Interest on savings accounts and loans seems like a simple concept. Yet, the powers-that-be can simply fiddle with certain interest rate numbers and bring whole countries to their knees!Understanding interest rates can be vital both to our individual financial health as well as a large economy.Let’s answer some questions:What is interest?What should normally determine the rate of interest?Is it actually immoral to charge interest?Should a banking monopoly or government be in charge of setting interest rates?Sources Cited:Shawn Ritenour, Foundations of Economics: The Christian View (Eugene, Oreg.: Wipf & Stock, 2009) Kindle edition, 192-193.D. T. Armentano, “The Economics of Price Fixing,” Foundation for Economic Education, accessed April 20, 2020, https://fee.org/articles/the-economics-of-price-fixing.*****Like what you hear? Donate to Truthspresso and give a shot of
Inflation: Legalized Counterfeiting against God?
What is inflation? Is it rising prices? Or is it something that actually causes prices to rise?Even Presidents of the USA get this wrong! Hey, almost everyone now gets this wrong!Historically, and even just a few decades ago, inflation was always an increase in the supply of money.In this episode we trace how the definition changed and why.We examine what real inflation is and how it affects the economy.We compare it to counterfeiting to see if there are any significant differences.What does the Bible say about this practice? Does God allow people to do this or condemn them for it? Does inflation violate the commands against dishonest balances and theft?Sources Cited:“What is the Real Definition of Inflation?”https://inflationdata.com/articles/2010/07/21/real-definition-inflation/“Definition of Inflation”https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inflationScriptures Cited:Hosea
Why the Resurrection?
Yesterday was Easter Sunday–Resurrection Day.Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. Let’s think deeply about why.Our salvation is wrapped up in everything about who Jesus is and what He did. The resurrection is our hope. When we reflect on why, we understand that the world is hopeless without it.Scriptures cited:Philippians 3:10-11Matthew 8:16-17John 11:21-271 Corinthians 15:12-21Revelation 21:1-5*****Like what you hear? Donate to Truthspresso and give a shot of support!*****
Who’s Vault Is It, Anyway?: How Banking Went Wrong
We continue our study of money and economics by looking at how banking evolved (and how I contend that it devolved in modern times).We ask and answer these questions to solve the puzzle of money and banking:What is a bank?How did banks begin?What do banks do?How did fractional reserve banking happen?What really is wrong with fractional reserve banking?What are some possible solutions to fractional reserve banking?We see from history that “full reserve” banking came first, and fractional reserve banking arose from banking misbehavior.We see the challenges that keep away full reserve banking today, but we propose how it would work and actually be better for the economy.*****Like what you hear? Donate to Truthspresso and give a shot of support!*****