Scrooge's Sins?

It's obvious that one of the things Scrooge does is lend money, and it appears no one can manage to pay him back.

I guess in the olden days people thought it was un-christian to have high rates of interest. And also it was bad to charge interest to those who were already poor.

One bible expert online says: "The Old Testament allows charging interest as long as the interest is fair and not usurious. The Old Testament approximation is that anything over 2% is usurious."

Interesting, isn't it, that a religion would take away the ability to charge interest to its followers. That is a seriously important banking service. I can see that another culture without that rule might then swoop in and become the money lenders in their place.

Do you think banks that charge over 2% are sinful? Are they all sinful?

Last Edited by Eilonwy on 12/05/2022 02:33 PM

Another so-called sin is Ebenezer's hermit-ness. Is being a hermit a sin?

(whoops)

Last Edited by Eilonwy on 12/05/2022 02:30 PM

[link to time.com (secure)]

This article talks about how Dickens wrote the story because he felt it was the responsibility of employers to see their workers as human beings on the same track of life that they were, and that their happiness should be important to them.

Ignorance and want!

Interesting clip. This story can be very scary!

I suppose one of Ebenezer's sins is purposefully staying ignorant about want. Turning a blind eye to those suffering with real need.

Last Edited by Eilonwy on 12/05/2022 05:47 PM

Another issue that seems to be highlighted in the 1970's movie is ignoring the people who love you for the benefit of work. Putting work before family. Ebenezer ignores his fiancé and his nephew.

I can totally see how a person MIGHT feel that they are putting family first by working 24/7 though. Is this a sin?

Last Edited by Eilonwy on 12/05/2022 07:09 PM