The world is getting better

by laverite 13 Replies latest social current

• 

  laverite

  The world is getting better in many ways despite the doom and gloom JWs might claim. The 24/7 news cycle seems to be all doom and gloom. But is it all doom and gloom?

  • Infant mortality has decreased 90% in the past hundred years!
  • Human Lifespan has doubled in the past hundred years!
  • Poverty has dropped dramatically!
  • Major advances in food and nutrion!
  • Clean Water!
  • Dramatic Medicine and Healthcare advances!
  • Human rights improvements!

  The article below is a brief look at a new book called "Abundance" that probably no Witness will ever read. It's too disturbing to their world view.

  http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/02/21/the-world-is-getting-better-argues-new-book-abundance.html
• 

  Billy the Ex-Bethelite

  Since when has Watchtower ever let a little thing like facts cloud their vision?

  Russell said that the world couldn't survive past 1914, and by golly it hasn't!
• 

  avengers

  31 dead this morning in Bagdad.

  Better than 50 I guess.

  ????
• 

  laverite

  Avengers - Not sure I undertstand what your point is?

  Billy - so true. Also, the whole doom and gloom 24/7 news cycle that reports on deaths in Bagdad, etc. gives an impression that everything is doom and gloom. Very little positive is reported, and when we look at the bigger picture, we see more than a story about Bagdad, a kidnapping, a hostage taking, fighting in this place and that place. The whole 24/7 news cycle has changed people's perceptions and feeds into our fears.
• 

  cofty

  Totally agree Laverite.
• 

  Flat_Accent

  There's one thing you have to understand about the Media, avengers: If it bleeds, it leads. (and no I didn't just pull that from the article >_>)

  There are still lots of problems in the World that need fixing, but I'd rather be alive now than at any other point in history. I'd recommend giving Steven Pinkers book Better Angels of our Nature a read if you want to explore the trends in violent behaviour over the centuries. It's safer to be alive now than at any other point in time. The 21st century has seen one of the lowest points in homicide rate in the western world, second only to the 1950's.
• 

  M*A*S*H

  If the media are saying "everythings good" a dub will say "look they're talking about peace and security the end is near". If the media saying "everything's bad" a dub will say "see, reports of wars, earthquakes etc... the end is near".

  Like the dub numbers... if they go up they say "look how God is blessing his earthly org", if they go down... "well it does say the love of the greater number will wear off" (or at least something like that, I think).

  It's full proof
• 

  St George of England

  An old sister I know was wittering on about how bad things have become since 1914.

  I asked how she would like to go back in time and live before 1914, 1812 for example. No Satan to cause problems etc.

  She did not like the idea one bit.

  George
• 

  Joliette

  Yes it is.. Life is only what you make it.
• 

  truth_b_known

  "What's the world coming to, sir?"

  "The world ain't coming to nothing, son. Same as it ever was."