Jokes, memes, and cartoons

[Magical Realist]

The entire church did not sell all of their possessions. While the Book of Acts describes a community of radical generosity where "they had everything in common," a closer look at the historical context and the original Greek text reveals that private property was never abolished, nor was liquidation mandatory.

And yet as the Bible makes clear it was going on among many Christian communities in line with Jesus's teachings against hoarding possessions and accumulating wealth. The Church that evolved later succumbed to the secular culture of property and wealth over time, straying from the original principles of Christ's message.

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[Syne]

The entire church did not sell all of their possessions. While the Book of Acts describes a community of radical generosity where "they had everything in common," a closer look at the historical context and the original Greek text reveals that private property was never abolished, nor was liquidation mandatory.

And yet as the Bible makes clear it was going on among many Christian communities in line with Jesus's teachings against hoarding possessions and accumulating wealth. The Church that evolved later succumbed to the secular culture of property and wealth over time, straying from the original principles of Christ's message.

Yes, voluntarily... not mandatory, much less enforced by state power.
Jesus taught the dangers of wealth to one's spiritual life. But only with regards to serving two masters, having a false sense of security without reliance on God, and love of money. But you can be wealthy without serving money, obsessing over material gain, and by being a good steward of what you have.

If you're not a good steward, you would never create more wealth and jobs that materially help others. There's a reason that global capitalist trade has lifted most the world out of poverty.

Global capitalism and the globalization of trade are widely credited with lifting the majority of the world out of extreme poverty. Over the last two centuries—and particularly the last 50 years—the proportion of the global population living in extreme poverty has dropped significantly.
The Data at a Glance

Historical Decline: In 1820, an estimated 94% of the global population lived in extreme poverty. Today, that figure has fallen to less than 10%.

The Scale of the Shift: Driven by expanding markets, hundreds of millions of people—particularly in Asia—have transitioned into the middle class.
China's Role: China’s progressive integration of free-market principles into its economy is responsible for the majority of this decline, lifting nearly 800 million people out of poverty between 1980 and 2020.

Why This Happened

Economic Growth: Free markets, technological innovation, and specialization have driven massive aggregate wealth creation, increasing living standards and life expectancies on a global scale.

Global Integration: Developing countries that opened their borders to international trade and foreign investment experienced rapid industrialization and job creation.
- gemini

And before you rattle off another tired genetic fallacy, see if you can refute these facts first. Otherwise, we know you can't... hence the fallacies.

[Magical Realist]

Yes, voluntarily... not mandatory, much less enforced by state power.

LOL Yes..an ascetic non-materialistic life is entirely voluntarily, unlike the money-worshipping mania of materialism which is forced upon us from birth.

[Syne]

If you think "money-worshipping mania of materialism" is forced on you, that's your own personal problem.
Most of us simply earn a living, for survival and comfort, without any real obsession with money or possessions.

[Magical Realist]

“The illusion of choice is the most effective tool of control.” — Noam Chomsky

Question:

Does someone who has many choices and someone who has few choices have the same amount of freedom?

[Syne]

Choices, like many things, are not a zero sum game. You can create opportunity out of thin air. Some might say almost like magic.

[Syne]

[Image: CAow0Kv.md.jpg]

[Syne]

[Image: CAL0ATx.md.jpg]

[Magical Realist]

Never take philosophy lessons from a telepathic parasitic twin baby..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbj4Te_guxY

[Magical Realist]

This is the end..

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1163162046006029