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These stories are so interesting & tragic because the weakness being exploited is that uniquely American breed of optimism... the one that's maybe one part Amer

These stories are so interesting & tragic because the weakness being exploited is that uniquely American breed of optimism... the one that's maybe one part American Dream (capitalist patriotism), one part Jesus (including both the Protestant work ethic and the belief in "deserving") and one part The Secret. You can't think a fax is a gift from God if you don't think there's a God, for example. And you won't be as predisposed to look at it as a break for you, if you don't think you "deserve" a break (or to be rich, or to be in business at all). And you immediately see the downside of any loan, the second you consider "Hey what if tomorrow isn't more flush than today?"

agapon 8y ago
I do not think that this is something unique or specific to the US. Loan sharks, payday loans, and the consequences exist in many countries of the world.
- stantaylor 8y ago
  True, but many countries regulate and limit them much more aggressively than the US typically does (I use "typically" since most regulation is at the state level)
nathan_long 8y ago
> one part Jesus (including both the Protestant work ethic and the belief in "deserving") Protestant theology actually says the opposite of "you deserve blessings", historically. The "five solas" of the protestant reformation include "sola gratia" (salvation only by grace - undeserved good treatment), and "solus christus" and "sola fide" make similar points. Certainly "prosperity gospel" teaching is rampant, but it has very little to do with the Jesus of the New Testament or with historical Protestantism. > You can't think a fax is a gift from God if you don't think there's a God, for example. You also wouldn't think that if you read the Bible much. - Proverbs 13:11 - Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it. - Proverbs 22:7 - The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender. - Hebrews 13:5 - Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." You can find many examples of professing Christians (or atheists) doing stupid things. That doesn't necessarily mean that Christianity or Jesus is the problem. It's more often that they don't follow what they claim to believe.
- rdiddly 8y ago
  I wouldn't have thought Jesus would need defending here, but yes I'm talking more about the convenient reinterpretation of Biblical lessons, than the lessons themselves.

agapon 8y ago

I do not think that this is something unique or specific to the US. Loan sharks, payday loans, and the consequences exist in many countries of the world.

stantaylor 8y ago
True, but many countries regulate and limit them much more aggressively than the US typically does (I use "typically" since most regulation is at the state level)

nathan_long 8y ago

> one part Jesus (including both the Protestant work ethic and the belief in "deserving") Protestant theology actually says the opposite of "you deserve blessings", historically. The "five solas" of the protestant reformation include "sola gratia" (salvation only by grace - undeserved good treatment), and "solus christus" and "sola fide" make similar points. Certainly "prosperity gospel" teaching is rampant, but it has very little to do with the Jesus of the New Testament or with historical Protestantism. > You can't think a fax is a gift from God if you don't think there's a God, for example. You also wouldn't think that if you read the Bible much. - Proverbs 13:11 - Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it. - Proverbs 22:7 - The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender. - Hebrews 13:5 - Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." You can find many examples of professing Christians (or atheists) doing stupid things. That doesn't necessarily mean that Christianity or Jesus is the problem. It's more often that they don't follow what they claim to believe.

rdiddly 8y ago
I wouldn't have thought Jesus would need defending here, but yes I'm talking more about the convenient reinterpretation of Biblical lessons, than the lessons themselves.