Alternative to capitalism?

What is the alternative to capitalism? The Kingdom of God.

Sounds simple, no? But it depends on your view of the Kingdom. Is it something far off in the future, something that come 'later' when we are long gone? Or is its potential a present reality?

Our view determines our embrace of capitalism's creedo that more (money, stuff, etc.) is better.

I am not saying other 'human' institutions and -isms are better, not at all (nor am I saying that capitalism is the best). Human institutions are all, to use a King James-ism, "vanity" because, well, ultimately they are made up of humans.

While I support the Occupy Wall Street concept, the danger in protests and the drive for change is determining what outcome is expected. This may sound obvious but a protest may start out of anger, out of blame, but it must have a goal to carry on or it just becomes a repository of various angers and will ultimately turn ugly.

What are the goals? To teach greedy folks values and ethics? To look out for the little guy (who may, in essence, long for the very same thing against which they protest)? Legislative change? Redistribution of wealth via government agency?

The Kingdom, however, is not of this world. But it affects change in the world as it is through us that the preparation is made. If we 'sell out' to capitalism, even as a compromise or conciliation, what do we have left for the kingdom?

I see this as a polarity. For every ounce of energy we give over to capitalist pursuit we have that much less energy for the things of the Kingdom.

We have the capacity to display the Kingdom, not through material means, but by our hearts and our relationships with people. The kingdom is within you is not the mystical 'divine spark' that many use as an excuse to opt out of religion and out of relating to others altogether. It is more accurate to say it is 'among' us in the sense of community.

The Kingdom. The body of Christ. It is not about us. It is about Him.

The Kingdom is here, though in a limited sense, but it is present. The goal is 'on earth as it is in heaven' and that means heaven, not earth, is the model. The more we begin to understand the Kingdom, the less fettered we will be by the creed of capitalism or any other human creed.