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As the accumulation of stock must, in the nature of things, be previous to the division of labour, ...in order to give constant employment to an equal number of workmen, an equal stock of provisions, and a greater stock of materials and tools than what would have been necessary in a ruder state of things, must be accumulated beforehand. <ref>Adam Smith, ''An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations'', [http://www.econlib.org/library/Smith/smWN7.html Book II, Introduction, Paragraphs 1, 2, & 3] ''Of the Nature, Accumulation, and Employment of Stock,'', First Edition 1776.</ref>}}
As the accumulation of stock must, in the nature of things, be previous to the division of labour, ...in order to give constant employment to an equal number of workmen, an equal stock of provisions, and a greater stock of materials and tools than what would have been necessary in a ruder state of things, must be accumulated beforehand. <ref>Adam Smith, ''An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations'', [http://www.econlib.org/library/Smith/smWN7.html Book II, Introduction, Paragraphs 1, 2, & 3] ''Of the Nature, Accumulation, and Employment of Stock,'', First Edition 1776.</ref>}}
{{Cquote|When the division of labour has been once thoroughly established, it is but a very small part of a man's wants which the produce of his own labour can supply. He supplies the far greater part of them by exchanging that surplus part of the produce of his own labour, which is over and above his own consumption, for such parts of the produce of other men's labour as he has occasion for. Every man thus lives by exchanging, or becomes in some measure a merchant, and the society itself grows to be what is properly a commercial society. <ref>Adam Smith, ''An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations'', [http://www.econlib.org/library/Smith/smWN7.html Book I, Chapter 4, Paragraphs 1] ''Of the Origin and Use of Money'', First Edition 1776.</ref>}}
{{Cquote|When the division of labour has been once thoroughly established, it is but a very small part of a man's wants which the produce of his own labour can supply. He supplies the far greater part of them by exchanging that surplus part of the produce of his own labour, which is over and above his own consumption, for such parts of the produce of other men's labour as he has occasion for. Every man thus lives by exchanging, or becomes in some measure a merchant, and the society itself grows to be what is properly a commercial society. <ref>Adam Smith, ''An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations'', [http://www.econlib.org/library/Smith/smWN7.html Book I, Chapter 4, Paragraphs 1] ''Of the Origin and Use of Money'', First Edition 1776.</ref>}}
==Conflict with true Christianity==
Capitalism is diametrically opposed to the principles, teachings, and life of [[Jesus Christ]]. This position is supported by the words of Jesus, himself, as well as historical evidence describing the earliest Christians.
{{cquote|The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. - [http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/poly/mat019.htm Matthew 19:20-22]}}
Being "rich" 2,000 years ago was nothing close to being middle-class or low-income, today. Compared to Biblical times, almost all Americans are exceedingly rich, yet almost no American Christians, today, follow Jesus' instruction.
{{cquote|But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets. [http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/poly/luk006.htm Luke 6:24-26]}}
When Jesus says, "Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger," (v. 25), it's not just a matter of stomachs being full, but a matter of those who find fulfillment in their earthly riches. Capitalism satisfies that very desire.
On some of the early Christians, [[Origen]] writes of the [[Ebionites]] ''(Ebionai)'',
{{cquote|Here he has not observed that the Jewish converts have not deserted the law of their fathers, inasmuch as they live according to its prescriptions, receiving their very name from the poverty of the law, according to the literal acceptation of the word; for Ebion signifies “poor” among the Jews, and ''those Jews who have received Jesus as Christ are called by the name of Ebionites''.<ref name=origen-book2-chapter1>{{cite web|url=http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf04.vi.ix.ii.i.html|title=Writings of Origen: Book 2, Chapter 1}}</ref>}}
While [[Origen]] may have been writing of the early denomination, early Christian practices make it apparent that the concept of making a [[profit]] had could not be consolidated with, and had nothing to do with, true Christianity.
==Capitalism and Society==
==Capitalism and Society==