Amazon making less than you think

[dickloraine]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Jewish scriptures only forbade/forbids charging interest from fellow Jews, it isn't judgmental about whether or not it was "earned".
Much like you wouldn't charge interest if you lend your brother/sister/son/daughter/etc. some money, so too Jews ==> fellow Jews.

I cannot speak for what Christian scriptures say about it.

For a very long time it was not allowed. Jews were the bankers then in europe. This gave them some power, as these banking clans were very rich and monarchs needing money had to use them. On the other hand, this also led to more antisemitism. So they had influence but were also under constant danger. Some of this is even transported into more modern antisemitism like in the conspiracy accusations.

It is also not allowed in islamic law. There are islamic banks, that work on this conditions.

[Rizla]

Yes, it is the same in the Islamic banking system, I believe, though I don't know if the practice is limited to their own cultural-religious group as it is in Judaism, or if it extends to Christians and Jews.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by dickloraine

For a very long time it was not allowed. Jews were the bankers then in europe. This gave them some power, as these banking clans were very rich and monarchs needing money had to use them. On the other hand, this also led to more antisemitism. So they had influence but were also under constant danger. Some of this is even transported into more modern antisemitism like in the conspiracy accusations.

It is also not allowed in islamic law. There are islamic banks, that work on this conditions.

As I said, "The Ascent of Money" goes into all of this in quite a bit of detail. It's worth reading for those interested in the subject. For example, the de Medici started their fortune in banking. The word bank is actually from the Italian word for bench since the early bankers sat on a bench behind their table on the street.