Practically speaking, Usury is a complex sin of treating an abstraction as a reality. It bears false witness and warps perspective until demons are born in the hearts of men. Operationally, this is money lending for interest. Interest defined as recompense by way of a contractual abstraction defiling the freedom and responsibility of shared endeavours. Rather than defined as having an interest in. The distinction most clearly displaying the accident which led us to this common error. Information is free. Labour is not. Capital is separate. And it should be kept as such. Or evil will reign. > [!tip]- LLM accelerated History lesson: > "Usury" can be roughly translated as "the act of using" in the context of money lending.^[The English term "usury" comes directly from the Middle English "usurie," which was borrowed from the Medieval Latin "usuria," meaning "interest" or "lending at exorbitant interest." This, in turn, comes from the Latin "usura," which refers to "interest" or "a lending at interest." This derives from the Latin verb "uti," which means "to use."] > >Over time, in English, the term "usury" has evolved to refer more specifically to the practice of charging excessive or unethical rates of interest, rather than just interest in general. > >For a brief historical sketch of money lending over the last 5000 years, here are some key points: > >1. **Ancient Civilizations (3000 BC to 500 BC)**: The earliest commonly known evidence of lending comes from Mesopotamia, where merchants would extend credit to farmers expecting a return after the harvest season. The concept of interest was also first documented during this time. However, in many ancient societies like the Sumerians, Babylonians, and Hebrews, there were strong legal and moral restrictions against usury. For instance, the Code of Hammurabi, one of the oldest deciphered writings of significant length, set specific rates for interest and made provisions against usury. > >2. **Classical Antiquity (500 BC to 500 AD)**: In ancient Greece and Rome, attitudes towards usury varied. While some Greek philosophers like Aristotle saw it as unnatural and immoral, others tolerated or even advocated for it. In Rome, usury was legal and widely practiced, though at times heavily regulated. > >3. **Medieval Period (500 AD to 1500 AD)**: During this time, the Catholic Church maintained a strong stance against usury, considering it a sin. This stance was influenced by several passages in the Bible that prohibited or condemned usury.^[Old [[Biblical References#Usury|Testament References]] to usury being bad] Nonetheless, money lending persisted, often undertaken by marginalized groups, including Jews in Europe who were legally barred from most other professions. > >4. **Early Modern Period (1500 AD to 1800 AD)**: The Protestant Reformation brought some changes in attitudes towards usury. Reformers like Martin Luther still denounced it, but others like John Calvin interpreted biblical texts in a way that allowed for interest on loans, contributing to the rise of capitalism. > >5. **Industrial Revolution and Modern Era (1800 AD to Present)**: As economies grew more complex, lending and borrowing became essential components of the economic system. However, usury laws remained to prevent predatory lending practices. In the 20th and 21st centuries, digital technology and globalization have led to new forms of lending and new challenges in regulating interest rates. Just because the consideration that is money, which is traded time made mostly material, can be traded as though it truly were material, doesn't mean it should be. Money is incapable of being a common denominator. Money is an incredibly powerful tool. So powerful that it is easy to forget what it is. An abstraction born of our fallible minds. A contemporary only of common currents. Usury should be resisted as much as possible as a practice of spiritual and intellectual hygiene. The allure, and commonplace of usury, is a disease born of faulty temporal awareness brought on by centuries of happenstance and necessity. --- >[!info]- Old Testament references regarding usury: > >1. **Exodus 22:25**: "If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be like a moneylender to him, and you shall not exact interest from him." > >2. **Leviticus 25:35-37**: "If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you. Take no interest from him or profit, but fear your God, that your brother may live beside you. You shall not lend him your money at interest, nor give him your food for profit." > >3. **Deuteronomy 23:19-20**: "You shall not charge interest on loans to your brother, interest on money, interest on food, interest on anything that is lent for interest. To a foreigner you may charge interest, but to your brother you shall not charge interest, that the Lord your God may bless you in all that you undertake in the land that you are entering to take possession of it." > >4. **Psalm 15:5**: "who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved." > >These passages are generally interpreted as prohibiting or condemning usury. However, interpretations can vary widely among different Christian denominations and scholars. But fuck those arrogant assholes and their self-serving shit stained brains.