(Japan)A mighty typhoon is now passing transversely across Honsyu Island, the main island of Japan, southwest to the northeast.
It has however avoided directly hitting Tokyo, moving north of the Kanto Plain or the Tokyo Area.
Yet, commuters to Tokyo are suffering some traffic troubles; you may find it a little difficult today to contact somebody in Tokyo office.
[Note: Finally, the Typhoon No.18 took a few lives today, leaving Japan and heading for the northwest Pacific Ocean.]
SECTION I: Christianity and Money
In any society, inherent ethics restrict the way people become rich and happy.
In any society of mankind, no one is taught to earn money through whatever means, including robbery, fraud, intimidation, or violence.
The concepts, justice, harmony, and friendship, are common in any society of any tribes in any races.
In ancient societies, being rich and happy was directly linked with concrete activities and labor in fields or humble lodges to obtain concrete elements of happiness and riches, that is, foods, houses, social ranks based on seniority criterion, and physical strength or spiritual merits, which are all very humane. Accordingly, inherent ethics restricted very effectively the way people became rich and happy.
Above inherent ethics of an ancient tribe, there were also gods who restricted the way people became rich and happy.
However, with introduction of money economy, things changed drastically in most of human societies in the world.
When money economy started to prevail in China around 500 B.C., Confucius appeared there.
When money economy started to prevail in India around 500 B.C., the Buddha appeared there.
After money economy started to prevail in Palestine or around Jerusalem through the era of Caesar and Cleopatra, Jesus Christ appeared there as so expected.
Indeed, introduction of money needed stronger restriction on human desire for happiness and riches so as to maintain peace in society.
As the Roman Empire had not such a stronger unique religion, it had to introduce or import such a religion even from Palestine, which was actually Christianity.
So, the balance was somehow maintained in ancient China, ancient India, and the Roman Empire between a new religious movement and a new money economy of their era, respectively
Especially, the role of Christianity was important, since European Civilization turned to be the most powerful civilization in terms of material science and technology.
So, looking at the European Civilization leading the world today, the balance between Christianity and the money economy is the most decisive factor for the future of mankind.
Of course, to suppress the evil of the money economy, we had better mobilize power of Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, and Hinduism if possible at all.
SECTION II: Christ View on Money
If a poor man can be saved by making himself rich, Jesus Christ must have taught his disciples and all the poor people how to earn big money.
But, as being rich means making some others poor or unhappy, Jesus Christ never told people to make big money if they wanted to be saved.
(To be continued...)
Mat 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mat 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.