It may puzzle some people when they learn that a vast majority of Republicans don't believe in the government helping people in need to eat, or much of anything else.
It may also puzzle some people how these self-described christians could hate a true christian message about inequality and the worship of wealth.
Then I discovered the answer.
I never understood how the wealthy elite could think that the impoverishment of the working class could be a good thing until I ran across the story of Plutus the other day.
Plutus, the God of Wealth, was blinded by Zeus so that he would be able to dispense his gifts without prejudice for things like need. When a couple citizens of Athens decide to give Plutus back his sight, the Goddess of Poverty (Penia) intervenes. She tells them that she is the source of all progress in the world, and that if poverty was eliminated it would destroy civilization.
Plutus
The Goddess of Poverty explained that without poverty there would be no slaves (because every slave would buy his freedom), and you can't have that.
And no one would have fine goods because no one would work if everyone was rich.
That's when I realized the answer:
Republicans aren't christians. Republicans worship ancient Greek Gods.
They are worshiping the Goddess of Poverty.
"Thus you dare to maintain that Poverty is not the fount of all blessings!"
- Goddess of Poverty, 388 B.C.
Once I realized this, it all made much more sense.
I once believed that Republicans wanted to take us all back to the 19th Century. But now I realize that they want to take us all back to the 6th Century B.C.
They want their slaves back.
Interesting side note, the word Plutus is a root word for plutocracy - rule by the wealthy.
2:39 PM PT: Remembering Jello has mentioned that Prosperity Theology fits into this worship of the Goddess of Poverty as well.
Never heard of it? Allow me to summarize: "Christians are entitled to well-being and, because physical and spiritual realities are seen as one inseparable reality, this is interpreted as physical health and economic prosperity."
"Wealth is interpreted in prosperity theology as a blessing from God, obtained through a spiritual law of positive confession, visualization, and donations."
So if you are poor and sickly then you are not worthy of God's love. You are not spiritual and righteous enough.
You know, just like Jesus said. "Fuck the poor and sickly", Jesus said unto thee.
What I especially like about this church is how they use the Parable of the Talents to justify their beliefs.
Matthew 25:24–26:
But his lord answered him, "You wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I reap where I didn't sow, and gather where I didn't scatter. You ought therefore to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my own with interest."
You see, just like Jamie Dimon said - bankers are doing Gawd's work.