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THE BIRTH OF CAPITALISM

James B. Nicola

For the first fifteen centuries

of Christendom
the banning of banking

and proscription of profit
made the merchants and bankers

Muslims and Jews.
Did God in all His

Capitalistic Glory
His new-age new-found Wisdom

whisper to a Pope
to change the rules?

>—There’s too much money
to be made. Sure, modest interest

is allowed. Just not
usury, which is

unreasonable and a sin.
—But Lord, does this mean
Absolute Truth,
Thy Truth, is not eternal
and immutable?
—No, Dumpkopf, the Rule’s
always been
the same, it’s your
interpretations
down there, you so
imperfect
exegetes and
evangelists.
—Oh. I see. I guess.
—And who
are you to question, you?
—Right.
—And how about some
golden statuary
to celebrate My Glory?
—Really? You’d like that?
But Jesus said—
—And look what I did
to him, for spreading
that cult of
humility.
—Cult?
—It’s glory glory Glory
that I want.
Look at that First Commandment.
Fear Me. Worship Me!
Why do you think
I sent you Capitalism?
So you can make
My temple
bigger than the next guy’s
and brighter, and
richer. And how
can you obliterate
the infidel without
brave armies and
technologies! —’Tech-
nologies?’ —Like
atom bombs. —Adam who?
He had a last name?
—How’d I ever let you
get elected Pope?
—I’m not arguing, Lord.
I only want
to see. So, money?

—Money! All
you can make for
the glory of —Yes
I know. God in the Highest.

—Did you just interrupt
Me?

(The pope sealed
his lips and threw

away the key,
his eyes as big as

silver dollars, or
golden ducats, rather.)

And don’t bother
Me again. This magic lamp only
gives me one more
visit, and you know
what that one
has to be for.

—Oh!
—So don’t make me come down there again
until it’s time!

And thus we owe

the growth if not
the birth of

Capitalism
to the family-binding

principle of
Just wait till your Father
gets home.

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