First, money has the realistic legitimacy of equivalent exchange with any commodity. On the one hand, money is both a symbol of wealth and a universal equivalent. Its function is infinite, so it can arouse people's endless greed. On the other hand, everyone's possession of money is limited, and unlimited desires can't be satisfied at all. It is the contradiction between the infinite utility and limited possession of money that arouses people's crazy thoughts more than anything else, thus making people lose their conscience and fall into sin.
Second, money can not only make a splash in the commodity field, but also commercialize non-commodities. It is not only a symbol of material wealth, but also a chip of spiritual value. Power and status can be bought with money, chastity and reputation can be sold publicly, humanity and dignity are up for grabs, and even justice and conscience are tainted with copper stink. Shakespeare has long revealed that money can turn black into white, ugly into beauty, wrong into right, and humble into honor. It is precisely because money has this infinite magic power of confusing right and wrong and reversing dry Kun that it has become the profound source of the wanton spread of evil with complex types and a large number.
Third, people's worship of money also alienates the relationship between people and money. Money should be a tool to promote social and economic development, but in reality it is worshipped as a god. Because of money, people get lost in this bizarre materialistic world; Because of money, people lose their inner conscience but don't know it yet; Or because money, the value of life and human dignity have all been sacrificed (time warning) to the altar of money worship. People create money, but they worship their own creation. When money rises from means to purpose, people become slaves from masters. It is true that some people can stay awake in the face of money, but this is because they have the call of moral conscience subjectively and are bound by social norms objectively. Just as we can't deny that the virus is the root of the disease just because someone is immune to it, we can't deny that money is the root of all evil just because someone can lead an honest life in front of a feast. As a tool, money can indeed promote social and economic development, but the problem is that in reality, it has been regarded as an end in itself. However, when the human spirit of advocating freedom has been bound by a gold chain, can it still fly freely?
In fact, money is the root of all evil, that is to say, money can produce a large number of complex evils. This has long been proved by history.
Back then, the Roman Empire was dominant, and conquest brought glory and endless wealth to the empire. But soon, the original simple Romans fell at the feet of money and indulged in debauchery, and the empire finally fell apart in this decay. In the Middle Ages, Catholics used to be proud of being honest and clean, but the magic of money finally broke through the place where moral beliefs were stationed. For money, Pope John XXIII has publicly put a price tag on crimes in the world. Did you commit the crime of stealing? Never mind, just three gold coins will get away with it. Did you commit adultery? Don't be afraid, five gold coins will reassure you. Even if you commit murder, it's no big deal. As long as seven or eight gold coins can guarantee your soul to go to heaven. The Bible says that it is more difficult to let the rich enter the kingdom of God than to let the camel go through the eye of a needle. But in the eyes of greedy people, the door of heaven faces south, so don't come in if you have virtue and no money.
In modern times, the sunshine of social progress shines on the earth, but the shadow of money evil still lingers. Because of money, freedom-loving Americans are unwilling to give freedom to slaves; Because of money, the Dutch who flaunted equality forced the eastern countries to sign unequal treaties with him; Or because of money, the French who sing fraternity forget to give love to thousands of child workers who work all day but still don't have enough to eat.
Facts speak plainer than words. In this way, the development history of a western civilization clearly shows us the greatness of turning decay into magic.
Coincidentally, in the East, whether it is the Babylonian kingdom or the Abbas dynasty, are they all moving from prosperity to decadence? In the traditional society of China, the highest ideal of a scholar full of moral articles is nothing more than "learning literature and martial arts, and being an emperor." This is already naked to treat life as a money transaction. That's why there is a folk song of "three years to clear the magistrate, 100 thousand snowflakes and silver" When the magic of money makes people forget their shame and their ambition to serve their country, can we still say that money is not the root of all evil? We don't need to understand why an ancient civilization has been corrupted for thousands of years. )
The ancients said, "Take history as a mirror, and you can know the rise and fall." Facing the history of the East and the West, we can't help asking: Money, how many evils were born because of you, and how many prosperous times died because of you?