Re: MD Duty to Oneself Only? Or Others?

From: Erin (macavity11@yahoo.com)
Date: Wed Sep 28 2005 - 22:26:19 BST

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    Arlo Bensinger <ajb102@psu.edu> wrote:
    Hi Erin,

    [You wrote]
    I know you have said this but just the idea of saying that a wealthy
    Christian is a hypocrite TO ME is judging the person based on wealth.

    [Arlo]
    Let me try to tease something apart here. When I say a "wealthy
    christian is a hypocrit", and you say I am judging them by their wealth,
    you are part right, but part wrong.

    ERIN: I partly agree and partly disagree ;-)

    ARLO: I am judging them based on their
    wealth *and* the moral code they proclaim to have. For all intents and
    purposes, I think a "wealthy buddhist" would be a hypocrit as well. My
    reading, or to the best of my understanding, of these spiritual
    traditions, is that they both advance an ascentic, non-material
    existence. They both focus on improving "the self" by virtue of "doing
    Good", whether the 10 fold path or the 10 commandments. They both focus
    on the importance of helping the less fortunate.

    ERIN: Yeah to help the less fortunate, to have compassion, empathy...etc. etc. I missed the commandment that says "Thou shalt be poor". So if you talk about how disdain for the poor is being hypocritical i can agree if talk about a person driving a nice car being hypocritical i disagree.

    ARLO: It no real revelation to say that Christianity in the West has been
    hijacked by powers (social and economic) that are more concerned with
    mere lipservice to this message, while justifiying and legitimatizing a
    dialogue that stresses "economic value" or "the pursuit of wealth" as
    the highest good.

    ERIN: As for the rest I mostly agree with so won't bother but it just goes into being greed but greed/materialism isn't limited to the rich you know? I think having money gives you many opportunities to help the poor. I admire the ascetic life in many ways I just don't think it is the only way to do good.

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