lriddle80

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Posts by lriddle80

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  53

  Politics and Hope

  by lriddle80 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  so there are a lot of atheists on here.

  my question: where does your hope come from?

  that the right people will be put in political positions and will eventually form a utopian society that will meet all needs and we will have equality for all?.

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  lriddle80

  "What does this have to do with hope"

  This was in response to someone saying JW sell you a paradise earth and see life now as meaningless.

  And I don't see life as meaningless because of the hope that there's life after death. And loving people and giving respect to people who don't "earn" it or "deserve" it gives them hope that there is a God and even their lives can be redeemed. These are drug addicted homeless people who are useless to society and just by treating them like humans deserving of love and respect could have transforming power.

  That's about hope :)
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  53

  Politics and Hope

  by lriddle80 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  so there are a lot of atheists on here.

  my question: where does your hope come from?

  that the right people will be put in political positions and will eventually form a utopian society that will meet all needs and we will have equality for all?.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  lriddle80

  MeanMrMustard

  You're right, I guess I should just stick to saying he does his best work "in spite" of my efforts, and still helps the people I love, without me, usually. I feel like it keeps me humble and that creates peace around me.

  As for the murders...hey, we're getting better as a society!
• 
  53

  Politics and Hope

  by lriddle80 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  so there are a lot of atheists on here.

  my question: where does your hope come from?

  that the right people will be put in political positions and will eventually form a utopian society that will meet all needs and we will have equality for all?.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  lriddle80

  So, if homo sapiens get wiped out...all that passion, fighting for what's right, love, all of the epic dramas being played out and the intricate connections... We and all our history burns up, leaving no remaining memories of mankind.

  So, it WAS all for nothing after all!

  You could say it's man's narcissistic nature to feel like our lives are worth something and it can be hard to accept that our lives are worthless and so are we, but we have to make it better for the next worthless life.

  I think our lives are intricately woven together playing out an epic story of a redeeming Savior saving people who are worthless for an ultimate crescendo of God, man, and creation becoming one. But, that's later...I just try to love the person in front of me and make them feel cared for.
• 
  53

  Politics and Hope

  by lriddle80 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  so there are a lot of atheists on here.

  my question: where does your hope come from?

  that the right people will be put in political positions and will eventually form a utopian society that will meet all needs and we will have equality for all?.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  lriddle80

  MeanMrMustard

  I love that you said that ever occurence of the world becoming better was "in spite of" the government, not because of it!

  When I look at my own life in trying to help others, it's always "in spite of" me because inevitably I would fail in "my" efforts, but the person gets helped anyway! I believe God does his best work "in spite of" humanity, but still uses humanity to do it...even government sometimes!
• 
  53

  Politics and Hope

  by lriddle80 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  so there are a lot of atheists on here.

  my question: where does your hope come from?

  that the right people will be put in political positions and will eventually form a utopian society that will meet all needs and we will have equality for all?.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  lriddle80

  Al Gore (and others probably) was predicting the climate changes that we see today unless we act, but the people that were placed in the political positions to help this coming crisis didn't believe him and the scientists and so here we are at a potential irreversible climate situation that we caused (according to scientists).

  And I guess we can hope to escape earth and live on Mars, but that doesn't really sound realistic and a lot of people are going to die trying to make that happen, if it ever does.
• 
  53

  Politics and Hope

  by lriddle80 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  so there are a lot of atheists on here.

  my question: where does your hope come from?

  that the right people will be put in political positions and will eventually form a utopian society that will meet all needs and we will have equality for all?.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  lriddle80

  I guess I was wondering if you put all your trust to make the world better on political leaders and if they keep failing, what else is there for you?

  The human spirit of never giving up?
• 
  53

  Politics and Hope

  by lriddle80 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  so there are a lot of atheists on here.

  my question: where does your hope come from?

  that the right people will be put in political positions and will eventually form a utopian society that will meet all needs and we will have equality for all?.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  lriddle80

  I agree! It's a great time to be alive in some ways. I think human connection was probably better in older civilizations or maybe it's just in America that we all seem a little disconnected in real life.

  I was thinking about all of advances in technology and things like stoves and air conditioning. But now we have an advanced, maybe irreversible climate problem most likely caused by these advances, so I don't know it was such a good idea to become so advanced.

  What humans want is to feel like they are accepted and are loved and to find a place to belong. Though I think now, faster internet speed and flying cars are high on the list.
• 
  53

  Politics and Hope

  by lriddle80 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  so there are a lot of atheists on here.

  my question: where does your hope come from?

  that the right people will be put in political positions and will eventually form a utopian society that will meet all needs and we will have equality for all?.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  lriddle80

  Pistol pete

  What you are describing is called The Prosperity Gospel.

  It's a false gospel that basically says God wants you to have Prosperity in this life! He wants you to be healed, it's your fault if you aren't because you don't have enough faith or money.

  The truth of real christianity is that you might not get healed of cancer, a huge storm can wipe out a whole people group, your whole life can fall apart. But we feel like in this life, we have the holy spirit to comfort us through our trials (if you are a believer in Christ!). And the suffering in this life is not comparable to the joy in the life to come.

  Life can be wonderful, it can be a waking nightmare!! That doesn't mean there is no God just because someone dies. We're all going to die.

  But I just wanted to clear up the Prosperity heresy that's out there!
• 
  53

  Politics and Hope

  by lriddle80 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  so there are a lot of atheists on here.

  my question: where does your hope come from?

  that the right people will be put in political positions and will eventually form a utopian society that will meet all needs and we will have equality for all?.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  lriddle80

  I am confident in my prediction that people will always be unsatisfied and divided.

  So, just getting better is the goal?

  Just seems like people are demanding something more from political leaders than just "getting better" as a society. And then, there are different definitions of what it means to be "better." Different definitions on how to get "better." Some say all means necessary to their own end which is in direct contrast to another's end that they are using any means necessary to get. Division.

  I guess I don't have much faith in humanity. I do have faith in individuals and I try to help as many as I can.

  And I wasn't trying to start a fight, I genuinely am interested in what it's like to live with only this life as an option. Politics is "the answer" though, right? Besides individual responsibility?
• 
  53

  Politics and Hope

  by lriddle80 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  so there are a lot of atheists on here.

  my question: where does your hope come from?

  that the right people will be put in political positions and will eventually form a utopian society that will meet all needs and we will have equality for all?.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  lriddle80

  So there are a lot of atheists on here.

  My question: where does your hope come from? That the right people will be put in political positions and will eventually form a utopian society that will meet all needs and we will have equality for all?

  Because we know that won't happen because people are always going to be divided and unsatisfied.

  So where does that leave you?