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4thTimeLucky · 06-02-2003, 01:15 PM

Dragonlich

We can discuss whether life is better or worse now or a 2,000 years ago. We can discuss whether Africa has always been a "bad" place and Europe or America a "good" one, in which to live. We can even discuss whether you can feed, clothe and house yourself on $1 a day in the world's poorest countries. All of these matters are debatable and it sounds like you know a lot about these issues and could certainly fight your corner well.

For me the salient point is that millions of people are suffering terribly in this world and that that is millions too many.

I can see the love, joy, beauty and happiness in the world. I am surrounded by it every day. I could hardly wish to live a better life than I do and I am very grateful for that (though to who I don't know).

BUT I try and remind myself of the suffering in the world because it is too easy to be forgetful. To be complacent. To be caught up in the glamorous whirlwind of our lives. To explain things away using macroeconomics and politics, and then to confuse explanation with justification or inevitability.

So how does all this relate to my thread?
Okay, so we seem to be agreed that there is terrible suffering in the world and that it is on a grand scale (many millions of speople live and die in appaling conditions, even if most live happy lives).
Now....
If this sufferring is the result of nature and man then it is needless, it will go unammended, it is likely to continue long into the future and those who deliberately exacerbate it will likely go unpunished.

But if this suffering is part of a divine plan then it is not needless, it will be compensated for, there will be an end to it and wrongdoers will pay for their sins - a final day of judgemement, resolution and recompense.

I would certainly prefer the second scenario to be true, even though I believe it is not.

06-02-2003, 01:15 PM	#26 (permalink)
4thTimeLucky Psycho Location: 4th has left the building - goodbye folks	Dragonlich We can discuss whether life is better or worse now or a 2,000 years ago. We can discuss whether Africa has always been a "bad" place and Europe or America a "good" one, in which to live. We can even discuss whether you can feed, clothe and house yourself on $1 a day in the world's poorest countries. All of these matters are debatable and it sounds like you know a lot about these issues and could certainly fight your corner well. For me the salient point is that millions of people are suffering terribly in this world and that that is millions too many. I can see the love, joy, beauty and happiness in the world. I am surrounded by it every day. I could hardly wish to live a better life than I do and I am very grateful for that (though to who I don't know). BUT I try and remind myself of the suffering in the world because it is too easy to be forgetful. To be complacent. To be caught up in the glamorous whirlwind of our lives. To explain things away using macroeconomics and politics, and then to confuse explanation with justification or inevitability. So how does all this relate to my thread? Okay, so we seem to be agreed that there is terrible suffering in the world and that it is on a grand scale (many millions of speople live and die in appaling conditions, even if most live happy lives). Now.... If this sufferring is the result of nature and man then it is needless, it will go unammended, it is likely to continue long into the future and those who deliberately exacerbate it will likely go unpunished. But if this suffering is part of a divine plan then it is not needless, it will be compensated for, there will be an end to it and wrongdoers will pay for their sins - a final day of judgemement, resolution and recompense. I would certainly prefer the second scenario to be true, even though I believe it is not. __________________ I've been 4thTimeLucky, you've been great. Goodnight and God bless!