I am convinced that as a species we have begun regressing back towards Cro Magnon people. Though we may be credited with some technological and medical breakthroughs, it seems we have forgotten what is truly important and have been behaving as if we have 7 alternative planets to move to, once we foul this one beyond repair. We most certainly have limits and we display that on a daily basis. 

 

 

40 minutes ago, Alan Zweibel said:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_communism

Thinking for yourself I see as usual. What's your point?

3 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

Thinking for yourself I see as usual. What's your point?

You asked a question. You got an answer. And a very thorough one.   One that corresponded to my thinking on the subject. Why should I spend my time writing up something custom made for you when a perfectly good answer already exists?

1 hour ago, Alan Zweibel said:

I doubt you've been mocked for having posted only 89 times. But if your posts here  are a representative sample of the kind of the empty and bizarre generalizations you offer elsewhere,  I can see why those posts might have received a less than enthusiastic reception. 

 

Here's some socialist literature for you to ponder:

Acts 2:44-45 (NIV): "All the believers were together and shared everything they had. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need".

Acts 4:32 (NIV): "All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had".

It comes from a document popularly known as The New Testament.

Thanks for your reply. 

 

I should have been more careful about leaving the 89 in my post. It was a post by N*** C***** icp for much less than 89 posts. Sorry about the inaccuracy.

 

It's my opinion that you're either making up your own definition of socialism or don't understand what socialism really is.

Nothing in the Acts 2 passages indicates compulsion. No law. No enforcement. No punishment for noncompliance. No governing authority seizing property

 

By contrast, state socialism is enforced by law. Uses taxation or confiscation. Is backed by police power and punishment.

 

Voluntary generosity is morally meaningful precisely because it is voluntary. Christians shared in love of God and brothers and sisters in Christ. Forced redistribution eliminates the virtue. Are you getting a grip on what it's like to be a Christian? 

 

The strongest argument against your assertion of  “apostolic socialism” is Acts 5:3–4, which interprets Acts 2 and 4 directly.

 

“While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal?”

 

The apostle Peter explicitly states that property ownership remained private. Period. Selling was optional. Period. Distribution was discretionary. Period. The motive for all this waschanged hearts by the grace from the Light of the world.

 

I'm expecting you to serve me the next misstep about Ananias and Sapphira. They were punished not for keeping property, but for lying to the Holy Spirit.

 

Can you see this single passage decisively rules out socialism, which in its core definition denies private ownership of productive property?

 

The Church is not the State!!!

 

Your citation of Acts actually describes a religious community
bound by shared faith with shared moral commitments. Everything entered voluntarily in love.

Socialism is intrinsically a political - economic system applied to entire populations (their goal) regardless of belief or consent.

 

Please hear me. A voluntary community pooling resources is not socialism. A state mandating economic behavior for millions of people is.

 

Even monasteries today live communally. Do you argue that makes their host country socialist?

 

And now, the rest of the story. 

 

If you've been exposed to the history of Jerusalem during the time of Acts, you'll remember Christians were being persecuted, the economy was bad. Life was tough. Happily, this wasn't a long term problem.

 

I'll let you do some homework now. You will be able to locate in the Bible that Christians owned homes. Hint Romans. That Christians work for wages. Hint Thessalonians. That Christians are told to give freely, not under compulsion. Hint 2 Corinthians.

 

Actually this is Christianity 101. Common knowledge.

Early Church (Acts) was about love of neighbor, care for the poor and unity in Christ.The effect of spiritual transformation.

 

The early Christians weren’t trying to restructure society - they were living out regenerated hearts.

 

Your socialism is all about 
redistribution, class leveling, material production and economic equality.

 

Acts vs socialism.

 

In Acts: shared life.

In socialism: shared ownership, no?
Acts: personal charity

Socialism: economic policy, no?
Acts: moral example

Socialism: political blueprint, no?

 

Acts shows what happens when people are changed by God - not what happens when people are compelled by socialism.

 

By the way, if in an earlier post by you, you were trying to imply my post wording comes from AI, hot-take is a commonly used term describing shallow provocative posting. Outrage tourist is a very good way to describe someone who tours the internet looking for any topic to be outraged about. Here's a link where I first heard it.

 

https://thomasedmundblog.wordpress.com/2024/10/03/slightly-off-topic-outrage-tourism/

 

You now have corrections to your argument. Keep them close to you so that some day you may do the same for others.

 

Merry Christmas!

5 hours ago, connda said:

Here an example of the "Success of Predatory Capitalism."

This photo shows LA skid-row, which is the result of the failed predatory socialist leftist ideology that is in control of California and LA. Speaking of which, the oppressive socialist policies of California, (the fifth largest economy that is being pillaged by the left) that creates further disparities is the epitome of the lefts model failure, look no further than what they’ve done to the energy sector there that has pushed energy costs higher than any other state in the union and out of reach of many of the economically disadvantaged to the point of living in the streets or leaving the state. And policies that tax the hell out of business and pushing them to abandon the California dysfunctional system and in turn leaving a trickle down effect of thousands upon thousands of folks losing their jobs and going homeless or moving out of state, and in turn the thievery of the state government further raises taxes further oppressing the middle class and inspiring more laziness and beggars. Leftism/socialism/communism by its nature is a kleptocracy that historically has sold itself as bringing equality and fairness of a utopian system, though that’s nothing more than a Trojan horse that suckers in the stupid and weak, historically factual. Capitalism is what has brought advancement to civilization and most of the world out of poverty, the left steals and brings plunder. The US is the epitome of capitalism and freedom, what would the world be like now if that were to be out of the equation, what foundation would civilization be sitting on at this time if the leadership of US capitalism never existed, would suspect most of you would feel like oppressed impoverished slaves with no hope of breaking free.

17 minutes ago, mymonkeyhusb said:

Thanks for your reply. 

 

I should have been more careful about leaving the 89 in my post. It was a post by N*** C***** icp for much less than 89 posts. Sorry about the inaccuracy.

 

It's my opinion that you're either making up your own definition of socialism or don't understand what socialism really is.

Nothing in the Acts 2 passages indicates compulsion. No law. No enforcement. No punishment for noncompliance. No governing authority seizing property

 

By contrast, state socialism is enforced by law. Uses taxation or confiscation. Is backed by police power and punishment.

 

Voluntary generosity is morally meaningful precisely because it is voluntary. Christians shared in love of God and brothers and sisters in Christ. Forced redistribution eliminates the virtue. Are you getting a grip on what it's like to be a Christian? 

 

The strongest argument against your assertion of  “apostolic socialism” is Acts 5:3–4, which interprets Acts 2 and 4 directly.

 

“While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal?”

 

The apostle Peter explicitly states that property ownership remained private. Period. Selling was optional. Period. Distribution was discretionary. Period. The motive for all this waschanged hearts by the grace from the Light of the world.

 

I'm expecting you to serve me the next misstep about Ananias and Sapphira. They were punished not for keeping property, but for lying to the Holy Spirit.

 

Can you see this single passage decisively rules out socialism, which in its core definition denies private ownership of productive property?

 

The Church is not the State!!!

 

Your citation of Acts actually describes a religious community
bound by shared faith with shared moral commitments. Everything entered voluntarily in love.

Socialism is intrinsically a political - economic system applied to entire populations (their goal) regardless of belief or consent.

 

Please hear me. A voluntary community pooling resources is not socialism. A state mandating economic behavior for millions of people is.

 

Even monasteries today live communally. Do you argue that makes their host country socialist?

 

And now, the rest of the story. 

 

If you've been exposed to the history of Jerusalem during the time of Acts, you'll remember Christians were being persecuted, the economy was bad. Life was tough. Happily, this wasn't a long term problem.

 

I'll let you do some homework now. You will be able to locate in the Bible that Christians owned homes. Hint Romans. That Christians work for wages. Hint Thessalonians. That Christians are told to give freely, not under compulsion. Hint 2 Corinthians.

 

Actually this is Christianity 101. Common knowledge.

Early Church (Acts) was about love of neighbor, care for the poor and unity in Christ.The effect of spiritual transformation.

 

The early Christians weren’t trying to restructure society - they were living out regenerated hearts.

 

Your socialism is all about 
redistribution, class leveling, material production and economic equality.

 

Acts vs socialism.

 

In Acts: shared life.

In socialism: shared ownership, no?
Acts: personal charity

Socialism: economic policy, no?
Acts: moral example

Socialism: political blueprint, no?

 

Acts shows what happens when people are changed by God - not what happens when people are compelled by socialism.

 

By the way, if in an earlier post by you, you were trying to imply my post wording comes from AI, hot-take is a commonly used term describing shallow provocative posting. Outrage tourist is a very good way to describe someone who tours the internet looking for any topic to be outraged about. Here's a link where I first heard it.

 

https://thomasedmundblog.wordpress.com/2024/10/03/slightly-off-topic-outrage-tourism/

 

You now have corrections to your argument. Keep them close to you so that some day you may do the same for others.

 

Merry Christmas!

There are all kinds of socialism as you implictly acknowledge in this statement: "By contrast, state socialism is enforced by law."

So while there may be no compulsion in the religious variety of socialism, it is clear that it is a mark of grace from the creator." At least according to that dubious document called the New Testament.

And of course we have several statements from Jesus unambiguously condemning the accumulation of wealth. So, who do you trust more, Jesus or Peter?

1 hour ago, Alan Zweibel said:

You asked a question. You got an answer. And a very thorough one.   One that corresponded to my thinking on the subject. Why should I spend my time writing up something custom made for you when a perfectly good answer already exists?

Translation: I have no idea what I'm talking about so I'll just deflect and flame

1 minute ago, Yagoda said:

Translation: I have no idea what I'm talking about so I'll just deflect and flame

Your translations are always wrong................

Just now, transam said:

Your translations are always wrong................

Well considering your moronic level of English  your criticism has no merit

4 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

Translation: I have no idea what I'm talking about so I'll just deflect and flame

Once again, you betray your frail mastery of English. Was the language in the Wikipedia article just too grown up for you?

here's one for the UFO fans...... I see some don't even believe in evolution.

 

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1AaQg3XC2w/

1 minute ago, Yagoda said:

Well considering your moronic level of English  your criticism has no merit

See what I mean................🤣

20 hours ago, mymonkeyhusb said:

It seems that all attempts to teach people about the real failures of socialism (e.g. concentration of power and not equality, economic destruction, loss of personal initiative, suppression of dissent, dependency, human nature abhors forced coercion), the basic laws of economics, and the immorality and destructiveness of confiscating property and denying citizens their constitutional freedoms

Seems to be working for Dementia Don

47 minutes ago, Alan Zweibel said:

Once again, you betray your frail mastery of English. Was the language in the Wikipedia article just too grown up for you?

No, and we still don't know your point. Apparently, neither do you

Trolling post removed @cdemundo discuss the topic, not other posters.

 

Rule 10. You will not post troll messages. Trolling is the act of purposefully antagonising forum members by posting controversial, inflammatory, irrelevant or off-topic messages with the primary intent of provoking other members into an emotional response or to generally disrupt normal on-topic discussion.

1 hour ago, Alan Zweibel said:

There are all kinds of socialism as you implictly acknowledge in this statement: "By contrast, state socialism is enforced by law."

So while there may be no compulsion in the religious variety of socialism, it is clear that it is a mark of grace from the creator." At least according to that dubious document called the New Testament.

And of course we have several statements from Jesus unambiguously condemning the accumulation of wealth. So, who do you trust more, Jesus or Peter?

Thanks for your reply.

 

I'm glad to talk with you. Jesus always taught with regard to the heart's motive. 

 

Jesus condemned replacing love of  God with love of money. You cannot serve both God and Mammon. Matthew 6:24

 

Jesus condemned storing up money in place of trusting God for supplying your needs. Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… Matthew 6:19

 

Jesus condemned resting in confidence of large sums of money which leads to forgetting others who are poor and needy. Woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. Luke 6:24

 

Jesus did not condemn owning property or having wealth. His ministry was supported by rich people. 

 

After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means. Luke 8:1-3

 

In Jesus' parables, He assumed private property and money.  

 

Parable of the Talents Matthew 25:14–30 and parable of the Minas Luke 19:11–27

 

What about the rich young ruler where Jesus told him to sell all he had and follow Him? It was personal to show the man where his true love is.

 

Jesus taught open hands and generosity. I tell you it works and gives me a never before perspective on life 

 

Should I trust Jesus or Peter? Both.

 

Command those who are rich… to be generous and willing to share. 1 Timothy 6:17–19

 

Wealth can be dangerous but it in itself is not sinful. It's how your heart is guided in the use of it.

23 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

No, and we still don't know your point. Apparently, neither do you

Stop projecting.

6 hours ago, mymonkeyhusb said:

Thanks for your reply.

 

I'm glad to talk with you. Jesus always taught with regard to the heart's motive. 

 

Jesus condemned replacing love of  God with love of money. You cannot serve both God and Mammon. Matthew 6:24

 

Jesus condemned storing up money in place of trusting God for supplying your needs. Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… Matthew 6:19

 

Jesus condemned resting in confidence of large sums of money which leads to forgetting others who are poor and needy. Woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. Luke 6:24

 

Jesus did not condemn owning property or having wealth. His ministry was supported by rich people. 

 

After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means. Luke 8:1-3

 

In Jesus' parables, He assumed private property and money.  

 

Parable of the Talents Matthew 25:14–30 and parable of the Minas Luke 19:11–27

 

What about the rich young ruler where Jesus told him to sell all he had and follow Him? It was personal to show the man where his true love is.

 

Jesus taught open hands and generosity. I tell you it works and gives me a never before perspective on life 

 

Should I trust Jesus or Peter? Both.

 

Command those who are rich… to be generous and willing to share. 1 Timothy 6:17–19

 

Wealth can be dangerous but it in itself is not sinful. It's how your heart is guided in the use of it.

Wow I can't wait to see the hate you're going to get from that one. 

A heated discussion here, touchihg plenty of religious aspects here.

 

BUT NOW HEAR THIS (spoken by a tru atheist):

 

- If Jesus would return to earth tomorrow, he would be a Socialist. Running for World President with Bernie Sanders his campaign manager. He would not join the Trump billionaires club.

 

Let this melt on your tongue: Todays Jesus would be a SOCIALIST !

On 12/22/2025 at 10:28 AM, connda said:

Dude - Predatory Capitalism has been the cause of more death on this planet that well run socialistic systems.  
Look at socialistic Sweden:

• Happiness and Life Satisfaction: Sweden ranks 4th globally in the World Happiness Report 2025, with a score of approximately 7.34 out of 10. This places it behind Finland, Denmark, and Iceland, but ahead of most nations, attributable to factors such as social support, healthy life expectancy, and perceived freedom.
• Human Development: Sweden achieves a very high ranking in the Human Development Index (HDI), typically placing 5th to 7th worldwide (0.959 in recent data), excelling in life expectancy, education, and standard of living.
• Gender Equality: Sweden ranks 6th in the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report 2025 (score of 81.7%) and often leads or ranks highest in the European Institute for Gender Equality's Gender Equality Index within the EU, demonstrating near-parity in economic participation, education, health, and political empowerment.
• Income Equality: Sweden maintains one of the lowest Gini coefficients globally, around 27-30% in recent years, indicating minimal income disparity compared to OECD averages.
• Social Progress and Quality of Life: Sweden performs exceptionally in the Social Progress Index (scores around 90, typically in the top 10) and related rankings, leading in categories such as social purpose, quality of life, and environmental sustainability.
• Education and Health: In the PISA 2022 assessments, Swedish 15-year-olds scored above OECD averages in mathematics (482), reading (487), and science (494). Sweden also ranks highly in healthcare quality and access.

Source: Grokapedia

Now before you point to the likes of Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela and other as the "curse of socialism," note that their societies are deliberately being destroyed by US sanctions.  If you sanction Sweden or any so-called "Capitalist Utopia" with society killing sanctions, you can claim that their form of government is the cause of human misery and death.  But what is the cause of the human misery and death are sanctions used to overthrow those government in the interests of a sadistic US foreign policy.  Levy sanctions of Sweden and it can be made into a hell-hole too.  

Nope - there is nothing inherently "bad" in socialism.  If well run, it works - and Sweden is that poster child for the success of Socialism. 

Here an example of the "Success of Predatory Capitalism."

I became curious why you emphasized the word "socialist" to describe Sweden. I'm not talking about all the stats you presented. I just wanted to be sure I have accurate info regarding Sweden's political and economic situation after reading your post. Alan Zweibel correctly noted that there are many categories or, maybe more precisely, nuances of socialism when contrasted with the commonly known state socialism à la Marx and Engels. I asked myself is Sweden socialist in any way and if so what kind?

 

So I Googled "Is Sweden socialist?" and the first hit I got said this (paraphrasing):

 

Sweden has a free market economy with high income tax and low corporate tax of which brings in lots and lots of money to pay for lots and lots of public social services. Swedes call their system the Nordic model. Nearby countries participte in the Nordic model.

 

https://scandinaviafacts.com/is-sweden-socialist/

 

I guess one could call it free market socialism? Somehow seems like an oxymoron but anyway... we use the pejorative term crony capitalism to qualify a tainted form of pure capitalism; a conceptual difference.

 

I think most Americans have heard about and understand what state socialism is (e.g. USSR). I also think they don't have the time to self-educate on the nuances of socialism. I can see why Americans (or posters in AN) might say Sweden is “socialist”. It's my opinion most Americans automatically assume Sweden to be their familiar state socialism because of its high taxes, universal healthcare, free or low-cost education and social safety nets. I don't want to make that mistake.

 

If I understood what I learned from all my surfing so far, Swedes would say they’re just nothing more than a social democracy, not a socialist country. They usually say something like, "Sweden is a market economy with a strong welfare state.” 🤔

 

Sweden has lots of billionaires, a stock market, private banks for the super rich, and global corporations. 🧐

 

So I searched for input on the issue from Swedes themselves especially politicians.

 

“What do you think of socialism?”

“I’m a Social Democrat.”

“Not a socialist?”

“No, if you call yourself a socialist, they confuse you with a lot of

crazies.”

Göran Persson, who was Sweden’s Prime Minister from 1996-2006, and a member of the Social Democrat party

 

https://conversableeconomist.com/2023/10/03/why-sweden-isnt-an-example-of-socialism/

 

Carl Bildt pushed back against the idea that Sweden exemplifies successful socialism, stressing that it was not a socialist model in the sense used by critics of capitalism.

Carl Bildt, Prime Minister of Sweden 1991–1994 and later Foreign Minister

 

And then I came upon this video.

 

https://reason.com/video/2018/10/23/stossel-sweden-not-a-socialist-success/

 

https://realitiesofsocialism.org/sweden

 

https://www.cato.org/policy-report/january/february-2020/swedens-lessons-america

 

So I can't agree with your assertion that Sweden is a socialist country. It's actually a free market economy that keeps those money making private corporations fat and happy, laying those golden eggs to pay for all the social perks. It has been working but...

 

I hear however that the flood of illegal aliens into Sweden is fixing to upset the apple cart. Everything was fine for a homogenous culture but now... I'll let someone else do the homework about that.