you're rich and Christian, you are blessed by God, no matter how you got your money, and how many people you stepped on. And here's the thing, if you're poor, then apparently God hates you.
No, really. This insane idea that the rich, rather then being blessed with their riches so that they can have the opportunity to help the less fortunate, are divinely ordained to do whatever they darn well please with their money is an actual, mainstream idea. The worst part? It's teamed up with the proponents of "small government". Y'know, those folks who are always saying things like "keep the government outta my money". The prosperity gospel kooks have teamed up with (some, not all) of the libertarians, leading to an absurd mindset that the government taxing your money is not just inconvenient, but an actual sin. That God would rather you spend your money on selfish and personal whims, opposed to helping people through social programs.
And like I outlined earlier, the Prosperity Gospel sanctifies the rich. It literally gives them a higher position than the poor. Combined with libertarian philosophy, it leads to some ugly things. Like the constant suspicion of the social programs designed to help the poor. Somehow, someone who is poor is expected to "bootstrap" themselves out of poverty, and if they can't do that even through hard work, being forced to rely on the social safety net, that is a personal failing. Think about that. If a hard-working teacher (with say, several kids) cannot provide for herself and her family, than it is a personal failing on her part. Yet, a rich man, born into wealth (or born poor, we're not picky here), and never having to work as hard as the teacher is seen as somehow morally better, simply because he is rich and the teacher is not.
Those programs designed to uplift the needy, and the taxes required to pay for them are regarded as godless. Yes, they are called "SOCIALISM!". Taking from the deserving! God blessed the "hard work" of the rich by giving them riches! Those poor folks didn't become filthy rich on their own, so they do not deserve any contribution from those blessed with more! The poor soul searching for a job, forced to rely on unemployment benefits? GODLESS PARASITE! Those blessed with more shouldn't have to give of themselves for this wretch! The single mother, trying desperately to put her children through school so they can have a better life than she does? WHY, THAT'S RIPPING MY MONEY (of which I have a hundred times of what I'm being asked to pay) AWAY FROM MY DESERVING HANDS!
MY MONEY. DESERVING. MY MONEY. MINE.
How utterly vile. I reject this gospel of the rich and the stiff-necked. I throw away this caring for gold and Mammon.
I follow the gospel of helping the poor and the needy. I hate to throw Mormon scriptures out on the drop of the hat, but here's Mosiah 4:16: "Also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of succor; ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish."
Oh; that's pretty clear on helping the needy. How about those that don't do so? Oh, look, Mosiah 4:17-18: " 17: Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart into him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just. 18: But I say unto you, O man, whosoever do this hath great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done, he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God."
Oh. So you shouldn't withhold your substance either. Okay. But we Mormons are a weird folk, what does the Bible, the cornerstone of Christian theology, say about this? "Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he shall also cry himself, but shall not be heard." Proverbs 21:13.
Oh, well how about the New Testament? From Jesus himself; "He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise." Luke 3:11.
Oh, well, let's just say you hate the Book of Mormon, but love the Doctrine and Covenants. "Wo unto you, rich men, that will not give your substance to the poor, for your riches will canker your souls, and this shall be your lamentation in the day of visitation, and of judgement, and of indignation: The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and my soul is not saved!" D&C 56: 16.
First, I love the phrase "canker your souls". Canker sores are really painful on the mouth, so imagine how bad one on the soul would be. Second, right then. All the major scriptures have the gospel of helping the poor and condemning the rich (I don't have my trusty Quran ready, but seeing as how it's got charity as one of it's five pillars, I'm guessing it says something similar).
And that's not even including the grisly fates of the greedy in the Bible.
Right then. So who is really in charge of this "Down with the poor, I want my riches" gospel? Who are the kind of people that enthusiastically support this? Who recognizes this selfish, miserly philosophy as God's word?
Not I. Not the holy scriptures. So who's really behind this "MINE IS THE GLORY" gospel? What sort of selfish, bitter spirit of a person would want this?
Think about that.
(Side note: for those religious folks that hold the libertarian view that "oh we can fix it all by privately giving to charity, despite all the problems within completely private charity; even good government can't do it because government is bad"; think about the great and wise kings and rulers in the Bible and the Book of Mormon. What were they known for? For their wisdom and kindness in supporting the needy, right? Well, they certainly didn't use their own money; so who's money did they use? They of course used everyone's money. They were the government, and they used taxes/tribute money. And yet they helped the poor.)
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