MORE often than not, while refusing to admit the problem or deal with it in any realistic manner, the capitalist who calls himself or herself a Christian today faces a dilemma far more troublesome than any terrorist threat.

Simply put, the teachings of Christ about money and wealth are in direct conflict with the goals of capitalism and the way this issue has been historically resolved, or at least apparently managed, by all-too-many persons who call themselves Christians, obviously involves a great deal of denial, duplicity and self-deceit.

Any scholar of the Bible, Christian or otherwise, can easily read the Bible's New Testament and disco-ver that one of the least ambiguous messages in the words of Jesus of Nazareth is that usury and the amassing of wealth are not goals God intended for the lives of individuals. Jesus' admonitions about the worship of money and the heavenly futures of wealthy men are plainly stated for all to learn and know, and the truth is that they simply cannot be reconciled with the purposes of today's capitalist enterprise.

Yet, isn't it astounding that so many people still go on steadfastly believing that their democratic, Christian nations, Jamaica and the United States, among many others, should call themselves Christian nations, while their people routinely praise individuals for what are for the most part little more than self-serving accomplishments, and even pretending that great philanthropy is pardon for such sin?

Socialistic

In other words, both public and private business in any nation that would call itself Christian eventually has to be restructured to benefit the masses, not just a small minority of the political, social, or even educational elite. Indeed, whether Christians like it or not, call it socialistic or whatever you like, to be truly Christian in word and deed, a society must redistri-bute all wealth so as to serve the well-being of all peoples, that is, to be used to be their brothers' keepers and never amassed for the benefit of a few, and even worse, intentionally used to dominate, control and then exploit the many.

I am, etc.,

ED MCCOY

mmhobo48@juno.com

Bokeelia, Florida