RIGHT TO PROPERTY IN CHRISTIANITY AND REINHOLD NIEBUHR’S PHILOSOPHY

Abstract

It is emphasized that in democratic society the conflict between capitalists and socialists lies in the power of governments. The development of Christian position on property from the early Church to the twentieth century was demonstrated. It is shown that Niebuhr’s criticism of the capitalist system consists of exaggerating the role of individualism in economic relations, and in idealization of the economic influence as having only a protective function. The fairness of criticism by socialists of economic tools as instruments of oppression has been revealed. The model of economic relations in modern Ukrainian society is considered. The mechanisms of economic oppression in modern society are described.

Keywords

• right to property
• capitalism
• socialism
• social ethics
• economic inequality
• reinhold niebuhr
• christian realism