I heard recently about a neurosurgeon named Ben Carson giving some remarks at a prayer breakfast about how God thinks our tax code should be a flat rate, because that's how the Israelites in the Old Testament supported their priestly caste. Of course this is a position to the far right even of economist Adam Smith, who in Book V, Chap. II, paragraph 59, of his 'Wealth of Nations' stated:
"It is not very unreasonable that the rich should contribute to the
public expense, not only in proportion to their revenue, but something
more than in that proportion."
Of course some might insist that the laws given in God's name, through an intermediary, should over-trump the ideas of a capitalist economist. It shall be shown shortly how impolitic this would be if we should take the principal any farther. In addition to the wholly impractical manner of deciding whether a rape victim was to be stoned to death or not (and we wonder why religionists can't give a straight answer on that subject...), there are even many economic laws in the ancient scriptures that would scandalize. Take for instance:
"If you enter your neighbor's vineyard, you may eat all the grapes you want, but do not put any in your basket." -- Deuteronomy 23:24
and
"But if he does not acquire the means to repay him, what he sold will
remain in the possession of the buyer until the Year of Jubilee. It will
be returned in the Jubilee, and he can then go back to his property." -- Leviticus 25:28
And if laws given through an intermediary between God and the people are authoritative over our civil laws and policy, how much more must be the direct guidance of Holy Spirit, as the early Christian Church is said to have been under:
"And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need." -- Acts 4:32-35
So, it would seem that the application of religionism to economic policy is but a step away from outright socialism. Excellent work, Doctor!
