Trying to steer this back on track (though I think a thread on the philosophy of redistribution would be great).....
Publius
Yes, I do believe there is suffering in the First World too. I alluded to this when I said "for example the above list contains hardly anyone in England or US, but surely some suffering exists in the West too."
Whether it is a child being sexually abused in New York or a senior citizen being beaten to death in the Congo. It is all bad.
When I think about it I would normally conclude that it was so bad that no loving, father God could let it happen.
BUT I still think I would both have more peace with the world and have a greater impact in it, if I were to believe that there *was* a God with a plan behind it all.
You know that feeling on a rollercoaster when you are scared out of your mind and have your eyes closed tight and your fists clenching the bars. But then you think "wait a minute, they would never let me die or be hurt. they'd be sued to kingdom come. so it *must* be safe to open my eyes and let go of the bars". And you do. Well that's how I feel sometimes. Having a responsible God in charge of life's rollercoaster would help me to *really* open my eyes to the suffering of the world, and would let me take my hands off of the safety bars.
If you have ever felt the same then please post away.
If you are interested in globalisation, redistribution or the problem of evil, then I think that they would be great threads to start in the Philosophy or Politics boards.
Kepp on thinking, and keep on posting.....
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I've been 4thTimeLucky, you've been great. Goodnight and God bless!
Last edited by 4thTimeLucky; 06-03-2003 at 05:48 AM..
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