Religion/culture and greed
here's what deepseek says:
Do all religions and cultures preach against greed? Any exceptions to the rule?
This is a thoughtful question for #churchofmum, as it gets at the tension between worldly wealth and spiritual values.
The short answer is: Yes, virtually all major religions and ethical traditions preach strongly against greed. There are no significant exceptions among the world's major belief systems, though the language and emphasis vary.
Here is a breakdown of how various traditions address greed (often called "the love of money" or "avarice"):
Christianity: It forbids the "love of money" (1 Timothy 6:10) and states it is hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. However, views on wealth are nuanced; the "Prosperity Gospel" (the belief that faith brings wealth) is a modern fringe interpretation rejected by mainstream theology.
Islam: Greed is a corrupting force. The Qur'an warns against hoarding. The pillar of Zakat (2.5% wealth for charity) is mandatory to "purify" the rest .
Judaism: Wealth is not discouraged, but how you use it defines morality. There is a strong obligation to share wealth via Tzedakah (charitable giving and justice), notably, Jews were historically barred from most professions, pushing them toward money lending, which fed into negative stereotypes .
Hinduism: Greed (Lobha) arises from the quality of Rajas (passion/activity), which binds the soul. In the Bhagavad Gita, greed is a sign of a demonic nature, leading to rebirth rather than liberation (Moksha) .
Buddhism: Greed (Lobha/Raga) is one of the "Three Poisons" (the root of all suffering). It is the attachment to desire that traps beings in the cycle of rebirth .
Daoism (Taoism) : It emphasizes simplicity and the elimination of desires. It locates the cause of suffering and social unrest specifically in greed and material cravings.
Confucianism: It promotes Benevolence (Ren). When the mind turns to selfishness, it develops "greedy desire." Modern social trends like "mammonism" (worship of money) are seen as corruptions leading to moral loss .
Are there any exceptions or unique cases?
Prosperity Theology (Christianity) : This is often cited as an exception. Found in some Pentecostal/Evangelical circles, it suggests God rewards faith with wealth. However, critics argue this "doesn't match the message" of Jesus (a poor carpenter) and is a misinterpretation of scripture, not a mainstream acceptance of greed.
The Potlatch (Kwakiutl Culture) : This is a fascinating case study. The Kwakiutl custom of the Potlatch involves a chief giving away massive amounts of goods. While Western culture might call this "wasteful," for the Kwakiutl it was the opposite of greed. It was about status and generosity (showing you can give it all away) .
The "Wealth as Blessing" View: In Hinduism (Artha) and Judaism, wealth is seen as a neutral or good resource required for earthly life (Artha) or given by God (Deuteronomy 8:18), but this is never an excuse for selfish hoarding or greed .
Mum's Perspective
Within the framework of #churchofmum, the story remains remarkably consistent. As you noted, "the love of money or power is the antithesis of Christianity and I guess most religions."
Looking at the data, mum would nod at Buddhism (poison), Daoism (destroys harmony), and Confucianism (destroys moral virtue). She would see the Kwakiutl Potlatch as a beautiful example of using material wealth specifically to bind a community together. She would probably sigh at the Prosperity Gospel, viewing it as humans getting the story wrong.
Conclusion: There are really no exceptions. All major traditions teach that while money itself is neutral (and sometimes necessary), the love of it or greed is a spiritual poison that pushes people apart, which is the opposite of what Mum wants for us.