Originally posted by Outis
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This forum is open discussion between atheists and all theists to defend and debate their views on religion or non-religion. Please respect that this is a Christian-owned forum and refrain from gratuitous blasphemy. VERY wide leeway is given in range of expression and allowable behavior as compared to other areas of the forum, and moderation is not overly involved unless necessary. Please keep this in mind. Atheists who wish to interact with theists in a way that does not seek to undermine theistic faith may participate in the World Religions Department. Non-debate question and answers and mild and less confrontational discussions can take place in General Theistics.
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God and social dysfunction
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Originally posted by firstfloor View PostNo, the more secular countries would include Canada, Australia, Japan, UK, France, Sweden, Denmark and Norway. A few others perhaps as well.
In the 2005 paper, Paul uses as measures of social dysfunction the following metrics: homicide rate, suicides rates of youths aged 15-24, child mortality, life expectancy, abortion rate and birth rate by mothers aged 15-19, and the incidences of gonorrhea and syphilis within the the total population and the population aged 15-19. I leave it to the reader to decide whether these accurately reflect social dysfunction.
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You seem to be front-loading your conclusion into your argument. (You also seem to be assuming that I am religious. I am not.)
So far, you are demonstrating a correlation based on a selective application of data. You have not, however, indicated causation, or even suggested that a definite causative relationship exists. Show me a causative relationship and we have something to talk about.
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Originally posted by firstfloor View PostNo, the more secular countries would include Canada, Australia, Japan, UK, France, Sweden, Denmark and Norway. A few others perhaps as well.Atheism is the cult of death, the death of hope. The universe is doomed, you are doomed, the only thing that remains is to await your execution...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbnueb2OI4o&t=3s
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Originally posted by Paprika View PostOnly because Gregory Paul evaluates the 'First World' countries within a recent time period
In the 2005 paper, Paul uses as measures of social dysfunction the following metrics: homicide rate, suicides rates of youths aged 15-24, child mortality, life expectancy, abortion rate and birth rate by mothers aged 15-19, and the incidences of gonorrhea and syphilis within the the total population and the population aged 15-19. I leave it to the reader to decide whether these accurately reflect social dysfunction.
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Unfortunately for you, in that paper Paul doesn't even examine welfare by government.
I do wonder if the correlation found in the paper means anything. Let us assume, for the sake of argument that the metrics used are sufficient to determine social welfare. Given the diverse groups the USA, is it at all appropriate to use national measurements to speak of certain subsets - in this case, the religious groups? That is, it could be that certain non-religious groups are contributing most of the measured dysfunction. Also, why are confounding factors not taken into account at all?
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"Love thy neighbor" has become ambiguous due to re-definition within some Christian groups. Some Christian groups have used the argument to the effect that "It's not love to feed someone who is hungry and has no food, because they will become moochers." When dealing with self-identified Christians, a direct reference to Matthew 25:31-46 more clearly illustrates your point.
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Originally posted by Outis View Post"Love thy neighbor" has become ambiguous due to re-definition within some Christian groups. Some Christian groups have used the argument to the effect that "It's not love to feed someone who is hungry and has no food, because they will become moochers." When dealing with self-identified Christians, a direct reference to Matthew 25:31-46 more clearly illustrates your point.
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I agree with your first point, but I hardly see how 2 Thessalonians 3:10, which is about inhouse matters in the church has any bearing on this matter. Paul is talking about brothers (i.e fellow christians) who are unwilling to work, not those who are unwilling to work in general. Not that this does not imply that a Christian is obligated to support someone who sits on his ass all day long and does nothing, but I don't think 2 Thessalonians 3:10 can be used to support the notion that such persons should not be supported, unless those persons are Christians.
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Originally posted by Sparko View Post1. Charity is supposed to come from the individual and is voluntarily given. NOTHING in the bible says anything about approving of the government taking a person's money and distributing it to others as they see fit.
And should you protest that the taxes are going to "non-Christian purposes," remember at the time Paul wrote this Roman taxes went to support (among other things) gladiatorial games, the "corn dole" in Rome, various pagan temples, and the Roman "military-industrial complex" as a whole.
You will note that the passage in 2 Thess is referring to the communal Christian meal, not to tax money. I quite agree that the government should not support those who simply do not wish to work, but I also know many people who cannot work, but are being held up as examples of "lazy takers."
Do you actually know the circumstances of each and every person who recently received cuts to their food stamps? How many of them are "lazy," and how many of them are unable? When you can answer that question, not only will your argument be justified, but you will have the perfect opportunity to take a worthwhile government job preventing food stamp fraud and waste.
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Originally posted by Outis View PostRomans 13:1-7, explicitly commands that Christians pay taxes. THis passage is especially relevant: "This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor."
And should you protest that the taxes are going to "non-Christian purposes," remember at the time Paul wrote this Roman taxes went to support (among other things) gladiatorial games, the "corn dole" in Rome, various pagan temples, and the Roman "military-industrial complex" as a whole.
You will note that the passage in 2 Thess is referring to the communal Christian meal, not to tax money. I quite agree that the government should not support those who simply do not wish to work, but I also know many people who cannot work, but are being held up as examples of "lazy takers."
Do you actually know the circumstances of each and every person who recently received cuts to their food stamps? How many of them are "lazy," and how many of them are unable? When you can answer that question, not only will your argument be justified, but you will have the perfect opportunity to take a worthwhile government job preventing food stamp fraud and waste.
And I used the verse in response to your post saying
"Love thy neighbor" has become ambiguous due to re-definition within some Christian groups. Some Christian groups have used the argument to the effect that "It's not love to feed someone who is hungry and has no food, because they will become moochers."
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Originally posted by Sparko View PostBut that is a far cry from condoning a welfare state and taking money from one person's wallet to line someone elses.
I am saying that we ARE supposed to help those who need the help, but how does that count as charity if we don't do it voluntarily and have no say so in how the money (taxes) are distributed? That isn't charity, that is stealing by the government.
1. 2 Thessalonians 3 is Paul talking to believers about working and not being lazy and that those who don't work but could, should not be given food.
However, this specifically speaks of what the Church does. It says nothing to what the state does. Again, considering that Paul did not criticize the State (one that was deeply involved in several behaviors that are contrary to Christian ethics), one wonders if modern Christians feel themselves wiser than he?
Showing that Christians don't have the obligation to support the lazy. We have the obligation to help those who need help. And we are further supposed to use our wealth wisely and not squander it. Letting the government take our money to "help" others is very inefficient, and it tends to promote idleness among some people who would rather have a welfare check each month than to work. All of them? no. But it would be much more efficient to help the people directly through a charity or church. It is more efficient, more effective, and tends to weed out a lot of the idle who just don't want to work but can. Rather than just handing out a check each month, the people have to deal directly with the charity or church and that means directly with people who can check up on them to see if they are able to work or not. The government doesn't check on them, it just sends out money as long as the paperwork is in order. It's a big bureaucracy.
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If you consider slavery or debtors prison a "welfare state"
No. Rome was not a welfare state (although it might have became one as time went on) and neither was Judaism. You worked for what you got, or you sold yourself into slavery, or were jailed for your debt.Last edited by Sparko; 02-10-2014, 03:30 PM.
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Originally posted by firstfloor View PostIn my view this points to one of the fundamental problems in Christianity in that it looks for supernatural solutions to natural problems . . .
The entire approach of the article has the same problem. It accepts certain givens that are not in fact demonstrable.Micah 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
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I do love fundy atheist who make claims and then look for evidence to back up these claims, much as they accuse YEC's of doing. So do tell FF, what sort of objective measurement was used to determine that Christians were 'socially dysfunctional' because you know the funny thing is? History records Christians looking for plenty of natural solutions for natural problems. What does Newton, Galileo, and Bacon not count because it goes against your precious belief and thus must be ignored? I look forward to seeing your objective measurement without a bunch of bald assertions being used as arguments."The man from the yacht thought he was the first to find England; I thought I was the first to find Europe. I did try to found a heresy of my own; and when I had put the last touches to it, I discovered that it was orthodoxy."
GK Chesterton; Orthodoxy
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