Rev. Erudite Redneck, B.S., B.S., M.A., M.Div.

Capitalism for Christ?
An easy infiltration into a difficult area?

So, if a Saudi citizen's corporation backed by Islamic Religious funds comes to Oklahoma City and opens a plant that distributes the Wahabbi doctrine and documents, not to mention writting something from the Koran across the face of the company HQ entrance, how would that be received? How much pressure would there be on the employees of such a business to form a mosque and convert to their bosses' religion if that were in fact the intent of their bosses?

How would Oklahoma react to such, this State of HB 1804?

How would we receive such a thing? What is good for the goose....?

Actually, as I infered, this approach has been tried before.

There is so much wrong with this approach. Would "Jesus" be held responsible for all of the business and employment practices of the company? I for one see evidence for "Christian Capitalism" per se as a perverted concept and an oxymoron for both elements.

I don't question the intent of those who a pursuing this method, just their judgment and sense of history. Yes a businessman can be a Christian and exemplify Christ in his actions and behavior, as can some who owns a bussiness run it in a Christian way. But to do business in order to do missions will result today in what it has historically.

Read Mitchner's "Hawaii" to see what happens. It is not a pretty story.
 

OK, it is James A. Michener's "Hawaii".
 

And in the spirit of a fair and balanced presentation you might want to read the rebuttal to Michener's "fiction":
Hawaii Truth Stranger Than Fiction
True Tales of Missionary Life and Historic
Characters Fictionalized in Michener's HAWAII
by LaRue W. Piercy

Then go out and eat a Dole bannana.
 

On the one hand, I like the story of the company teaching farmers in Kenya to grow onions. On the other hand, I have the same reservations that drlobojo does.

Back in the 1980's, before the Japanese economy took a decade-and-a-half nosedive, they were investing heavily in American prime real estate. Japanese investors bought, among other properties, Rockefeller Center, and sent feelers about buying the Empire State Building (which is, in fact, owned by a wholly-owned subsidiary of the State of New York). I remember well the howls of rage when Arab and Japanese investors were snatching up "landmarks" at bargain-basement prices. These weren't even businesses promoting Shinto or Islam - this was just investors looking to pad their portfolios. To think there wouldn't be howls of rage if a scenario such as the good doctor's happen is to miss the point.

For me, overall, this is nothing more than 19th century Christian imperialism, marrying the cross and the White Man's Burden. Personally, I would much prefer it if some of these people invested their money in mission work here in neo-Pagan North America. Maybe opening a toy manufacturing plant that didn't use lead or toxic chemicals or hallucinogens in their processes. Or pet foods that didn't kill your dog. Radical idea, I know.
 

I specifically remember Jesus denouncing the feeding of the poor, the nursing of the sick and championing the cause of the vendors in the temples.

Thank Christ I don't need a job bad enough to have to work in one of these places. Obviously Israel isn't a place that prides itself on Religion staying separate from every day society.

I guess it's kind of like soup kitchens: "We'll feed you but you have to listen to a boring two hour sermon first".

Bribery is also a Christian principle championed by Christ. I read all about it in one of the 4Gospels removed by the Catholic Church.