Our World has Gone to Pot

This is a scripture that says:

(1 Corinthians 7:31) . . .the scene of this world is changing. . .


That basically means that it is always in flux, not stable, it is not constant. It is ever changing.

To let you know where I am coming from I will give you my age. I am about 40 years old.

I know that there are those of you here who are older and who are younger, in fact I'm in about the middle.

My dad's generation grew up right after WWII. My grandpa's from both sides fought in WWII. That means my mom came right after WWII as well.

My grandma was raised during the Great Depression. It showed in the things she owned. She wouldn't let go of a thing ever. Always wondering when she would need it.

My father taught me to respect my elders, that is people older than me. Even if it was just my brother.

I never talked back to my mom or dad, to my teacher. To my older brothers.

My dad taught me manners. I didn't put my elbows on the table at dinner. I didn't interrupt. I waited patiently until asked to talk.

I was taught that lying is wrong. That stealing is morally repugnant. That treating anyone else than me worse than me was wrong.

My parents were not bigots, they were not racists. They loved people.

One day a man after eating at my father's house, with me present, asked him, "Do you have homeless people come to your home often?" He replied, "Yes, all the time." The man took him outside, I followed, and he pointed at a mark on the curb. We lived in the middle of an urban city. He said, "that mark means that you will treat hobos to a meal."

My dad raised me to love everyone. We were white but we lived in a predominantly black community. In fact, I thought more blacks lived than whites for a long time.

My parents were God fearing. And taught me about God. And he was love and loved everyone. I went to school and they told me God didn't exist. And my teachers who saw my love of God hated me. And they would stand me out in front of everyone and make fun of me, and bully me. Full grown people. I knew they were wrong. I knew they were the ones that needed to learn more. I felt bad, for the way those teachers bullied me in front of everyone, but also because they didn't know what I knew. The power of love.

I look around today and see that their teachings and the teachings of false religion have only spread. I know, I know what is going to happen. What is the result. Because I have been shown, been taught it.

The end result is good for all humble meek people who love. It is bad for all arrogant people who hate.

I can tell you honestly from the bottom of my heart with Jehovah God as my witness, I have NEVER hated a single person in my entire life.

Sometimes I read people who talk about hatred of people as if it is something normal and something all people have and do.


That is not true. It is not normal. Hatred is wrong. It is wrong. And so is violence. And so is bullying, and so is pride and arrogance.

And the new generation that is all it knows, for that is all that their parents, in their ignorance have taught them.

It has a lot to do with believing in yourself.

Because they don't know anyone else to believe in. They have been taught there is no one greater to believe in.

But if they only knew. If you only knew.

a reply to: PeterHawkes

Love in a cruel world is like light in a dark place.

A little beacon, even on a great expanse of emptiness, can fuel a heart to find courage, prevent a descent into despair. For every light we see, there is a flaming sword to take up against darkness.

The absence of light can have no victory, unless all such light is extinguished. Burn brightly, and rejoice in the opportunity to do so.

originally posted by: TrueBrit
a reply to: PeterHawkes

Love in a cruel world is like light in a dark place.

A little beacon, even on a great expanse of emptiness, can fuel a heart to find courage, prevent a descent into despair. For every light we see, there is a flaming sword to take up against darkness.

The absence of light can have no victory, unless all such light is extinguished. Burn brightly, and rejoice in the opportunity to do so.

Everything you state is truth and reminds me of a Garth Brooks song.

I hear ya Pete and this isn`t something that has just changed, its been rapidly getting worse for quite some time.

originally posted by: PeterHawkes

Hatred is wrong. It is wrong.

This is all I disagree with. Hate just for the sake of hate yes is wrong.

But I agree with Dr Bill Warner..

a reply to: gps777

Ah..

A video where an Islamaphobe defends hatred. The irony is vast.

originally posted by: gps777
I hear ya Pete and this isn`t something that has just changed, its been rapidly getting worse for quite some time.

originally posted by: PeterHawkes

Hatred is wrong. It is wrong.

This is all I disagree with. Hate just for the sake of hate yes is wrong.

But I agree with Dr Bill Warner..

I didn't see that video but I do agree that hate is needed. But not in the context of my OP. Hatred OF WHAT IS BAD.

I HATE death. I HATE dishonesty. I HATE everything that causes harm to humankind. But that is a good hate. I know what is good hate and know what is bad hate. And the world thrives upon hate that is wrong.

(Psalm 97:10) . . .O you who love Jehovah, hate what is bad.. . .

(Psalm 34:14) Turn away from what is bad and do what is good; Seek peace and pursue it.

(Psalm 101:3) I will not set anything worthless before my eyes. I hate the deeds of those who deviate from what is right; I will have nothing to do with them.

(Psalm 119:104) By your orders I act with understanding. That is why I hate every false path.

(Romans 12:9) Let your love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is wicked; cling to what is good.

(Hebrews 1:9) You loved righteousness, and you hated lawlessness. That is why God, your God, anointed you with the oil of exultation more than your companions.”

originally posted by: gps777

originally posted by: TrueBrit
a reply to: gps777

Ah..

A video where an Islamaphobe defends hatred. The irony is vast.

Condescending name calling in an attempt to belittle, your veiled hate is easy to see even though he is correct, yep the irony. Love Islam all you like and its practices and wonder why your country is the way it is, most of the ME was once predominantly Christian as well.

Is there a way to report this post? It did not touch on the OP in a single manner. Only showed vitriolic which I am against. Even that is okay, which it should be in an open forum, it is very off topic.

a reply to: PeterHawkes

This sums it up.

originally posted by: alldaylong
a reply to: PeterHawkes

This sums it up.

In my 40 years I've never heard that song, and from the video it looks like it's a part of a movie? Anyway, yes, the words of it are quite good. Thank you for it. It has great meaning to me.

a reply to: gps777

First of all, I don't hate the man. I hate his approach to what is most certainly a problem. He attacks ideology, which cannot be destroyed, rather than attacking radicalism which can be. In so doing, he paints with a broad brush, not with the fine tool required to correctly identify the threat and by so doing make it easier to deal with.

He is part of the problem, because he has bought every lie that has ever been told to him by his government, which is clear from his attitude. Those who do not drink the KoolAid, realise that there are persons in every walk of life, be they Christian or Muslim, Hindu or Buddhist, or affiliated with any other faith, and even no faith, who are worth loving, worth cherishing as people. His attitude ignores this, do the detriment of his ability to retain the healthiest aspects of his humanity.

originally posted by: PeterHawkes

originally posted by: alldaylong
a reply to: PeterHawkes

This sums it up.

In my 40 years I've never heard that song, and from the video it looks like it's a part of a movie? Anyway, yes, the words of it are quite good. Thank you for it. It has great meaning to me.

It's from the film " A Clockwork Orange "

a reply to: TrueBrit

Everyone is worthy of love. Even the unlovable. Even if what they do is despicable. Hate what they do, not the person. That is something these people, from both sides are not even aware of. The ability to love, or the power of love.

You can know they are wrong, and hate what they do. But you can also know they are sincere, and think they are right. And shake your head, and hope one day they open their eyes.

And let God judge. It is not up to us.

originally posted by: alldaylong

originally posted by: PeterHawkes

originally posted by: alldaylong
a reply to: PeterHawkes

This sums it up.

In my 40 years I've never heard that song, and from the video it looks like it's a part of a movie? Anyway, yes, the words of it are quite good. Thank you for it. It has great meaning to me.

It's from the film " A Clockwork Orange "

I've heard of the movie but never seen it. I might take the time now.

a reply to: PeterHawkes
I have never seen the truth laid out so well
This part I remember most:

One day a man after eating at my father's house, with me present, asked him, "Do you have homeless people come to your home often?" He replied, "Yes, all the time."

In the South we always , and I mean always ,set another place at the table for anyone to join in. My grandmother would cook one heck of a meal including cakes and pies. Then go away for sometimes a week and not lock her door. That way , anyone that came in could sit down and have a very good meal.Nothing for 20 years that she lived alone was ever stolen or amiss when she returned. Just dirty dishes. Most times , not even that. ANd that was one thing she truly enjoyed doing in life.
Peace

originally posted by: PeterHawkes

originally posted by: alldaylong

originally posted by: PeterHawkes

originally posted by: alldaylong
a reply to: PeterHawkes

This sums it up.

In my 40 years I've never heard that song, and from the video it looks like it's a part of a movie? Anyway, yes, the words of it are quite good. Thank you for it. It has great meaning to me.

It's from the film " A Clockwork Orange "

I've heard of the movie but never seen it. I might take the time now.

My bad. It's not " A Clockwork Orange " it's " O Lucky Man "

Both films star Malcolm McDowell

originally posted by: Gothmog
a reply to: PeterHawkes
I have never seen the truth laid out so well
This part I remember most:

One day a man after eating at my father's house, with me present, asked him, "Do you have homeless people come to your home often?" He replied, "Yes, all the time."

In the South we always , and I mean always ,set another place at the table for anyone to join in. My grandmother would cook one heck of a meal including cakes and pies. Then go away for sometimes a week and not lock her door. That way , anyone that came in could sit down and have a very good meal.Nothing for 20 years that she lived alone was ever stolen or amiss when she returned. Just dirty dishes. Most times , not even that. ANd that was one thing she truly enjoyed doing in life.
Peace

A powerful statement. And also shows the changes of the times. I still do the same. Awhile ago, a young man, about 20 years old, would sit outside the local store I would go to, always full of flies and dirty. You could tell he wasn't altogether. I don't know what it was, I never found out more about him. I did sit with him once. My wife had made a soup, it was cold then, and I was thinking of him. And took it and sat down next to him and gave it to him. And he ate and thanked me for it, then I took him in my arms, I didn't care he was dirty and smelled bad, and I hugged him and said: "I love you."

And he started to cry and shake.

And I felt sad for him.

I don't know anything else about him, because I never saw him after that day. But I did love him and felt pity for him.

Well, I'm not so sure I agree on the religion angle. Frankly, I'm agnostic. I'm not a fan of the atheists who are always ridiculing religious people and being verbally abusive against them but at the same time, I kind of have issues with people like televangelists who do the whole fire and brimstone thing while simultaneously peppering their sermons with peace and love nuggets to suggest that they are not really saying what they're saying.

But yes. There has been a MAJOR change (for the worse) lately. I'm in my 40s so I obviously remember the 80s and the 90s pretty well. Of course no time has ever been perfect but after 9/11 was when things really started to decline. I'm not entirely sure if it was just 9/11 and it's consequences or if it was the incidental rise of the internet at the same time.

I believe the internet has really polluted a lot of people with garbage and nonsense. Especially since the rise of "social media" in the form we're starting to become used to. Things like Facebook and Twitter. The places are just a cesspool of mindlessness and vapid trolling about things that don't even matter. Zillions of stupid memes that have next to no meaning whatsoever. And they just spread out all over the internet in a swampy sludge that you can't get away from. Nobody wants to have a real discussion about anything even on most forums. If you post anything meaningful someone will invariably follow it up with a meme that is basically just giving you the finger and telling you that you talk too much and you think too much and just shut up.

Everyone has the same stupid cartoons bouncing around in their empty skulls and they can't be bothered to have an actual independent thought unless they're trying to come up with the next big meme. How utterly obscene is it that one original thought will be transplanted into a billion brains in an instant and you can't argue with them EVER because they will all have exactly the same reaction to anything you say? It's creepy!

I guess some of us are getting old. I wonder if this is how the older people felt when I was young and we had different stuff going on. They were obviously appalled at some of it but I wonder if it really seemed as bad to them as what is happening now. Somehow it just feels worse. It feels like it has more of a malicious tinge to it. I don't think my generation wanted to just completely wipe it's ass with the past generations. We wanted to do our own thing, yes but our own thing wasn't erasing what had come before and just desecrating it with complete mindlessness. There was still some real meaning to be found. People who had something real to say. Something that came from their own mind

Even in the midst of the crime and the drugs and all the other problems, something was different. Even in the early 2000s things still seemed somewhat "normal". I started noticing things were going bad in a different way around 2006 and it has just gotten worse and worse.

originally posted by: BrianFlanders
Well, I'm not so sure I agree on the religion angle. Frankly, I'm agnostic. I'm not a fan of the atheists who are always ridiculing religious people and being verbally abusive against them but at the same time, I kind of have issues with people like televangelists who do the whole fire and brimstone thing while simultaneously peppering their sermons with peace and love nuggets to suggest that they are not really saying what they're saying.

But yes. There has been a MAJOR change (for the worse) lately. I'm in my 40s so I obviously remember the 80s and the 90s pretty well. Of course no time has ever been perfect but after 9/11 was when things really started to decline. I'm not entirely sure if it was just 9/11 and it's consequences or if it was the incidental rise of the internet at the same time.

I believe the internet has really polluted a lot of people with garbage and nonsense. Especially since the rise of "social media" in the form we're starting to become used to. Things like Facebook and Twitter. The places are just a cesspool of mindlessness and vapid trolling about things that don't even matter. Zillions of stupid memes that have next to no meaning whatsoever. And they just spread out all over the internet in a swampy sludge that you can't get away from. Nobody wants to have a real discussion about anything even on most forums. If you post anything meaningful someone will invariably follow it up with a meme that is basically just giving you the finger and telling you that you talk too much and you think too much and just shut up.

Everyone has the same stupid cartoons bouncing around in their empty skulls and they can't be bothered to have an actual independent thought unless they're trying to come up with the next big meme. How utterly obscene is it that one original thought will be transplanted into a billion brains in an instant and you can't argue with them EVER because they will all have exactly the same reaction to anything you say? It's creepy!

I guess some of us are getting old. I wonder if this is how the older people felt when I was young and we had different stuff going on. They were obviously appalled at some of it but I wonder if it really seemed as bad to them as what is happening now. Somehow it just feels worse. It feels like it has more of a malicious tinge to it. I don't think my generation wanted to just completely wipe it's ass with the past generations. We wanted to do our own thing, yes but our own thing wasn't erasing what had come before and just desecrating it with complete mindlessness. There was still some real meaning to be found. People who had something real to say. Something that came from their own mind

Even in the midst of the crime and the drugs and all the other problems, something was different. Even in the early 2000s things still seemed somewhat "normal". I started noticing things were going bad in a different way around 2006 and it has just gotten worse and worse.

I can agree with everything you said Brian. Actually when I was a kid I never thought the things will have gotten to the point they have.

And then I study history and remember that their were generations before ours who had it a lot worse. Like those who saw the Great Depression and World War II. Especially the people in Europe.

And then look at recent history and all of the suffering in Africa. It never ends does it?

Only what you see happening in America wakes you up. But since America in the world power, it should. It should wake up all good people of the earth.

I know that you say that you are agnostic. And I know what that means.

But I will share with you a scripture that tells you what the mental attitude of people will be in the time of the end, and tell me, if this does not describe humankind better than ever before:

(2 Timothy 3:1-5) But know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, 3 having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, 4 betrayers, headstrong, puffed up with pride, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, 5 having an appearance of godliness but proving false to its power; and from these turn away.

There we are shown that people will claim to love God but show they are false by their actions, that people will be boastful, arrogant, narcissistic (lovers of themselves) so many children in disobedience to their parents, people would naturally be disloyal, betrayers of each other, headstrong, loving things in the world and its pleasures rather than the love of God.

Tell me, is this NOT the predominant mental bent of humankind worldwide?

The Occidental man and the Eastern man will never agree. Their views are opposed to the core of their society and being.