It is a most diabolical practice when abused. However to outright call it evil in and of itself appears to contradict Scripture.
The Jews were prohibited by the law of Moses to take interest from their brethren but were allowed to take it from foreigners. The prohibition grew out of the agricultural status of the people, in which ordinary business loans were not needed and loans, as were required, should be made only as to friends and brothers in need. Usury is also defined as the practice of mortgaging land, sometimes at exorbitant interest, which grew up among the Jews during the captivity, in direct violation of the law. (Leviticus 25:36-37; Ezekiel 18:8-17)
I would ask how anyone in banking could sustain themselves without interest? The problem arises when that interest becomes predatory and unjust, as we know.
One would indeed have to condemn banks entirely. Weren't the first bankers the Catholic church's Knights Templar? I know I've heard that somewhere before.
It is an interesting topic. I'm not sure where I stand on it exactly. The "spirit of the law" of Moses seems to be saying that loans should be avoided entirely...
^^^^^Spot ON! "Banking" itself means "directing the flow of capital" as in how a riverbank directs the flow of water. There is really no need for "bankers" in a world where individuals control their own labor capital, and can freely associate to pool resources as needed. Borrowing of money is just not a thing in that world because purchasing power is continuously increasing and prices are continuously dropping. "Borrowing money" is literally leapfrogging everyone else that have actually done the work to build their business over time through artificial means of temporarily stealing from others. Each person is their own "banker" in a decentralized sovereign world.
It is a most diabolical practice when abused. However to outright call it evil in and of itself appears to contradict Scripture.
https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christian-terms/what-is-usury-what-does-the-bible-say.html
I would ask how anyone in banking could sustain themselves without interest? The problem arises when that interest becomes predatory and unjust, as we know.
One would indeed have to condemn banks entirely. Weren't the first bankers the Catholic church's Knights Templar? I know I've heard that somewhere before.
It is an interesting topic. I'm not sure where I stand on it exactly. The "spirit of the law" of Moses seems to be saying that loans should be avoided entirely...
^^^^^Spot ON! "Banking" itself means "directing the flow of capital" as in how a riverbank directs the flow of water. There is really no need for "bankers" in a world where individuals control their own labor capital, and can freely associate to pool resources as needed. Borrowing of money is just not a thing in that world because purchasing power is continuously increasing and prices are continuously dropping. "Borrowing money" is literally leapfrogging everyone else that have actually done the work to build their business over time through artificial means of temporarily stealing from others. Each person is their own "banker" in a decentralized sovereign world.