Posts by SecondRateMind

226

Wealth, Poverty, and Morality

by SecondRateMind in

jw
friends

i am interested in the approach this forum takes to money.

apart from sex, (which i am quite relaxed about) it seems to me that wealth is the surest divider between those who are moral, and those who are not.. it seems jesus thought so, also.

luke 16:19-31 kjv describes well enough his dusty attitude to the rich who do not succour the poor.. and this world has many poor: so many, it might seem that we can do nothing about it, and twist his words; 'the poor ye shall have always with you, but me, ye shall not have always.

SecondRateMind

Well, I meant in terms of the actual logistics of such a redistribution.
For instance, how do you redistribute real estate property equally? Do houses bigger than what can be afforded by a $16k salary get demolished so that everyone live in an equally sized living unit?
What about other material possessions such as electronics. Is it fair that some have an iPhone X while others have only a flip phone?

It's voluntary, Sanchy. Everyone makes their own decisions on how to deploy their excess of wealth, and how to deploy the equitable allowance of wealth they are morally entitled to keep, according to their own circumstances and priorities.

Best wishes, 2RM.

226

Wealth, Poverty, and Morality

by SecondRateMind in

jw
friends

i am interested in the approach this forum takes to money.

apart from sex, (which i am quite relaxed about) it seems to me that wealth is the surest divider between those who are moral, and those who are not.. it seems jesus thought so, also.

luke 16:19-31 kjv describes well enough his dusty attitude to the rich who do not succour the poor.. and this world has many poor: so many, it might seem that we can do nothing about it, and twist his words; 'the poor ye shall have always with you, but me, ye shall not have always.

SecondRateMind

In case no-one has pointed it out to you, your superior, patronising tone is on par with the WT. You may be impressing yourself but noone here is impressed by it.

Splash, I am not here to be nice. Just to save the world.

I am particularly not here to repeat myself to those have have not read, or have not understood, what I have expressed in perfectly clear, plain English. That would not move the conversation forward, and risk boring those who have read, and have understood.

Doesn't this already happen? What's different about your "commendation" compared to people already giving voluntarily according to the promptings of each individual's conscience?

Indeed it does. But obviously not to a sufficient extent, or we would not have 2 billion absolutely poor, of whom 36 million a year die of preventable starvation, and countless others from other poverty related aspects of want. So, I have specified what an equitable distribution of wealth would be, in the OP, for everybody's ease of reference.

Best wishes, 2RM.

226

Wealth, Poverty, and Morality

by SecondRateMind in

jw
friends

i am interested in the approach this forum takes to money.

apart from sex, (which i am quite relaxed about) it seems to me that wealth is the surest divider between those who are moral, and those who are not.. it seems jesus thought so, also.

luke 16:19-31 kjv describes well enough his dusty attitude to the rich who do not succour the poor.. and this world has many poor: so many, it might seem that we can do nothing about it, and twist his words; 'the poor ye shall have always with you, but me, ye shall not have always.

SecondRateMind

But, I would not like to say that any Christian, who considers themselves a Christian, from whatever denomination, is not a Christian.

Really sounds a bit nonsensical of a statement. ........ again
Unless of course your Jesus Christ and therefore you can be that judgemental ?

Finkelstein, if you cogitate a little, you will find the statement neither nonsensical nor judgmental. I mean exactly what I say, and I do not immediately conceive of how I might be clearer.

Best wishes, 2RM

226

Wealth, Poverty, and Morality

by SecondRateMind in

jw
friends

i am interested in the approach this forum takes to money.

apart from sex, (which i am quite relaxed about) it seems to me that wealth is the surest divider between those who are moral, and those who are not.. it seems jesus thought so, also.

luke 16:19-31 kjv describes well enough his dusty attitude to the rich who do not succour the poor.. and this world has many poor: so many, it might seem that we can do nothing about it, and twist his words; 'the poor ye shall have always with you, but me, ye shall not have always.

SecondRateMind

SecondRate, I scanned through most of the comments but im not sure I understood one thing: How exactly do you propose this redistribution of wealth be carried out?

Sanchy, when you have the time and inclination to scan in more depth, you will find that I commend that this redistribution to occur voluntarily and charitably, according to the promptings of each individual's conscience, and with the encouragement of society in general.

Specifically, I do not propose, as I have severally pointed out, but still many here have misunderstood me to mean, any form of compulsion around this.

Best wishes, 2RM

226

Wealth, Poverty, and Morality

by SecondRateMind in

jw
friends

i am interested in the approach this forum takes to money.

apart from sex, (which i am quite relaxed about) it seems to me that wealth is the surest divider between those who are moral, and those who are not.. it seems jesus thought so, also.

luke 16:19-31 kjv describes well enough his dusty attitude to the rich who do not succour the poor.. and this world has many poor: so many, it might seem that we can do nothing about it, and twist his words; 'the poor ye shall have always with you, but me, ye shall not have always.

SecondRateMind

Cofty, no one is claiming all Christians are good and moral. But, without Christianity, for all I know, we might still be crucifying politically and theologically inconvenient itinerant rabbis. Christianity, as best I construe history, has been responsible for atrocities. But also for much social progress.

Best wishes, 2RM.

226

Wealth, Poverty, and Morality

by SecondRateMind in

jw
friends

i am interested in the approach this forum takes to money.

apart from sex, (which i am quite relaxed about) it seems to me that wealth is the surest divider between those who are moral, and those who are not.. it seems jesus thought so, also.

luke 16:19-31 kjv describes well enough his dusty attitude to the rich who do not succour the poor.. and this world has many poor: so many, it might seem that we can do nothing about it, and twist his words; 'the poor ye shall have always with you, but me, ye shall not have always.

SecondRateMind

One of the problems with the JWS is that they are instructed and regulated to only give to the WTS. Corporation, out outside charities or helping out the needy and disadvantaged if demeaned and frowned upon.

Interesting. I didn't know that.

Not really true practicing Christians are they ?

As you may have gathered from my previous post, I think some Christians further advanced on their life's pilgrim journey than other Christians. But, I would not like to say that any Christian, who considers themselves a Christian, from whatever denomination, is not a Christian.

Best wishes, 2RM

226

Wealth, Poverty, and Morality

by SecondRateMind in

jw
friends

i am interested in the approach this forum takes to money.

apart from sex, (which i am quite relaxed about) it seems to me that wealth is the surest divider between those who are moral, and those who are not.. it seems jesus thought so, also.

luke 16:19-31 kjv describes well enough his dusty attitude to the rich who do not succour the poor.. and this world has many poor: so many, it might seem that we can do nothing about it, and twist his words; 'the poor ye shall have always with you, but me, ye shall not have always.

SecondRateMind

What you see as an ad hominem, I see as questioning you the way you are questioning others

Dubstepped, I don't recall questioning your integrity. Or that of any other individual contributor to this thread. Perhaps you will oblige by quoting me, where I did?

Best wishes, 2RM.

226

Wealth, Poverty, and Morality

by SecondRateMind in

jw
friends

i am interested in the approach this forum takes to money.

apart from sex, (which i am quite relaxed about) it seems to me that wealth is the surest divider between those who are moral, and those who are not.. it seems jesus thought so, also.

luke 16:19-31 kjv describes well enough his dusty attitude to the rich who do not succour the poor.. and this world has many poor: so many, it might seem that we can do nothing about it, and twist his words; 'the poor ye shall have always with you, but me, ye shall not have always.

SecondRateMind

Finkelstein, I can't help but agree that if all Christians did exactly as Jesus preached, there might be a better world and more Christians, and a better world, and more Christians, etc.

But I also think that the faith is not so much a destination, as a journey. And on that pilgrim journey, we all progress from different stages at different speeds, according to our inclinations and circumstances.

Best wishes, 2RM.

226

Wealth, Poverty, and Morality

by SecondRateMind in

jw
friends

i am interested in the approach this forum takes to money.

apart from sex, (which i am quite relaxed about) it seems to me that wealth is the surest divider between those who are moral, and those who are not.. it seems jesus thought so, also.

luke 16:19-31 kjv describes well enough his dusty attitude to the rich who do not succour the poor.. and this world has many poor: so many, it might seem that we can do nothing about it, and twist his words; 'the poor ye shall have always with you, but me, ye shall not have always.

SecondRateMind

...money of itself has no intrinsic value, is both created and destroyed in various activities.

Agreed, Shepherdless.

Your ideal suggests that you are one of those who think all the money on the planet is a finite set amount (as if it was found under a bush somewhere by cavemen, and in circulation ever since).

But don't blame me for this focus on total wealth. Blame Credit Suisse, who estimated total world wealth in 2017 as $241 trillion. That was the figure I took to calculate an equitable distribution of individual net worth. Maybe Credit Suisse think that cavemen discovered this money?

Best wishes, 2RM

226

Wealth, Poverty, and Morality

by SecondRateMind in

jw
friends

i am interested in the approach this forum takes to money.

apart from sex, (which i am quite relaxed about) it seems to me that wealth is the surest divider between those who are moral, and those who are not.. it seems jesus thought so, also.

luke 16:19-31 kjv describes well enough his dusty attitude to the rich who do not succour the poor.. and this world has many poor: so many, it might seem that we can do nothing about it, and twist his words; 'the poor ye shall have always with you, but me, ye shall not have always.

SecondRateMind

Splash, I have already addressed pretty much all the points you raise. Either you have not read the thread, or you are misconstruing me. Either way, if you want to make a contribution to the topic, I recommend a little application on your part.

Best wishes, 2RM