What was up with today's first reading? (communism)

  • Thread starter Thread starter SacredHeartBassist
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
PaulinVA said:
The overall question here is how much of the new testament, particularly acts and the epistles, are we supposed to actually do in the modern world?

Remember, the apostles thought Jesus was coming back before they died.
Click to expand...
Actually, that idea would be based upon an errant reading of the Olivet Discourse. No, the disciples didn’t expect his return before they died. They expected “all of these things” to occur, but that meant all the persecutions, tribulations and the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, but not his second coming – which “no one knows the day or hour.”

It doesn’t make sense for Jesus to have said, “no one knows the day or hour, except the Father,” but also that he knew it would happen before “this generation has passed away.” The disciples asked two questions, not one, and Jesus was answering both those questions. Separating out which parts of the discourse are answering which question is an interesting task.

Start a thread to discuss this if you wish, but it is pretty clear that your claim is not correct.
 
The Church in Jerusalem was just starting out, and they were a rather small community. Living communally was appropriate for them. This type of “communism” only works in this kind of situation, and many monasteries do something similar.
 
Last edited:
The most ideal situation (in my opinion) is for Christians to live communally, separate from the world, while also working for the good of the state. However, this simply isn’t possible anymore except for monasteries. Communal living should also always be voluntary.
 
Last edited:
I think the Pilgrims tried this, for a while. Share everything. They ended up starving because there wasn’t much incentive to grow a lot of food since you know “the other guy” was going to give you his food.

Then they stumbled across the scripture paraphrased here “If you don’t work, then you don’t eat.” Things got better after that. Or so I’ve read someplace.
 
Yep. This is the most ideal form of communal living, sort of like what the Amish do.
 
Do the Amish kick people who don’t work out of the community ? Or do they continue to feed them???
 
Last edited:
(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
 
There are different groups of Amish. Each community has different interpretations of their living standards.
 
twf said:
But monasticism approaches the Christian ideal, no? So this is a better way of living even if not all of us are called to it.
Click to expand...
Indeed, it is. Of course monks are still sinners like the rest of us, and conflict is not rare in monasteries.

Monks also go through a long period of formation while being detached from the outside world, something impossible for us on the outside. However their lives stand as a shinning example and inspiration to us (well, certainly for me, which is why I became an oblate).
 
They also did not prepare for Winter as they should have. They did not know how to properly use the land.
 
Last edited:
I know this but, in general. I am no expert on the Amish but from what I understand is that they live in tight-knit communities of a few families who work (mostly in agriculture) to create a small but sustainable economy where they can trade and provide for their individual families.
 
ricmat said:
I think the Pilgrims tried this, for a while. Share everything. They ended up starving because there wasn’t much incentive to grow a lot of food since you know “the other guy” was going to give you his food.
Click to expand...
In the late Soviet Union, 3% of the land was farmed privately (by those who had to work for the state at their day jobs). It produced 25% of the total agricultural output–using the same people, technology, and equipment, and located in the same regions.

hawk
 
That proves the point more than it doesn’t… since they give so much aid.

And you’re talking about people who’ve dedicated themselves to service. Most of them at least.
 
Last edited:
You were just criticizing celibates of not understanding or something… when the large majority of the Vatican is celibate. And give their time and money to aid.

edit: Please tell me I’m misunderstanding something. 🙂
 
Last edited:
i was not criticizing celibates at all.

i’m just saying that monks can share their possessions because they’re celibate but once you have kids you have an added responsibility and you kind of have to hoard things because it’s for the raising of children.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top