Can't argue that. My point is if there is something you truly want to own, specifically your freedom, then the person who can defend / attack the best ends up getting what they want.

Ownership is what you are prepared to fight for; whether physically, verbally or through the legal system. — A Seagull

I personally believe it's all together, if you're only willing to fight for something verbally and not physically, then you're not worthy of your opinion nor possession.

he anticipated a period of extreme hardship for his followers, preceding the "end of the age". That may be why he advised a communal lifestyle of mutual support : "They had all things in common". — Gnomon

Smart... Real smart.. That makes a lot of sense. Jesus must have been a genius for his time to predict the outcome of his preaching. Or at least highly emotionally intelligent

Ironically, the current Pope*1 seems to be leaning leftward — Gnomon

I agree. Most Catholics I have spoken to truly despise the words and actions of the current pope. This thread was a great topic but in heart I just don't see Catholicism as a preacher of Socialism considering the amount of individualistic freedom the Bible preaches.

That is true is it is literally the last part in the 10 commandments. But my question is, how is that a capitalistic thing? Unless you have information I'm not aware about. How was it specifically a capitalistic thing and not an error of man? Since humans are corruptible.

honestly the way I see it, in the Bible quotes of "helping out the less fortunate and thy neighbor" is a form of fighting materialism. The whole belief is that your life right now is just a test for the afterlife. Therefore material posession is but temporary. I can see why you might think its a socialistic thing. To be fair back then there weren't any machinery that made everything so accessible. So naturally people worked hard. To be fair socialism and capitalism was post Catholicisms time. We created these systems after we mastered trading. Now everyone has access to everything and everyone "can" get anything.

Seriously though, nice thread I like this

Hmmmm never thought of stoicism to be metaphysical but I must say you're right! In essence it's the numbing of the internal in able to appreciate the spiritual, nice!

To be honest I used to be a stoic. And I can say it isn't even therapeutic from my personal experience. All it does is conceals emotions you're feeling without having an outlet to it. And just like a bubble, your emotions will burst. I truly think if something bothers you, address it head on. Life's too short to dodge negative things around you. Either embrace it or fight it.

I think the one part where stoicism has it right, is specifically Marcus Aurelius when he talks about how you can't control people and things around you, but only yourself. You can influence people but you cannot control them and that's key in my opinion.