General Theology
The Sage of Omaha
by Clay Staggs
I saw an entry on the Drudge Report yesterday that Warren Buffett had married his “companion” of decades. Apparently, even though he separated from his wife back in the seventies, they remained married until she died a couple of years ago.
I thought this was an unconventional arrangement, and it made me think of Buffett’s recent pledge to donate billions of dollars to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. All this made me wonder about Buffett’s religion. A quick Google search reveals quite a few sources claiming that Buffett is an agnostic, as is Gates.
What I found strange was this comment from Buffett upon announcing his gift: “There is more than one way to get to heaven, but this is a great way.” Now why is an agnostic so sure about how to get into heaven? How does an agnostic even know that such a thing exists?
This brought yet another thought. Warren Buffett opposes the repeal of the estate tax, and refuses to leave more than 10% of his fortune to his children, substituting the Gates foundation instead.
This seems to me further proof of the principle that if man does not have the work of Christ as his justification with God, human nature will seek something else to go in its place. Buffett doesn’t just blow it all on stuff (like yachts or mansions), he makes a major press announcement about giving it away to a charity. He even outright states that this will definitely get him into heaven. Why is this the ticket in, and not leaving it to his kids? Do people who leave inheritances to their children not get into heaven? For someone who opposes the repeal of the estate tax (full disclosure: I support repeal), making such a large charitable donation will assure that he pays almost no estate tax. Would letting 45% of his fortune (maybe $20 billion in rough numbers) go to Uncle Sam get him into heaven?
I do not have $40 billion to hand to Bill & Melinda Gates to do who-knows-what with. I wonder what Mr. Buffet would advise me to do.
Posted by Clay Staggs at September 1, 2006 10:14 AM
That is very interesting, especially since Buffett is probably know as the most hard headed, careful investor (and the most successful) in history. In short, he’s one who NEVER gives his money away for any reason. I guess now he thinks he’s got a “reason” as he gets older.
I had always thought that the drive to do this sort of thing by various celebrities had to do with guilt; i.e. rock concerts for good causes, etc. Leave it to Buffett to make it into a buying/selling transaction.
Good post and a fascinating example of how men always think they have to do it. The Gospel of Christ is the most radical philosophy of history.
Clay, Thoughtful reflection. It has been my continual observation that man runs to any source that promises to give heavenly currency for goodness/entrance into the Pearly Gates— any other source besides that which is “economically free.”