Wayne A.M. Visser and Alastair McIntosh - History of Usury Prohibition
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history,
medieval philosophy
Usury - lending at interest or excessive interest - has, according to known records, been practiced in various parts of the world for at least four thousand years. During this time, there is substantial evidence of intense criticisism by various traditions, institutions and social reformers on moral, ethical, religious and legal grounds. The rationale employed by these wide-ranging critics have included arguments about work ethic, social justice, economic instability, ecological destruction and inter-generational equity. While the contemporary relevance of these largely historical debates are not analysed in detail, the authors contend that their significance is greater than ever before in the context of the modern interest-based global economy.
If you are alarmed by the state of the economy, strength of the dollar and ballooning national and individual debt, then you are not alone. Help us try to restore the Thrift ethic to the American political and economic discourse. More than just being stingy, Thrift is the wise use of material resources, encompassing self-sufficiency, stewardship, and sustainability. Come to our conference-Confronting the Debt Culture- in Washington D.C. on May 12th and 13th to meet important individuals from the pro-thrift community. A major focus of the conference will be to address the problems posed by payday loans and other predatory lending options. We will be exploring alternative, pro-thrift options, often provided by various credit unions. Speakers include Chris Peterson, usury expert from the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law; Ken Eiden, CEO of Prospera Credit Union (Appleton, WI); Dr. John M. Templeton, Jr. and many more. Learn more at www.newthrift.org. To sign up, email register@americanvalues.org.