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Note: Usurers are synonymous with exchangers and changers of money. Matthew 25:24 is often mistakenly interpreted, ignoring the condemnation of usury as a capital offense in Ezekiel 18:13. The "Hard Man" cannot be moral if he wants his servants to engage in an abomination.

Note: Usurers are synonymous with exchangers and changers of money. Matthew 25:24 is often mistakenly interpreted, ignoring the condemnation of usury as a capital offense in Ezekiel 18:13. The "Hard Man" cannot be moral if he wants his servants to engage in an abomination.

Because of this Biblical condemnation, Christians were forbidden to lend money for interest for centuries. [[Dante's Inferno]] places usurers in the seventh circle of [[Hell]], along with [[blasphemy|blasphemers]] and [[homosexuals]]. In [[Renaissance]] society, the only people allowed to charge interest were [[Jew]]s, which often led to resentment as the Jews were enriched by their shrewd financial activity.

Because of this Biblical condemnation, Christians were forbidden to lend money for interest for centuries. [[Dante's Inferno]] places usurers in the seventh circle of [[Hell]], along with [[blasphemy|blasphemers]] and [[homosexuals]]. In [[The Renaissance|Renaissance]] society, the only people allowed to charge interest were [[Jew]]s, which often led to resentment as the Jews were enriched by their shrewd financial activity. However, Christian thinking on this subject has changed, and almost all Christians now either lend their money for interest, or have an account in a [[bank]] which does it for them. The last Christian denomination to remove the ban on usury was the Roman Catholic Church, in 1918.

 

However, Christian thinking on this subject has changed, and almost all Christians now either lend their money for interest, or have an account in a [[bank]] which does it for them. The last Christian sect to remove the ban on usury was the Roman Catholic Church, in 1918.

== References ==

== References ==