Sunday, December 31, 2006
Correlation V Causation
This is something that has always struck me as odd: both Capitalism and Communism are considered "godless." Commie Karl Marx thought that religion was a tool used by the bourgeois to keep the lower class in place. Capitalist Ayn Rand said that religion was, to put it politely, a load of irrational crap. The two big names of the opposing economic theories both had negative views on religion. This brings me to the little question floating around in my head: is religion a product of a mixed economy? Probably not, but it is an interesting correlation.
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All right, somebody has to get a discussion rolling here. I might as well try. Though I know almost nil about capitalism, so I won't be able to do details and things. I'll just try to throw out ideas.
Religion caused by a mixed economy. In every culture, people need commonality (open to debate - again, I'm mixing ideas). What if in a culture with mixed economy religion is an attempt (failing where there are many religions) to bring something of commonality? If the culture doesn't have a big focus, maybe people try to create one. On the other hand, maybe it's the opposite. Mixed economy boosts the atmosphere of diversity, so people get together and find someway to be a seperate group within the rest of the culture.
Having thrown a ball up, if anyone wants to catch it and keep tossing?
If religion was a cultures attempt to have a commonality, that would be an argument toward religion popping up in more capitalist societies. Communist societies would have a bigger chance of having a commonality within their culture because of the high amounts of state control on everyday life. Capitalist societies, on the other hand, would not have state control on peoples lives and thus their culture would not be able to be focused by a state.
That's an idea. But there's commonality in Capitalism too. I was thinking of "we believe in this or that". You know, we believe in not having the government meddle, independence. Whereas with mixed economy there's the government way and the private way. No joint cries of "Fairness for all!" or "Down with controlling governments!"
But that is like saying that the commonality is a communal decision not to have a commonality. That doesn't seem to be the same thing as having a communally shared religion or culture.
Not at all. You're deciding that you believe in not having oppression. A common belief to strive towards. We are mature enough to control ourselves.
I still don't think that that is a strong enough commonality. A religion brings with it a whole bunch of traits that many of the members will share, while capitalism only has the one.
It's still a belief. Something worth struggling for. Struggle is a bonding factor.
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