He goes on to define the children of darkness as “the moral cynics, who know no law beyond their will and interest” (pg. 9). They are those who are more concerned with their own self-interest and individualism rather than the good of all. He goes on to claim “the children of darkness are evil because they know no law beyond the self” (pg10). These definitions by Niebuhr are used to connect the children of light as morally valuable and working towards the common good in regards to democracy. While the children of darkness are the opposite as they work in promoting the ideals of individualism, therefore ultimately working against democracy. There is continued discussion in regards to where barbarous individualism and moral cynicism can lead,
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Rather the world was planned and created for sharing among those who live in it. As “the sinful selfishness of men…had destroyed this ideal possibility and made exclusive possession the only safeguard against tendency of men to take advantage of one another” (pg91). In other words Adam and Eve sabotaged this plan when they damaged the human nature of all humans, in damaging their own. In doing this God’s plan became unrealizable and thus makes private property the necessary evil it has been viewed as by many throughout history. Despite this loss of freedom in regards to property of this world and the added burden of danger and mistrust, Pope Leo XIII describes private property as a basic human right and in accordance with human nature in the Rerum Novarum …show more content…
While Catholic theory holds it is a basic human right, modern liberal theory describes it as excessively individualistic and describes individuals as independent, freely an voluntarily from associations. An error is contained in…liberal thought that property represents primarily an ordinate and defensive power to be used against the inclination of others to take advantage of the self” (pg99). Unfortunately property can far surpass the “defense purpose” described by Niebuhr. Instead it can be turned into a form of powerful oppression, particularly when the wealthy utilize their money in order to gain power and with this power they manipulate laws in a way in which they protect them. This manipulation allows for the wealthy to procure more property and pay less than the average citizen, further showing that all power can and will be abused when a person is given the opportunity. “Early Christian theory assumed that property was a necessity of defense against sins of others and failed to appreciate to what degree it was an instrument of the sin of the self against others less favored by economic powers”
Rather the world was planned and created for sharing among those who live in it. As “the sinful selfishness of men…had destroyed this ideal possibility and made exclusive possession the only safeguard against tendency of men to take advantage of one another” (pg91). In other words Adam and Eve sabotaged this plan when they damaged the human nature of all humans, in damaging their own. In doing this God’s plan became unrealizable and thus makes private property the necessary evil it has been viewed as by many throughout history. Despite this loss of freedom in regards to property of this world and the added burden of danger and mistrust, Pope Leo XIII describes private property as a basic human right and in accordance with human nature in the Rerum Novarum …show more content…
While Catholic theory holds it is a basic human right, modern liberal theory describes it as excessively individualistic and describes individuals as independent, freely an voluntarily from associations. An error is contained in…liberal thought that property represents primarily an ordinate and defensive power to be used against the inclination of others to take advantage of the self” (pg99). Unfortunately property can far surpass the “defense purpose” described by Niebuhr. Instead it can be turned into a form of powerful oppression, particularly when the wealthy utilize their money in order to gain power and with this power they manipulate laws in a way in which they protect them. This manipulation allows for the wealthy to procure more property and pay less than the average citizen, further showing that all power can and will be abused when a person is given the opportunity. “Early Christian theory assumed that property was a necessity of defense against sins of others and failed to appreciate to what degree it was an instrument of the sin of the self against others less favored by economic powers”