X-Loop: openpgp.net
From: "Jim Choate" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> > > Anarchism says YOU'RE the master.
> >
> > We talk about two different things, then.
>
> Not at all. Consider the relationship between authority, identity, and
> individuality between the two.
You'll have to be more explicit than that, if you have a point.
> Or, perhaps 'Render unto Ceaser that which is Ceasers'.
Yeah. Many people ignore exactly WHAT was Caesar's in Israel at the time.
That is, nothing at all. Jesus didn't say "pay taxes", or "don't pay taxes";
as usually, he wanted people to think.
Let's look at the context:
Matthew 22:17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes
to Caesar or not?"
18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, "You hypocrites, why are you
trying to trap me?
19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius,
20 and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?"
21 "Caesar's," they replied. Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is
Caesar's, and to God what is God's."
We are explicitly warned that Jesus knew that they were trying to "trap" him
with either instigation against the Roman authority, or with allegiance to
them. That is, we know that what Jesus will say WILL be somehow hidden, so
that it cannot be directly interpreted one way or another. And indeed, Jesus
says "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's" - which
leaves the unwary reader with the impression that taxes SHOULD be paid to
the Caesar, since they were his by right.
But were they? Well, absolutely nothing in Israel belonged to the Romans -
everything was stolen, including the gold from which the coins were made.
[The "portrait" was a symbol - I doubt that Caesar would have accepted just
pictures of himself, or just the inscription, instead of the gold.]
Furthermore, what exactly is God's? Well, everything - the whole Universe.
So what would the phrase mean, if we pay a little attention?
"Give nothing to Caesar (since nothing is his by right), and everything to
God (since everything rightfully belongs to Him)".
I still fail to see the contradiction between that and anarchism...
Mark
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