“Ludwig von Mises: “The churches are right to lament the destitution of the masses in the economically backward countries. But they are badly mistaken when they assume that anything can wipe out the poverty of these wretched people but unconditional adoption of the system of profit-seeking big business, that is, mass production for the satisfaction of the needs of the many.” - Theory and History”
Is he saying that when missionaries go to economically backwards countries they try and solve the poverty problem by trying to bring capitalism to the people? ..Does he say what churches should do to solve the problem then the mass production approach?
Just the opposite. He is saying that they try to solve poverty in any way but Capitalism. Emphasis on the but. They (missionaries) are anit-capitalists.
Gotcha. Which brings up another question: How or Why are missionaries anti-capitalists? I can see how the Catholic Church in “Europe” before America was established was anti- capitalists, but even after the Reformation?
I think it is a church/state separation issue. Among other things, Christianity teaches that charity and care for the poor are virtuous, while putting money before God is not. So many Christians feel this means that government welfare policies are good. They don’t see that this politicises the religion, corrupting it. Further, government programs tend to make people less inclined to be charitable. Many Christians seem to have the belief that they don’t need to personally be charitable, so long as they support the programs and pay their taxes. While missionaries aren’t the type to feel this way, they almost certainly have family and friends who do.