<html><DIV></DIV> <P>Nathan wrote:</P> <P>>A more reasonable reading of the parable, supported by other parables, is an </P> <DIV></DIV>>exhortation to act in the world, not to sit on ones gifts with caution. <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>-- Nathan <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>This is absolutely right.  (After all, a parable is called a "parable" for a reason.)  If anyone wants to ponder what sort of modern-day ideology the early Christians would espouse, I would think you'd get a more accurate picture by looking at how they actually lived and practiced and not at some taken-out-of-context parable.  Here's something:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>"And all who believed were together and had all things in common; and they sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all, as any had need."</DIV> <DIV>Acts 2:43-45</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Supply-side sadomasochism, indeed!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Also regarding the Matthew "talents" parable, it's widely understood that Matthew's Gospel is focused more on spirituality than on everyday moral and political issues.  In this context, the "parable" qua PARABLE should not be read as relating at all to the proper use or distribution of material goods.  For those sorts of things, Luke's Gospel is on point.  Compare Matthew's version of the Sermon on the Mount to Luke's.  Luke doesn't "spiritualize" the beatitudes as Matthew does.  Instead of "blessed are those who hunger for righteousness," Luke just says, "blessed are the hungry."  Also, Luke goes on to say, "Woe to the rich," where Matthew is silent.  Instead of "blessed are the poor in spirit," Luke says simply, "Blessed are the poor."  Luke seems to have a special interest in Jesus' attitude towards the poor.  All in all, the Christian God in the Gospel according to Luke is a God of Reversal -- liberating! the oppressed, empowering the poor, crushing the rich and powerful, etc.  The two Gospels should be read together, though -- and they are not inconsistent...they complement one another.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Jody</DIV> <DIV>who doesn't know what "libertarian theology" is, but has a suspicion that he doesn't like it</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>P.S. Has anyone here read the relatively new Michael Harrington biography, The Other American?  Recommended?</DIV><br clear=all><hr>Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at <a href="http://explorer.msn.com">http://explorer.msn.com</a><br></p></html>