Wow, I thought this kind of thing was done away with years ago

[eppie]

Perhaps you are confusing capitalism with greed.

Well, 17th century Netherlands invented capitalism, that is why I mentioned this. Of course greed is the basic motive, but it works a lot better when you can call it something that makes it look noble to the outside world.
Religion had always been that 'something'; killing people is fine, as long as they are differently coloured pagan savages, and steeling and destroying stuff from other countries to get rich quick is also a very good thing to do, god created the earth for mankinds benefit (that is of course something catholics a really in favour of, but also the dutch protestants didn't mind.....as long as you dressed sober you can make as much money as and how you want).
Capitalism is something that made it all possible for us (to get enough money to set up the VOC and the WIC )