CHURCH, INTEREST, CAPITALISM: ANATOMY OF A PAINFUL TRANSITION FROM SIN TO LEGITIMACY

The aim of this study is to explain of usury prohibition historically in the tradition of the West, especially in the history of the Catholicism. This study shows that there were some limits in usury dated from calcolitic era to Athen and Rome in different levels. Doctriner prohibition of usury came out with religious orders. First doctriner development has declared by Skolastik thinker Thomas Aquina.However the base of doctriner prohibition has weakened byProtestanism and Calvenism and economic developments, especially in trade and banking areas. In addition to these, secular authorities also have gave up to behave as a police behind of the usury prohibition. After Industrial Revolution in the ninetheenth and twentieth century, usury prohibition has ended up economically, but it continued being as religious and individual matter. “Usury” also has become “interest”. Usury is not a matter of institutional prohibition now in capitalist world, but is a part of economic policy applications performed by central banks or governments