I’m guessing that by “fair distribution of the earth’s abundance” it means voluntarily giving away one’s means based on what one personally believes to be ‘fair’.

In the context of religion… well, to me in the context of religion, it would mean striving toward a state of fairness through whatever means your conscience calls for. And, yes – that’s personal… So, if your conscience doesn’t permit or require a social compact enforced by law then you would not look at that option. You might look at personal charity. You might look at creating a voluntary community initiative. You might try using prayer. You might try handing out leaflets to people who are benefitting unfairly, explaining to them why you think they should change. For those conscience calls for government coercion overseas, it could include striving for a government that supports nation-building or dictator-toppling through military means. It doesn’t have to be entirely personal charity.

For those of us whose conscience does permit or require a social contract enforced by law (as does mine and likely the author of this piece, if not for complete fairness then at least for something fairer than the current situation), then striving for that would be included as well.

I’m guessing that by “fair distribution of the earth’s abundance” it means voluntarily giving away one’s means based on what one personally believes to be ‘fair’. I consider that ‘charity’, & since that wasn’t included, another flag was raised.

Perhaps I was being overly cynical.

I mean, if you applied Jesus’ words to government, Karl Marx look like Milton Friedman by comparison.

Jesus didn’t force anyone to do anything (other than the money changers to leave the temple). Were our government to even pretend to adopt the principle of free will…..

Egads, you had me even contemplating such a silly notion, if only for a nano second.

I think there are plenty of conservatives of good will who believe that wealth and opportunity should be distributed fairly instead of unjustly (just not with government help), and that the environment should be taken care of (just so long as polluters aren’t regulated by the government, and as long as no one is asked to take climate science seriously). I expect even *you* would agree that fairness and a clean world to live in are things that would make the world a better place, wouldn’t you? And, if you don’t think that the government should play a role in bringing those things about, don’t you at least think the church should play a role? That religious people should see the accomplishment of those things as a mission?

“A fair distribution of the earth’s abundance”? The ticks are literally falling off the bloodhound.

I wish I were that good.

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* Then again, maybe it was from Blazing Saddles and it was “your mouth is prettier than a twenty dollar whore” Eh, I don’t recall which.

Getting the mail and answering the phone always scares me more than staring into the night sky. Staring into the night sky always reminds me that this thing is a lot bigger than I am and that for the most part I am just along for the ride.

And the closer you get to the end of the ride the more you realize what a short ride it is.