The Christian Bible Supports Socialism and/or Communism

That was a great start Chris! No need to apologize for the long quote though. The Bible (and every other book) is completely useless without context. I intend to use whatever space I need to get the job done. :) I would like to begin my own argument by saying that I entered this debate from a neutral position. I have studied these concepts (The Bible, Communism, and Socialism) in the past, and I could easily see that some of the same principles were at work. But the specific question we need to answer is if The Bible supports these later works. I have to say no. I agree that they have similar characteristics. But does the former "Support" the latter? Let us use a simple argument first. At any point within the text of The Bible does it ever explicitly say that it supports either one of these systems? There are 613 commandments in the law given to Moses in The Old Testament of the Christian Bible; The Torah for Jews. You can find them all here: www.aish.com/h/sh/se/48945081.html This is the only detailed system prescribed for human beings, although it was given to the descendents of Abraham. None of them read: Thou shalt practice Communism/Socialism. I know it sounds like a petty argument, but please bear with me. I will use another approach before I finish. In The New Testament, Jesus says that two of those commandments sum up all the other laws and the teachings of the prophets. He says to love God with your whole heart and your whole soul, and to love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:34-40 These are clear guidelines to live by. The passages he provided were also. When it comes to commands The Bible is very clear. So the first problem I found with my opponent's argument is that he only demonstrated how these concepts (The Bible/Socialism/Communism) have similarities. He did not clearly demonstrate that one actually supports the other. Example: Squares Support Rectangles Squares are geometric shapes - So are rectangles Squares are two dimensional - So are rectangles Squares have four sides - Rectangles have four sides Squares have four corners - Rectangles do too This is a simplified version of the logic he used to argue his point. But squares are not rectangles, and squares do not support rectangles. They are similar, and that is a fact, but anything beyond that is conjecture. If I were to argue that squares support rectangles in that manner, I could build a compelling argument. But if we were able to view them both as a whole, side by side, we would instantly see that they are different. If we begin to quantify their measurements, they would become even more distinguishable from one another. At this point I would like to point out that in my opponent's 2nd example he clearly demonstrated that religion and government are distinct and separate. He also clearly said that they were both advocating separation. This is the opposite of support. Next, I would argue that The Bible claims the wisdom of man is foolish: Corinthians 3:18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their own craftiness" 20 and again, "The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile." Also, Corinthians 2:6-13 reads: 6 However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him." 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.13 These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. I believe this shows that "The wisdom of this world..." is not supported by The Bible. I believe that it also reinforces my opponent's statement that religion and government are separate, not supporting concepts. Therefore, the Christian Bible does NOT support Socialism and/or Communism.