Turmoil fatigue

[Orthodox Christian]

27 minutes ago, Stargazer said:

don't feel the least bit despair right now

I don't feel despair, just jaded I suppose. I think I could well do without the news right now. 

[poptart]

17 hours ago, Orthodox Christian said:

 

When I refer to strict it's mostly the politics/double standards I've seen so rampant here.  I knew a few Orthodox in AK, great people with respect for the natives and the Alaskan way of life, in general I've not seen that down here from what I call suburbanite Christianity.  People can go on all they like about "not all Christians".  When I look at the state of the USA, it's families and overall quality of life, I find my opinons to be quite valid, at least for me and where I'm at in life.  Strict is fine so long as it's balanced, legalism too.  Thing is, it's such a mess here anymore to an outsider looking in it's like they turned the Lords House into a den of thieves.

So, the Orthodox view all those born as sinless?  

Also, if I may ask, what do you care about the news?  Personally I'm seeing it as the end result of American selfishness, entitlement, greed, shortsightedness, linear thinking and not thinking of consequences.  TBH In someways I am very much enjoying this, privileged suburbanites are finally getting a taste of the reality the likes of me have had to endure for years.  I am enjoying watching some of them crack under pressure that would be nothing for me.  They can either adapt or perish, either way this will resolve itself.  Either way, I do my best to distance myself from a culture that isn't mine, esp. when I have the poor opinion of it I do.  I had assumed Orthodox were somewhat about withdrawing from the world as it is, the Orthodox i've worked with tend to have that approach.  Then again, so do some of the Catholic E.Euros I know.

[Calm]

9 hours ago, The Nehor said:

Definitely not me.

How do you know the view at the end won’t be so shocking it will snap you out of the insanity you currently dwell in?  

 

[Orthodox Christian]

11 hours ago, poptart said:

When I refer to strict it's mostly the politics/double standards I've seen so rampant here.  I knew a few Orthodox in AK, great people with respect for the natives and the Alaskan way of life, in general I've not seen that down here from what I call suburbanite Christianity.  People can go on all they like about "not all Christians".  When I look at the state of the USA, it's families and overall quality of life, I find my opinons to be quite valid, at least for me and where I'm at in life.  Strict is fine so long as it's balanced, legalism too.  

 

Well society is a mess and double standards are endemic from the top down. And that includes us, you and me, don't forget that while looking at the faults in others, we miss our own. Many Christians of all shades may adhere strictly to the rules of their tradition, but its what goes on in our hearts that God interested in. Remember the whitewashed tombs, we have to look to ourselves, not judge others, and believe me, I fail at that regularly. That's why I need to repent. 

[Orthodox Christian]

12 hours ago, poptart said:

So, the Orthodox view all those born as sinless

As I said. 

 

12 hours ago, poptart said:

Also, if I may ask, what do you care about the news?  Personally I'm seeing it as the end result of American selfishness, entitlement, greed, shortsightedness, linear thinking and not thinking of consequences.  TBH In someways I am very much enjoying this, privileged suburbanites are finally getting a taste of the reality the likes of me have had to endure for years.  I am enjoying watching some of them crack under pressure that would be nothing for me.  They can either adapt or perish, either way this will resolve itself.  Either way, I do my best to distance myself from a culture that isn't mine, esp. when I have the poor opinion of it I do.  I had assumed Orthodox were somewhat about withdrawing from the world as it is, the Orthodox i've worked with tend to have that approach.  Then again, so do some of the Catholic E.Euros I know.

Over the last several years, our society in the UK has been severely divided. It started with Brexit really, then the pandemic hit and division happened again over vaccines etc. Then our government, the ongoing saga of that is pretty shocking. Anyhow, the news became the new must watch thing, it was almost obsessional, until it became the thing we all dreaded what with number of the sick and dying everyday fed to us. There were demonstrations, about Brexit, for and against and then through the pandemic, with increasing degrees of violence. Oh and in the mix, but very similarly was climate change, and the awful reactions posted online via social media. Everyone had an opinion, and still do. Then people started to distrust the news and turn off, which is the stage that I'm at. I now look at the headlines on my tablet, pick and choose what I read, and that's it. 

As for taking pleasure in seeing suburbonites suffering losses, that's not something I understand. Can you really enjoy someone else's pain simply because they have been more privileged than you? That's a bit like the pharisee and the republican in reverse. As I say, in Orthodoxy we have to be watchful and those kind of sentiments would be considered sinful.

Yes you are right about the aspect of Orthodoxy that values withdrawing from the world, but if we are not monastics then we have to incorporate that into the life God has given us. Asceticism, can be practiced by everyone to a degree in their home life. That's why we have icon/prayer corners and why we are encouraged to put aside time to be in the presence of God, alone, in a place that we set aside for this. It is also why we try to keep the Lord's s name on our lips by using the Jesus prayer, and also why we value  the hesychastic way of silence as we can. It is a great blessing to unbusy ourselves during our day and just pray. 

Edited January 17, 2022 by Orthodox Christian

[poptart]

4 hours ago, Orthodox Christian said:

Well society is a mess and double standards are endemic from the top down. And that includes us, you and me, don't forget that while looking at the faults in others, we miss our own. Many Christians of all shades may adhere strictly to the rules of their tradition, but its what goes on in our hearts that God interested in. Remember the whitewashed tombs, we have to look to ourselves, not judge others, and believe me, I fail at that regularly. That's why I need to repent. 

 

3 hours ago, Orthodox Christian said:

As I said. 

 

Over the last several years, our society in the UK has been severely divided. It started with Brexit really, then the pandemic hit and division happened again over vaccines etc. Then our government, the ongoing saga of that is pretty shocking. Anyhow, the news became the new must watch thing, it was almost obsessional, until it became the thing we all dreaded what with number of the sick and dying everyday fed to us. There were demonstrations, about Brexit, for and against and then through the pandemic, with increasing degrees of violence. Oh and in the mix, but very similarly was climate change, and the awful reactions posted online via social media. Everyone had an opinion, and still do. Then people started to distrust the news and turn off, which is the stage that I'm at. I now look at the headlines on my tablet, pick and choose what I read, and that's it. 

As for taking pleasure in seeing suburbonites suffering losses, that's not something I understand. Can you really enjoy someone else's pain simply because they have been more privileged than you? That's a bit like the pharisee and the republican in reverse. As I say, in Orthodoxy we have to be watchful and those kind of sentiments would be considered sinful.

Yes you are right about the aspect of Orthodoxy that values withdrawing from the world, but if we are not monastics then we have to incorporate that into the life God has given us. Asceticism, can be practiced by everyone to a degree in their home life. That's why we have icon/prayer corners and why we are encouraged to put aside time to be in the presence of God, alone, in a place that we set aside for this. It is also why we try to keep the Lord's s name on our lips by using the Jesus prayer, and also why we value  the hesychastic way of silence as we can. It is a great blessing to unbusy ourselves during our day and just pray. 

I should clarify a few things, when it comes down to it I am a cultural Christian at best, childhood and other things changed a lot.  Plus, being mixed race I was excluded from a lot of things here so I joined a Buddhist org in HS, the likes of me never really assimilate here into white suburbanite life fully, to this day my friends and I live in our own world outside of theirs, the racism here plus politics has made it to where we've had to withdraw as much as possible.  I'm fortunate, I look like most caucasians but my other hapa friends are not so fortunate, I won't even go into what our mothers had to endure here.  

My understanding of the UK is your Church of England functions something like the Churches in Germany and N.Europe do, they still have a huge impact/input in public life, they also do a ton more for the poor.  We don't have that here, the focus of most Christian churches nowadays is profit and politics, the past few natural disasters we've had?  Mosques responded quicker than churches did.  Hurricane Harvey in 2017 was shameful for Christians there, nothing like how they acted here during covid but it was still bad.  BTW, Pharisee/Republican would be a poor comparison, I'd say early Christian church would be a better fit.  My understanding is the early Christians were a persecuted minority who greatly outnumbered the Pagan Romans by a lot.  Look at the Coliseum, it had what, 50k seats wise?  Considering Rome was about a million or so at it's peak, most never even got to see the games, they were that poor.  As the empire weakened the poor started rioting a lot more and well, in the end they destroyed temples as well as many other things, just like the Communists did in Russia and China.  I'll admit it, yes I do take pleasure in watching it all collapse, it's payback for the horrible racism, poverty and violence I had to endure as a kid.  It's a thing here with privileged suburbanites, they step on and harm people yet the minute consequences happen to them they're the first to cry out about muh tolerance, that's when the Asian and Buddhist in me kicks in.  You don't get to be an entitled slimeball and harm people then dodge consequences, sooner or later they happen to either you or your children.  In this case it's their children and grandchildren who are suffering the consequences for poor choices, their karmic mess not mine.  It's shameful and disgusting their side created a mess that the rest of us now have to deal with, even worse when you see the backpeddling over how many millennials, esp. men are checking out mentally, leaving the rest of them to deal with the consequences they deserve.  Reason why I mention this, as an Orthodox Christian by default I assume you're reasonable and logical, out of all the branches of the religion yours is easily one of my favorites, if you had more of the western church music you would be.  You guys were as kind to the natives here as the Mormons were and still are, very different from a lot of the Protestants.  With me there will always be that resentment for past treatment as well as realizing while I may have a foot in their world I am not only still an outsider, with politics being the way they are I am not liked.  Add in me being LGBT and well, it just makes it worse.  Things are getting bad here, my own spite aside I say letting it all just collapse is for the best.  People here will never stop being at each others throats, in general people don't want to work, they've had it with each other.  I'm sure you're aware of what happened to the Church in the Middle East and E.Asia, I have a funny feeling we may see something similar here.

You might find this interesting, believe I posted it here once.

 

[Orthodox Christian]

6 hours ago, poptart said:

 

I should clarify a few things, when it comes down to it I am a cultural Christian at best, childhood and other things changed a lot.  Plus, being mixed race I was excluded from a lot of things here so I joined a Buddhist org in HS, the likes of me never really assimilate here into white suburbanite life fully, to this day my friends and I live in our own world outside of theirs, the racism here plus politics has made it to where we've had to withdraw as much as possible.  I'm fortunate, I look like most caucasians but my other hapa friends are not so fortunate, I won't even go into what our mothers had to endure here.  

My understanding of the UK is your Church of England functions something like the Churches in Germany and N.Europe do, they still have a huge impact/input in public life, they also do a ton more for the poor.  We don't have that here, the focus of most Christian churches nowadays is profit and politics, the past few natural disasters we've had?  Mosques responded quicker than churches did.  Hurricane Harvey in 2017 was shameful for Christians there, nothing like how they acted here during covid but it was still bad.  BTW, Pharisee/Republican would be a poor comparison, I'd say early Christian church would be a better fit.  My understanding is the early Christians were a persecuted minority who greatly outnumbered the Pagan Romans by a lot.  Look at the Coliseum, it had what, 50k seats wise?  Considering Rome was about a million or so at it's peak, most never even got to see the games, they were that poor.  As the empire weakened the poor started rioting a lot more and well, in the end they destroyed temples as well as many other things, just like the Communists did in Russia and China.  I'll admit it, yes I do take pleasure in watching it all collapse, it's payback for the horrible racism, poverty and violence I had to endure as a kid.  It's a thing here with privileged suburbanites, they step on and harm people yet the minute consequences happen to them they're the first to cry out about muh tolerance, that's when the Asian and Buddhist in me kicks in.  You don't get to be an entitled slimeball and harm people then dodge consequences, sooner or later they happen to either you or your children.  In this case it's their children and grandchildren who are suffering the consequences for poor choices, their karmic mess not mine.  It's shameful and disgusting their side created a mess that the rest of us now have to deal with, even worse when you see the backpeddling over how many millennials, esp. men are checking out mentally, leaving the rest of them to deal with the consequences they deserve.  Reason why I mention this, as an Orthodox Christian by default I assume you're reasonable and logical, out of all the branches of the religion yours is easily one of my favorites, if you had more of the western church music you would be.  You guys were as kind to the natives here as the Mormons were and still are, very different from a lot of the Protestants.  With me there will always be that resentment for past treatment as well as realizing while I may have a foot in their world I am not only still an outsider, with politics being the way they are I am not liked.  Add in me being LGBT and well, it just makes it worse.  Things are getting bad here, my own spite aside I say letting it all just collapse is for the best.  People here will never stop being at each others throats, in general people don't want to work, they've had it with each other.  I'm sure you're aware of what happened to the Church in the Middle East and E.Asia, I have a funny feeling we may see something similar here.

You might find this interesting, believe I posted it here once.

 

Thank you for the video, I like Fr Trenham, I have watched several of his videos before, he is very grounded and honest. I thank God for teachers like him and also Deacon Ezra Ham who has posted several seminars on you tube which have also been helpful to me.

Thank you for sharing your story. I was tempted to trot out the usual platitudes and shirt rending over my whiteness, but I will not because I find it patronising and overly sentimental. I have never experienced racism, nor homophobia, neither have I experienced extreme poverty therefore while I can sympathise, I cannot empathise with your experience. Your story however, and your observations left me with a deep sadness for you and for millions of others around the world who are marginalised. But as a Christian I am bound to love my enemies and pray for those who would hurt me, which I can only do through the grace of God. Please try to do the same. Please try to forgive for the sake of your soul. To commend this to you in the hope that you will trust Him who loves you is all I can do to love you as a Christian. I can't mend it, I do not have eloquent words or reasoning, I can only pray for you. To forgive, is the first step towards healing, you, and I need to be healed. 

[poptart]

34 minutes ago, Orthodox Christian said:

Thank you for the video, I like Fr Trenham, I have watched several of his videos before, he is very grounded and honest. I thank God for teachers like him and also Deacon Ezra Ham who has posted several seminars on you tube which have also been helpful to me.

Thank you for sharing your story. I was tempted to trot out the usual platitudes and shirt rending over my whiteness, but I will not because I find it patronising and overly sentimental. I have never experienced racism, nor homophobia, neither have I experienced extreme poverty therefore while I can sympathise, I cannot empathise with your experience. Your story however, and your observations left me with a deep sadness for you and for millions of others around the world who are marginalised. But as a Christian I am bound to love my enemies and pray for those who would hurt me, which I can only do through the grace of God. Please try to do the same. Please try to forgive for the sake of your soul. To commend this to you in the hope that you will trust Him who loves you is all I can do to love you as a Christian. I can't mend it, I do not have eloquent words or reasoning, I can only pray for you. To forgive, is the first step towards healing, you, and I need to be healed. 

It was the part where he discussed what happened to the church in Asia Minor I really paid attention to, churches here are closing and due to politics and bad behavior are not only losing people, they're making bitter enemies.  Choices have consequences.

Anymore here when stuff like this comes up I just tell it like it is, no point in hiding it.  IT is what it is, i've been treated the way I have and I made my choices, here we are.  Here's the thing, this is why people like me have the grudges we do and not only intend to, we've voted and acted the way we have for a while now and will continue to do so.  Damages were done, their side does despise us for existing and after a decades long fight LGBTQ as well as POC finally have rights, rights the other side is constantly trying to take away.  Today we celebrated Dr. King and his work, it took that much fighting for civil rights here, it's still a bitter sturggle.  So far, we're winning and despite the other sides complaining will likely continue to do so.  Other reason why I shared what I did with you, what you just posted is totally foreign to my value set, I utterly reject it.  I respect it for what it is but like you said you've never experienced what the likes of me have, here we call that privilege.  It has absolutely no bearing on me nor is it practical considering the deteriorating polticial situations here nor would I ever consider it considering the family I am close to are mostly people of color.  Is what it is, we live in different worlds.  

Something from my world, Liao Fans 4 lessons, very worthwhile read/listen.  My value set tends to revolve around things like this.  I'm feeling charitable, instead of running my mouth off I figure these would give you a better idea of where my reasoning really comes from vs. the flowery Christian speeches I spout here.  Enjoy.

This is from a temple downtown that does festivals year round.  I have cousins from Maui who help put on hula demos here.  

 

Edited January 18, 2022 by poptart

[The Nehor]

Well, my call to burn everything went unheeded. I guess I should be the change I want to see in the world.

Anyone know how to make this happen?

 

Also love the description of the Higgs Field:

“It pretends to be stable but really isn’t”

Now I am left to wonder if I am some exotic variation of a Higgs Field.

Or what if this has already happened and the real universe has different laws and only those in the decayed areas have our physical laws. We wiped them all out and only exist because they destroyed themselves and if we reverse the process they could exist again? Is my evil/good double in the other Universe able to grow a goatee?

Wooooooooaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!

[Calm]

2 hours ago, The Nehor said:

Anyone know how to make this happen?

So I got a banner for life insurance while watching your video….

[Orthodox Christian]

8 hours ago, poptart said:

the flowery Christian speeches I spout here

Why do you spout flowery Christian speeches if they aren't sincere? What is the point of that, who benefits from that, isn't that hypocrisy? Why is it even necessary, nobody has to be on this forum, or any platform for that matter. 

[The Nehor]

8 hours ago, Calm said:

So I got a banner for life insurance while watching your video….

Life insurance companies are looking to sell policies. They have taken a bit more of a hit in the last few years for some reason.

[poptart]

8 hours ago, Orthodox Christian said:

Why do you spout flowery Christian speeches if they aren't sincere? What is the point of that, who benefits from that, isn't that hypocrisy? Why is it even necessary, nobody has to be on this forum, or any platform for that matter. 

Because this is America, it's how they are here, adapt or perish.  It's common with POC, even LGBT people to do that, their side doesn't play fair so if you're smart you adapt, learn their ways and live quietly, exploiting when need be.  Privileged Christians here will never admit it, as a rule they lie about it all the time but that's how it's always been here.  It's a big reason why people from my background are very slow to trust them, if ever.  I was honest with you out of courtesy, you're Orthodox and across the pond so I assume you actually practice your religion, that's not so much a thing here.  Unless you're born to privilege consequences apply to you so there are times where you have to do things to survive.  I suggest you do some homework on the history of religion in the USA, it's quite shameful.  As I said earlier that's what I praised Joseph Smith, he saw the state of affairs here for what they were and still are to this day.

Also, we likely play by a different set of rules, applying your take on Christianity to me is pointless, we'd likely never agree unless you took the time to really understand how things are here.  IT would be like expecting China to adopt SJW policies, besides the foolishness it would never work culturally.

Edited January 18, 2022 by poptart

[The Nehor]

On 1/17/2022 at 12:02 AM, Calm said:

How do you know the view at the end won’t be so shocking it will snap you out of the insanity you currently dwell in?  

 

That might be the worst fate of all depending on how it goes.

[Orthodox Christian]

On 1/18/2022 at 5:54 PM, poptart said:

Because this is America, it's how they are here, adapt or perish.  It's common with POC, even LGBT people to do that, their side doesn't play fair so if you're smart you adapt, learn their ways and live quietly, exploiting when need be.  Privileged Christians here will never admit it, as a rule they lie about it all the time but that's how it's always been here.  It's a big reason why people from my background are very slow to trust them, if ever.  I was honest with you out of courtesy, you're Orthodox and across the pond so I assume you actually practice your religion, that's not so much a thing here.  Unless you're born to privilege consequences apply to you so there are times where you have to do things to survive.  I suggest you do some homework on the history of religion in the USA, it's quite shameful.  As I said earlier that's what I praised Joseph Smith, he saw the state of affairs here for what they were and still are to this day.

Also, we likely play by a different set of rules, applying your take on Christianity to me is pointless, we'd likely never agree unless you took the time to really understand how things are here.  IT would be like expecting China to adopt SJW policies, besides the foolishness it would never work culturally.

That you have had to adapt to survive by essentially playing their game, I can understand. But I don't understand why you continue to apply it to this platform by making flowery Christian speeches. Why do you think you need to do that here where people have no choice but to accept you at face value? Until you make it known, no one knows if you are a person of mixed race, nor that you are LGBT etc, so why the need to make flowery speeches here.? We are all anonymous really on here, it seems a shame that you seem to view everyone through the filter of your own prejudices. I can imagine that your opininion of privileged Christians, or do you just mean white people, who are certainly not all Christians, or is it just privilege itself that you so resent?  This is what I don't get.  You are right I don't have much of an idea about American society, but racism etc are not unique to the USA. We also live with it, and having a colonial history only serves to reinforce it amongst some people along with the idea that we are superior. Colonialism by its very nature is racist, and I would say that the insufferable British attitude of superiority was there at the top right down to the ordinary foot soldier as we marauded our way through India and the rest of our Empire in Victorian times. So our society also carries this baggage, and privilege here is part of our fabric. 

Sorry its long winded, I try to live my faith by just accepting people as they are. Many times I stumble because attitudes can be ingrained without us realising it. I hope God will continue to show me my judgmentalism so that I can overcome it. 

[poptart]

On 1/20/2022 at 3:05 AM, Orthodox Christian said:

That you have had to adapt to survive by essentially playing their game, I can understand. But I don't understand why you continue to apply it to this platform by making flowery Christian speeches. Why do you think you need to do that here where people have no choice but to accept you at face value? Until you make it known, no one knows if you are a person of mixed race, nor that you are LGBT etc, so why the need to make flowery speeches here.? We are all anonymous really on here, it seems a shame that you seem to view everyone through the filter of your own prejudices. I can imagine that your opininion of privileged Christians, or do you just mean white people, who are certainly not all Christians, or is it just privilege itself that you so resent?  This is what I don't get.  You are right I don't have much of an idea about American society, but racism etc are not unique to the USA. We also live with it, and having a colonial history only serves to reinforce it amongst some people along with the idea that we are superior. Colonialism by its very nature is racist, and I would say that the insufferable British attitude of superiority was there at the top right down to the ordinary foot soldier as we marauded our way through India and the rest of our Empire in Victorian times. So our society also carries this baggage, and privilege here is part of our fabric. 

Sorry its long winded, I try to live my faith by just accepting people as they are. Many times I stumble because attitudes can be ingrained without us realising it. I hope God will continue to show me my judgmentalism so that I can overcome it. 

Pogi started a great thread that pretty much addresses your questions towards me, might as well have someone here who really knows what he's talking about illustrate my points.  (Yay Pogi!)

This is the USA, that's how its always been here.  That's why Protestants have church hopped for a while now and from the looks of it the Catholics may well do the same with the infighting they're now having.  We live in different worlds and are likely different people IRL, I wouldn't expect you to understand where i'm coming from, it is what it is.  Also no, of course I don't feel that way towards white people, it's contemporary, Anglo American infused culture I despise with a passion.   Despite being different, I look caucasian so no, hating what I look like would be dumb.  

Lol, China sure is getting even with you guys though, besides Hong Kong i'd imagine this as well as everything else they're doing must worry some of you.  I'm waiting for the USA to become even weakier and President Xi to tell the USA to knock it off with the Asian racism, i'd happily applaud him since i've seen plenty of racism from the conservative i've got mine crowd, someone needs to put them in their place.

Chinese Companies Buy up UK Private Schools, Sparking Fears of CCP Influence — Radio Free Asia (rfa.org)

Personally i've been watching China with a lot of interest, besides the UK turning them into a nation of addicts back when, the USA wasn't kind when they just exploited them for cheap goods, they're getting even with the boomers who happily outsourced our future for their greed.  On top of that, from the looks of it that trade block they have now is not only the largest in the world, it very much mirrors what they had in their imperial days, they're even making friends with Afghanistan, just like they did long ago.  Fun fact, Kabul used to be one of the wealthiest cities on the silk road.  The Mongols did impressive work as far as security went back in the day, supposedly you could have let a slave girl walk from one point to the next and no one would harm her out of fear of retribution.  

Edited January 24, 2022 by poptart

[Orthodox Christian]

Just when you think it couldn't get any worse, it does...throughout the world. Are we ruled by mad men? 

[Tacenda]

4 hours ago, Orthodox Christian said:

Just when you think it couldn't get any worse, it does...throughout the world. Are we ruled by mad men? 

What do you mean?

[Orthodox Christian]

1 hour ago, Tacenda said:

What do you mean?

Just stuff that's happening in our country, and worldwide, East and West squaring up. Every day there is more unsettling news.

[Tacenda]

1 minute ago, Orthodox Christian said:

Just stuff that's happening in our country, and worldwide, East and West squaring up. Every day there is more unsettling news.

For sure, I guess we need only look at the past happenings that occurred in the world and try to match them up and IMO today's goings on seem a little on the better side. But I hear you, and I'm a nightly news addict which just stirs up the same feelings you're having.

[The Nehor]

On 2/4/2022 at 5:33 AM, Orthodox Christian said:

Just when you think it couldn't get any worse, it does...throughout the world. Are we ruled by mad men? 

For, behold, the Lord, the Lord of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water.

The mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient,

The captain of fifty, and the honourable man, and the counsellor, and the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator.

And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.

And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable.

 

And Isaiah 3 just gets worse from there.

[SwedishLDS]

On 2/4/2022 at 6:06 PM, Tacenda said:

For sure, I guess we need only look at the past happenings that occurred in the world and try to match them up and IMO today's goings on seem a little on the better side. But I hear you, and I'm a nightly news addict which just stirs up the same feelings you're having.

You are kinda right, although it really depends on what you are looking at. Wars, deaths, infant mortality, and general prosperity are all certainly a lot better.

What worries me is some long term trends like: increased individualism, how few friends the average person has, mental health, the worsening of family relations and the amount of divorce and lack of childbirth, climate change and local climate pollution, and the decrease in religious belief.

The decrease of religious beliefs bothers me, because people are forgetting their moral roots and calling religion outdated, but we havent found a different moral paradigm, instead everything just becomes relativistic. 

I worry that we are celebrating the fruits of our civilization while forgetting to nourish its Judaeo-Christian roots (note this a global issue)

Edited March 18, 2022 by SwedishLDS

[The Nehor]

10 hours ago, SwedishLDS said:

You are kinda right, although it really depends on what you are looking at. Wars, deaths, infant mortality, and general prosperity are all certainly a lot better.

What worries me is some long term trends like: increased individualism, how few friends the average person has, mental health, the worsening of family relations and the amount of divorce and lack of childbirth, climate change and local climate pollution, and the decrease in religious belief. The decrease of religious beliefs bothers me, because people are forgetting their moral roots and calling religion outdated, but we havent found a different moral paradigm, instead everything just becomes relativistic. 

I worry that we are celebrating the fruits of our civilization while forgetting to nourish its Judaeo-Christian roots

The most visible elements of Christianity in the US have largely sold out and can’t credibly teach morality.

Divorce has been failing. The US rate is still high (though last I checked Russia and Belarus still have us beat) but we are nowhere near the 80s. Marriage rates have dropped. Domestic violence understandably (though still tragically) shot up due to covid.

[Tacenda]

14 hours ago, SwedishLDS said:

You are kinda right, although it really depends on what you are looking at. Wars, deaths, infant mortality, and general prosperity are all certainly a lot better.

What worries me is some long term trends like: increased individualism, how few friends the average person has, mental health, the worsening of family relations and the amount of divorce and lack of childbirth, climate change and local climate pollution, and the decrease in religious belief. The decrease of religious beliefs bothers me, because people are forgetting their moral roots and calling religion outdated, but we havent found a different moral paradigm, instead everything just becomes relativistic. 

I worry that we are celebrating the fruits of our civilization while forgetting to nourish its Judaeo-Christian roots

What a difference several days make. I now, don't think it's comparable to the past, and feel very worried indeed. If a mad man like Putin has control on the nukes we might be trouble, and if Russia goes against him and he knows his demise would he somehow pull the trigger. I've been much like @Orthodox Christiantoday, feeling hopeless, and not hopeful.

Edited March 18, 2022 by Tacenda

[Kenngo1969]

I understand the hopelessness and the helplessness.  Believe me ... Oh, how I understand the hopelessness and the helplessness!   Perhaps some of us had grown a bit too complacent.  COVID-19 has been bad ... I thought it has been bad enough, and then ... stage left, enter Vladimir Putin!    Truly, I feel bad for the Ukrainians.   Shades of October 1962?  Is Mr. Putin in a contest to see if he can one-up Nikita Kruschev?   It seems that the US and NATO have no good options.  What should they have done?  Remaining on a Cold War footing for the last 30 years would not have been tenable.  The American public would not have stood for it, nor would voters have kept Administrations in power that ensured that we did remain on a Cold War footing.

I've taken my share of punches in my personal life.  What else can I do than do the best I can to roll with them?  I can't do much else in these circumstances, especially since it's a giant understatement (a gargantuan understatement) to say that my personal power to have any impact on these worldwide geopolitical events is very, very limited.  I don't know how all of this is going to play out, and I don't like the uncertainty any more than anybody else does.  Having said all of that, I might not know how, but, ultimately, I do know who wins ... Who Wins.  He Wins.  I don't know how, and I don't know precisely when, but I do know He Wins.

As He said, Take My Yoke upon you, and learn of me.  For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.  I hear a lot, who is He kidding?  His yoke is easy, and His burden is light?  Well, compared to the alternative, which, now, we're all feeling, you bet it is!  In the world, ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer.  (Who is He kidding?!  Be of good cheer now?)  Yes.  He has overcome the world, and He is the only way we will overcome the world.  And so on.  All I can do is do the best I can to ensure, when the time comes, that I am on His Side.

Edited March 18, 2022 by Kenngo1969