Is Money or the LOVE of Money the Root of All Evil?

[BamaLefty]

I'm much more inclined to say that LOVE of money is the root of all evil and that it forces us into a competitive rat race that kills all of us in the end.

What are your thoughts and why?

[applegrove]

1. Lack of the ability to empathize is the root of all evil.

[seeker4ever]

2. Love of it...

[LSparkle]

3. I was going to agree with you ...

But then I remembered what money has done to some perfectly decent people. They may not have even chased it but once they have it, they can suddenly become seduced by it (even if they didn't care about it before). Depending upon the person, either the love of the stuff or the stuff itself can be absolutely corrosive.

[tanyev]

4. The actual quote is

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:10 KJV

[Inland]

5. St. Paul said, love of money.

Money itself is a boon to humanity.

[ClintonTyree]

6. Not from what I've seen people doing with it..................

they may not love money, but they do some hideous things with it. I know people who aren't rich, but do some absolutely horrible things with the money they have.
So, I'm going with, money. Period.
I'm beginning to think capitalism is the root of all evil.

[BamaLefty]

8. Capitalism

I believe that laisez-faire capitalism forces us into a competitve rat race that kills us all one way or another. It is not billed up to what it is in my opinion.

[The Doctor.]

7. Ignorance and pain are the root of Evil.

People do evil because they are in pain.
Insecurity can be painful.
People are insecure because they are ignorant.
They are ignorant of who they are, what value they have, and their environment.

Money is simply a way to compensate for insecurities.

(not that everyone who has money is insecure - but the most insecure seek the most power)

[grannylib]

9. I think St Paul was right on this one. Love of money (and I think he meant

by this loving it beyond being grateful for being able to provide basic needs for self and family, that kind of thing) but desiring it so much that it becomes greed for more than one needs; greed for more in a way that one having more means many others have not enough; becomes a god/idol in a way...money is just money. It's how it's gotten and how it's used where the real issue of good and evil comes in.

[CAG]

10. The LOVE of money...

Unfortunately, I'm afraid the love of money is rampant in the good ol' US of A. Most people just point to the ultra greedy; the Michael Milkens, Ken Lays, and Fastows of the world as examples of greedful sin. However, I think that a whole bunch, if not the majority, of americans are guilty of this "lifestyle sin."

This is the major reason I'm finally leaving my lifelong denomination of the southern baptist convention. They seem to believe the only problems with america center on homosexuality, allowing abortion choice, and prayer in school (as if you can't really do it; I know I did several times as the algebra tests were being handed out). They never talk about the sin of the love of money. Its amazing; if you take out all text on managing your money, the treatment of the poor and needy, something like a third to a half of the new testament would be gone, yet it gets totally ignored by the SBC and other christian right denominations.

[adwon]

11. Vanity

Vanity/pride is a greater source. Or you can call it ego if you like.

[lostinacause]

12. Money is just a medium of exchange and for that reason it can't be evil

The love of money, depending on what you mean by love, is not necessarily evil. If you look at the things that North Americans and Europeans have accomplished much of what has driven this is the strength of the market based system. That's not saying that a market system has no drawbacks, it’s just that there are definitely advantages to having currency. (Making proper adjustments to account for the drawbacks is what makes a mixed economy so desirable.)