Christ Chased The Money Changers Out Of The Temple. He Didn't Set Up A Stall To Compete With Them...

[sandyRoe]

...and drive them out of business. Is this proposal by the Archbishop of Canterbury a Christian thing to do?

http://news.uk.msn.com/uk/church-bid-to-compete-away-wonga

[jake-the-peg]

posted in News already

But this plan is very much in line with that

Chasing Wonga out of the country doesn't help solve the problem - giving them an alternative does

[naomi24]

When did any church follow Christ?

[Octavius]

'Do not make my fathers house a place of trade'

Unless the bank tellers (loan arrangers, whatever) are dealing at the altar, I think its legit. This is really about providing investment to ethical money lenders, not becoming a 'dealer' as such.

[Old_Geezer]

A worthy aim but I suspect the real issue is the willingness to loan to folk who ought not be borrowing, as they are high risk. Isn't it ? It'll be interesting to see how it all pans out. If a lower cost borrowing option is available then does the situation improve, or does the church find defaulters are a continuous drain on its resources. Or do they end up fleecing the ones they intended to help ?

[Baldric]

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/News/Question1262032.html

[Baldric]

How many more?

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Society-and-Culture/Religion-and-Spirituality/Question1262034.html

[sandyRoe]

I had thought the model for credit unions required members to save a small amount regularly, probably to demonstrate that they could afford repayments on any loan they took out, before they were allowed to borrow. That doesn't seem to be the Wonga way.
I hope it is a success but doubt it will be.

[chakka35]

Assuming that it is true, Jesus's action is incomprehensible. Only Temple money could be used to buy sacrifices for the priests to offer up for supplicants, so the money changers were an essential part of the Temple system. Whatever currency visitors brought had to be changed into Temple currency otherwise the whole system would fail.
I don't believe any of it anyway, but I wonder how believers explain it.

[beso]

The prohibition of money lending is just another stupidity of religion. The Moslems have it too.

How far do you think business would go without access to credit?

Most of the great ideas in history would not have happened without access to borrowed capital.

Religions is wrong about this like it is wrong about virtually everything it comments on.

[douglas9401]

When did any church follow Christ?

Christchurch, NZ

[boxtops]

The Islamic faith doesn't prohibit borrowing money IMO, it prohibits the lenders being able to charge interest on the loan.

[naomi24]

^^ But that doesn't mean loans are 'interest free' exactly. The lender still gets interest, but in a roundabout way.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2006/jun/13/accounts.islamicfinance

Sneaky really.

[sandyRoe]

The world, whether Islamic or Christian, turns and changes, Usury was once considered a sin in both faiths. Now accommodations are made. Mores the pity.