To redeem means to gain (or regain) possession of something in exchange for payment. To the ancient Hebrews, a redeemer (“goel”) was a relative who would purchase back someone who had been sold into debt slavery (a “bondservant”), or repurchase and return property that had been sold due to poverty. Jesus Christ is the great … Read more
In the book of Leviticus, the Lord commanded from Sinai that when the children of Israel came to the promised land they should keep every seventh year as a Sabbatical year (Shmita) for the land. They were not to sow the fields or harvest (except that anyone could pick the fruit for personal use). Shmita … Read more
A virus is a small collection of genetic code, either DNA or RNA, surrounded by a protein coat. A virus cannot replicate alone. Viruses must infect cells and use components of the host cell to make copies of themselves. Often, they kill the host cell in the process, and cause damage to the host organism. … Read more
One of the worst forms of human bondage is financial debt. Indeed, throughout most of history, debt could literally land one in prison. During the 1700’s and 1800’s in England, ten thousand people were imprisoned for debt each year. However, the prison term did not count as paying the debt. Instead, an inmate was typically … Read more
Let me tell you what I think you already know, but you have to say it out loud. Inequality is by design.From those who colonized us 400 years ago, systems were built around people in power, by people in power, to keep their power. And 400 years ago, who were those people in power? White, … Read more
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1 Timothy … Read more
We never hear the word “usury” anymore. The early Christian Fathers taught that usury was a sin for which one could be damned to Hell. It was considered to be equivalent to robbery. Usury, of course, is the lending of money for interest. The charging of interest is basic to modern capitalism. Capitalists refer to … Read more
Since at least the 1890’s, the phrase “Lies, damned lies, and statistics” has been used to diminish the persuasive value of numbers in an argument. A person who uses that phrase is trying to weaken the persuasive case of an opponent by implying that “statistics” can be found to support any point of view. On … Read more