Rowan Williams on tax
November 17th, 2009
Rowan Williams had this to say on tax in his speech to the TUC yesterday:
[T]he point is that we should be thinking about taxation neither as an unreasonable burden on enterprise nor as a simple mechanism of redistribution but as a potentially sophisticated tool for long-term ‘economy’ – housekeeping. Taxation builds a habitat – already, quite properly, through state welfare provision, but potentially in other less familiar ways.
He then explored green and other tax issues.
Good to note I’m not the only person who believes in the positive contribution of tax to society – something we have to shout about, often – because tax has had and will continue to have an enormously beneficial and civilising impact on our world.
Fascinating. I look forward to Dave Hartnett’s analysis of the parable of the Labourers in the Vineyard and its implications for Employers NI contributions.
Alex
Which as usual shows how stupid you are
Tax is a universal issue
There is also a clear theology to it
And the church most certainly ash a clear interest in he form and structure of society or it is failing to do its job - which is to bring good news to the poor
So your comment shows intellectual illiteracy
Except for the fact that I suspect Dave Hartnett could do the job you suggest based on past conversations
And if you want to hear me on Luke and tax, come to Norwich on Saturday where I’ll be in conversation on that theme with the Bishop of Norwich before an audience
Richard
On the contrary there is very little Christian theology on the merits, purposes and morality of taxes. There are certainly many mentions in the new Testament of tax collectors/publicans who were widely despised as agents of a foreign state, and ranked alongside “sinners”, which many interpret as lenders at interest, which was clearly against the Law.
St Paul does talk of the necessity to pay taxes that are due in Romans 13, but that is a teaching on the authority of government, not of taxes per se.
It is frequently argued, by those who see a Christian moral or theological basis for redistributive taxes, that modern taxation is a moral good, satisfying our duty of charity. At its extremes, this view is expressed in the claim that the modern application of charity is by way of use of progressive taxation rates.
This is the main method used to gain Christian support for redistributive taxationthe welfare state that the tax funds helps our neighbor and therefore its expansion must be a Christian duty.
This is contrary to Christian teaching. At the heart of the Bible is the God who seeks the free worship of free human beings, and just as love of God is only real if it comes voluntarily from the heart, so, too, is love of neighbour. The Christian duty of charity must be undertaken voluntarily. There is no moral benefit in forced giving, as Saint Paul says: “Each one should give what he has decided in his own mind, not grudgingly or because he is made to, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Christians have a duty of charity to their neighbours, and are warned not to follow riches, but these are personal duties laid on each of us individually rather than collective obligations that can be satisfied through compliance with a human tax system. We cannot contract out our duties to others, nor can we nationalize them into the welfare state. Even less can we meet our duty to our neighbour by forcing another neighbour to meet his needs.
The Good Samaritan did not leave the dying man to the priest and the Levite, agents of the Jewish government, but cared for him himself.
Oh, and ease up and get yourself a sense of humour. It might help you through the day.
Interesting that the Archbishop referred to the Greek origins of the word “economics” to proclaim the virtues of “housekeeping”. Presumably the C of E is now officialy Thatcherite.
This all goes to show that no sacred text covers all aspects of morality. That’s one of the reasons why I’m a humanist.