Observers

A sort-of parody song written in 2003. To the tune of "Landslide" by Stevie Nicks:

Observers
Here in the cockpit lookin' round
Looked out the window, then looked down
I saw some guy guess I'll call him S
My observer on the ground

Observer in the sky is what I've become
Called myself S' ...just because
See I heard about this Einstein guy
He claims strange things happen when you fly

So then I started planning
'Cause I wanted to see the effects
You know I've been thinkin'
This plane could be shrinkin'
But I ain't seen nothin' yet

Oh, waved to that guy S on the ground
He's not my twin just a guy I found
And I only wanted to ask him the time
But his watch might need to be wound

Yeah, I only wanted to get the time
But his watch seems to have slowed down

There used to be a physics limericks competition, and I think I was motivated by "Relatively Good Advice." Some of my other favorites were:

Condensed Story of Ms Farad
A Brief History of Gravity
Cole's Lost Soul
Quark-Dork Symmetry Group

Biblical Economics - Part 2

At this point, it would really be more accurate to switch the title of the blog to Old Testament Economics. However, since I started the first part with the title “Biblical Economics,” and sine the Old Testament is part of the Bible, I'll still keep the old title. But, now you know what to expect from this second part. The points that I am about to describe/consider may actually reach farther than just economics, so perhaps the second part of the title is now suspect too? Also, I'm not really going to describe a complete economy/society, I just want to point out some of the differences that I have noticed between the society/economy that we have in present-day America, and what was prescribed in the Bible. I am also not going to attempt to make any arguments for how such an economy could be enacted in present-day America (either partially or fully), though I do feel that there is room for such arguments to be made (but that goes beyond the scope of this blog). Anyway, here are some things that I have noticed:

Permanent Property Rights

Lev. 25:13-16

In this Year of Jubilee everyone is to return to their own property. If you sell land to any of your own people or buy land from them, do not take advantage of each other. You are to buy from your own people on the basis of the number of years since the Jubilee. And they are to sell to you on the basis of the number of years left for harvesting crops. When the years are many, you are to increase the price, and when the years are few, you are to decrease the price, because what is really being sold to you is the number of crops.

Perhaps this helps explain the tenth commandment “Do not covet your neighbor's house or his wife.” Why? Because each is considered equally permanent. Can you imagine America with no homeless citizens? For further consideration, I would also like to add:

I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around [the banks] will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs. - Attributed to Thomas Jefferson

...Ron Paul for President! Down with the Fed! Well... probably not Ron Paul anymore at this point, he was 72 the last time he ran, and he can't keep running every four years (Oh, snap!). Anyway, I'll get off my soapbox now.

Anti-Usury Laws

Lev. 25:35-37

If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and are unable to support themselves among you, help them as you would a foreigner and stranger, so they can continue to live among you. Do not take interest or any profit from them, but fear your God, so that they may continue to live among you. You must not lend them money at interest or sell them food at a profit.

Deut. 23:19

Do not charge a fellow Israelite interest, whether on money or food or anything else that may earn interest.

What would our economy look like if U.S. Citizens could not charge each other interest? One need only consider how integral a part of our economy interest rates are to see how far off base we are with this one.

Gleaning Laws

Lev. 19:9-10

When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the LORD your God.

Deut. 23:24-25

If you enter your neighbor’s vineyard, you may eat all the grapes you want, but do not put any in your basket. If you enter your neighbor’s grainfield, you may pick kernels with your hands, but you must not put a sickle to their standing grain.

Deut. 24:19-22

When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches a second time. Leave what remains for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow. When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt. That is why I command you to do this.

If someone in modern day America attempted to glean, what would we call them? A thief and trespasser. In Colorado, they could probably even be shot without question (Make My Day Law). Now, I do see some good reasons for the laws that we have now, but I just wanted to point out how they differ from the Bible in this case.

I don't know the exact “addresses” of the passages, but specific examples of gleaning would be Ruth, and Jesus and his Disciples (which also brings in New Testament support). Another point worth noting is that even aliens and foreigners are allowed this privilege (they are actually allowed many privileges).

Respect for Rest

Lev. 23:3

There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a sabbath to the LORD.

What would the American economy be like if not allowed to operate 24/7? Perhaps the standstill wouldn't be as bad as it would first appear. Only a few decades ago most places had “Blue Laws” which did not allow most businesses to operate on Sundays. Some are even on the books to this day (In Colorado, cars still cannot be sold on Sundays).

Tithes

Deut. 14:22-28

Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the LORD your God always. But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the LORD your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the LORD will choose to put his Name is so far away), then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the LORD your God will choose. Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice. And do not neglect the Levites living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own.

At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year’s produce and store it in your towns, so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.

I tend to think of tithes as taxes. Our taxes now are obviously much more than 10%. But even if you take tithes in the common/traditional sense as something given to the church, this doesn't quite match contemporary American thinking – using your tithes to buy wine and “strong drink” (another translation, which one I don't remember)? Who would've thought! Notice again that the aliens and foreigners are provided for.

Bankruptcy Law

Deut. 15:1-4
At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts. This is how it is to be done: Every creditor shall cancel any loan they have made to a fellow Israelite. They shall not require payment from anyone among their own people, because the LORD’s time for canceling debts has been proclaimed. You may require payment from a foreigner, but you must cancel any debt your fellow Israelite owes you. However, there need be no poor people among you, for in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you,

You can't beat this as far as bankruptcy laws go! However, you might think that this law would lend itself to easy abuse by the borrowers. But, I think it is up to the lender's discretion to decide whether or not the borrower actually NEEDS a loan. You think your neighbor is likely to give you a loan for a big-screen TV under these conditions? I say, think again!

Freedom and Liberty for All?

Deut. 23:15-16
If a slave has taken refuge with you, do not hand them over to their master. Let them live among you wherever they like and in whatever town they choose. Do not oppress them.

Respect for Military Families

Deut. 24:5
If a man has recently married, he must not be sent to war or have any other duty laid on him. For one year he is to be free to stay at home and bring happiness to the wife he has married.

I have heard so many sad stories of military couples who have only a few days to marry before the soldier is deployed again, often for over a year! Although ultimately, everyone is responsible for their own actions, I can't help but think that a law like this would prevent at least a few instances of unfaithfulness and divorce.

So, these are just a few things that have stood out to me. I must also say that there are many things in the Old Testament laws that I find confusing, distasteful, and even contradictory – but I find things about our current system to be confusing, distasteful, and contradictory! Is it any wonder that I would feel some of the same negative emotions towards the laws of another place and time?

Biblical Economics - Part 1

I used to participate in HSA, an online community of homeschool alumni. I actually tried to start a place like that on my own once, but I wasn't very motivated to do all the managing and recruiting necessary to keep it going. So, I was very happy to find HSA! The majority of people there were, like myself, homeschooled in a very strongly Christian environment. Once (Jul 28, 2008) I created a message board topic focused around the question “Are savings accounts, IRAs, investments, etc godly?” where I was suggesting that perhaps they are not. I cited scriptures from both the Old and New Testament, and I felt they were in context because I never quoted a singe verse by itself, and in one passage I quoted 10 consecutive verses. I thought I was making a good case for a casual, Christian-oriented message board. I expected at least a few dissenters, and a lot more Bible verses. What I got was 5 separate replies. 1 person vaguely agreed with me. Of the other 4 who disagreed, only 1 cited more scripture. The others just gave opinions and their own interpretations of the verses I had already mentioned. I was a bit disappointed with this. HSA is one of those places where I can often be annoyed by the expectation that you should have a Bible verse for every single opinion. It is a stronghold of Christian fundamentalism, Religious Right, etc – and although I am somewhat like that myself, even I think that they go overboard at times. But in this one case, where I was specifically discussing Biblical support for something, I only got haphazard responses. Why is that?

Now, I would like to point out that I was slightly arguing Devil's advocate. That is to say, I do think that saving is wise (although, less so since I've studied inflation a bit), and there is probably a Biblical case to be made for it. What bothers me is that on a site for Christian (who believe the Bible literally) homeschoolers (who should be studious enough to know), nobody even tried to make that case. I think I would've been happier if my post got no replies and I had simply felt boring or ignored.

Anyway, here are the scriptures that I presented:

1 Corinthians 15 : 18-19, 30-32

Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. […] And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? I die every day I mean that, brothers just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord. If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."
(not directly talking about money, but noting that gains in this life can't be the goal of Christianity)

Exodus 16 :14-20

When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, "It is the bread the LORD has given you to eat. This is what the LORD has commanded: 'Each one is to gather as much as he needs. Take an omer for each person you have in your tent.' " The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. And when they measured it by the omer, he who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little. Each one gathered as much as he needed. Then Moses said to them, "No one is to keep any of it until morning." However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them.

Matthew 6 :19-21, 25-34

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. […] Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 19 :21-24

Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

The two “rebuttal” verses I received were:

Proverbs 13:22 - A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children:

Proverbs 21:20 - There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.

...oh, and one other person did say: “Matthew 25 and Luke 19 speak positively of investing money. Although those accounts are parables, I doubt Jesus would use them as examples if it would be wrong to emulate them.” Without actually quoting any of what was said or discussing it. But now, on my own blog, I do feel like discussing it a bit, so here goes. As to Luke 19:11-29, you have the Parable of the Ten Talents. As I re-read that, I find myself a bit in wonder, that has always been a strange and mystifying parable to me, and reading it again it has just become even more so (because on this re-reading it suddenly seems to be about nothing other than a local political squabble*). Anyway, one servant is chastised for NOT investing, and other servants are rewarded for investing. This is actually one of the verses I would probably quote in support of the idea that making/saving money is Biblical. But my “opponent” didn't quote that verse. If you look at the rest of 19 it is also talking about Zacchaeus, the wealthy tax collector regarded as a “sinner.” He is so happy that Jesus associated with him that he pledges to give half his possessions to the poor and pay back four times what he may have ever cheated others out of. Jesus responds by granting him salvation. At the very end of Chapter 19, Jesus gets mad at the money changers and throws them out of the temple. So, taking the whole chapter in context, there is a bit said in favor of investing, but I'm not even sure if that was the point of the parable, and anyway the rest of the chapter may cancel out whatever was said in favor of wealth. Matthew Chapter 25 just retells the same parable, with slightly different details. I think I had been more used to hearing the Matthew version. The rest of the Matthew chapter is two other parables that seem to be dividing people into those who are for and against the bridegroom/Son of Man, and neither of which seem to say anything about money.

As I said, I actually think saving is wise, but so what if I think that? “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. ” - Proverbs 14:12. Well, at least I think there are verses/passages to balance the other viewpoint. For instance, what about Joseph being put into Pharaoh's court just so that he could store up harvests from the good years so that there would be enough for the bad years? Or Luke 14:28-30 “"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.” So, those are just a few examples of how the Bible might promote saving. However, I think the Bible has a much more complex and detailed view of economics, which is what I'm saving for Part 2.

* I just noticed that before much of the parable (Luke's version) takes place, it says that the master is going away in order to have himself appointed as king. His servants didn't want him to be king (presumably because he is a harsh master), and they sent some representatives to stop him from being named king. Apparently the representatives failed, because the master did become king afterall. When the master (now king) comes back, and demands an account of what has been done with his money, he really just seems to be mad about the fact that his servants didn't want him to be king, and just proves their point about being harsh, and kills the ones who don't like him. ???? *boggles* Even of the ones who were faithful servants, it never says they liked their master, so one can only wonder if they were happy being loaded down with new responsibilities? And then the whole thing ends with the famous (infamous?) “to those who have, more shall be given, and to those who have not, even what they have shall be taken away!” ...is the master/king in this parable even supposed to represent God? I hope not :-.. ...perhaps the next section holds the key. It is the Triumphal Entry “Palm Sunday.” Jesus enters Jerusalem and is hailed as king by the people – but the Pharisees grumble.