JosephM

I'm curious...... I can see the economy failed in 2008 but i would like to understand exactly what you mean by it "has been rolling downhill since then" . Also, in what way before the virus, was the economy failure becoming "increasingly evident"?

Interesting statistics. To date Global Death toll just topped 10,000 from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Globally ~9,100,000 people die from starvation/hunger each year Globally ~7,000,000 people die from heart disease each year Globally ~5,000,000 people die from strokes each year Globally ~2,000,000 people die from cancer each year Globally ~2,000,000 people die from Diabetes each year Globally ~1,250,000 people die from car accidents each year Globally ~750,000 people die from mosquitoes each year Globally ~ 500,000 people die from Flu each year Globally ~437,000 people die from murders each year Globally ~100,000 people die from snakes each year Globally ~50,000 people die from dogs each year It just makes one wonder how many more will commit suicide from losing everything or die from hunger/starvation if the economy is globally shut down too long for this virus? The death effect of the virus seems to be greatest on the old and poor in heath. The economic effect at least in this country seems to be greatest on the young and middle aged working class that lives paycheck to paycheck. What do make of that?

Today's figures on Coronavirus. https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

How is the Coronavirus effecting you? Being a retirement community of older people here we are mostly shut down and dealing with self-isolation even without symptoms. Stock Market has tumbled..

That may be an accurate statement. I can only speak for my own experience with my children and their church. My daughter , husband and grandchildren go to a fundamental Baptist church. They love going and are very community oriented at the one they attend. They do sports there , plays, Bible school, numerous dining get togethers, support missions and are extremely active and close to other members. Their life revolves around their church and its members (Go as many as three times a week). They are as you say not interested in the philosophy of religion however they do want to go to church and are along with other members refusing to suspend services as many other churches are because of the Coronavirus. They most likely don't even know what panentheistic means. Salvation is preached at every meeting and event i have attended with them and they believe in a literal Heaven, that God lives there., and that the Bible is literally God's word. My spirit is grieved each time i attend and witness the programming of the youth there. But it is what it is.

I find that true of many Progressive Christians. However, many of my relatives that identify as fundamental/traditional Christians would differ as some of them see God as only outside of themselves and far away with a uniting in the future inspite of NT writings that can be interpreted to the contrary.

Yes, i thought that was inferred but thanks for the clarification

Thomas, It really doesn't matter . There is no point arguing , feeding the issue or members discussing it with him more. It is completely off topic except for administrators. Please drop it. While there is a truth in his statement, it doesn't matter because it has already been ruled on and for now at least, any statements in defense of his behavior are unacceptable by him on this thread.(period) Any complaints one has can go to the complaint forum or discussed by PM. JosephM (as Mod)

😄 I once wrote ... "Evil is a bumpy road that gets worse with fewer turn-offs". You can quote me on that! It seemed so at the time.🙂 Later i would add ... "Good is a road that gets smoother as you go and with more turn-offs" However, now i must admit, the point at which the demarcation line was drawn is no longer visible to me.

I think that a common sense of good citizenship defined and lived is what we need but diversity has its own definitions , languages, and cultural rules. It takes time to become more common in our sense of what is good citizenship. Our laws help define what it takes but that is not enough.

Not acceptable here Just flat out wrong to whom. (opinion again) What is right and wrong opinion except as you and i might say subjective views? Regardless they are opinions and calling another 's opinion wrong will not win them over . I'm sorry if you can't see the negative in that. They are the guidelines we have here and one can see what happens to discussions when we cross over them. Education stops and personalities clash and discussions digress. While i agree wholeheartedly with your statement, and you may have crossed that impasse in your journey and the larger problem may be with the one taking offence , why not allow another forum that tolerates such exchanges where there are more willing perpetrators and willing victims (teachers and students) to satisfy the offenders (perpetrator's) appetite for such offence and the offended (victim's) reluctant to realize that one doesn't have to receive offence? This forum site owner has already made that choice in the guidelines for compassionate posts. Is that right or wrong? Doesn't matter. It is what it is. One is welcome to participate within the guidelines or not at all unless you can convince me why it should be otherwise privately. We still take baby-steps here. Some progress on to bigger things and leave. JosephM (Site owner)

Those certainly are awe experiencing moments you shared. Nature and the universe seems to me to be filled with beauty and a sense of awe. Awe is usually defined as " a feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder." I have felt these things you describe and i would say that God is in them but that would not fit the particular experience of oneness with God that i was attempting to describe. Either way i would not argue it.

Bold empahsis added by me . If a person wishes to believe the world is flat, what will calling it nonsense accomplish except possibly to feed ones own ego? Show him a picture or prove it is another shape by reasoning or logic seems a good solution. If they still don't buy it why resort to such a measure as saying it is nonsense? The nonsense card is in my view an attack that provokes disharmony or loath or possibly even hate in the other. It seems to me very few people are enticed to change their view when it is called nonsense. More times than not it provokes emotions that contribute to being less rational. Perhaps you are an exception? It seems to me one can stand up for what they believe and still be 'nice'. (doesn't have to be an either or) I had assumed you understood that. Perhaps i was incorrect or am not reading your post with sufficient understanding?

We are continually experiencing God to me would be more accurate since it encompasses more than the universe as a thing and life as stardust. Just my take ....

Yes, their violent crime is exceptionally low. Your observation of "an almost complete lack of diversity and an extreme sense of nationality" is an interesting principle to consider. There does seem to be a marked increase in violence on the average in the countries with the most ethnic and cultural diversity.

My sentiments exactly. It seems we do have to manage risk as you pointed out in your previous post as best we are able within our own acceptable limits of freedom. It seems to me wise at that point to resign ourselves to be content (not worry) about the things we have no control over and to live peaceably in this world that is filled with a level of uncertainties.

I don't think there is any place or building that someone would want to live that would be completely safe from harm. It would be more like a prison with much freedom given up. In my view, the vast majority of US citizens are law abiding citizens that would do you no harm. Of those who are not, they seem to congregate in the highly populated cities or poorer area of large cities. But of course no place is completely safe from harm of some kind. I would like my children to live in more rural areas (where as a figure of speech) everybody knows everybody, most all are well educated and capable of supporting themselves. I lived in such an area of Kentucky where everyone looked out for the other and most people neither locked their doors nor worried about leaving their equipment out . I didn't even have a lock on my garage or barn doors. That is no guarantee but nothing is at least in this life except for this physical body to eventually decay so it no longer supports life. Doesn't matter to me whether its a tiny house or well anchored and strong. It seems to me the area is more important considering all factors including general makeup of people, weather, crime rate, population, etc. The violent crime rate in Florida is significantly higher than the national average, at 43.92 vs. 38.63 violent crimes per 10K residents. (data may not be current) Where i live in Florida the violent crime rate is significantly lower with our current population over 100,000+ .With a crime rate for both violent and property crime combined of 8 per 1,000 residents, the crime rate in The Villages is one of the lower rates in America among communities of all sizes (lower than 68% of America's communities). One's chance of becoming a victim of crime in The Villages is one in 118 I guess it pays for people to do their homework to feel safe when picking a place but there is no guarantee that one will not be that 1 in 118. 🙂 --------------------------------------------------------- More on topic, we are a retirement community and there are literally thousands of clubs here and many have worthy causes they support including the one addressed by this thread. (feeding the poor) My one smaller club of 18 members contributes over $2000 a year to a local food kitchen outside our community. Other clubs do much much more in that area yet poverty still exists all around us.There is no easy answer. Poverty seems to be a sickness that money and food alone won't heal.

😄😄😄🤣 Thanks, that was a good way to start the day.

I read somewhere they also last alot longer than shingle roofs here

Since caring for our environment is an important aspect of concern to many, i thought it would be interesting knowing what members are doing that contribute to its care. I'll start I drive an electric car. I dispose of my trash properly (no littering) I have 3 solar tubes installed for light in the house. I use led lights through-out the house and solar night lights installed outside. I separate from the trash and give to recycling my glass bottles, plastic, paper and aluminum products. Anyone else do anything they would share or have any ideas that would contribute to a cleaner safer environment?

I have found Quantum theory can be most interesting, the few times i have read about it but reading it hurts my brain too much. 🙂🙂 I certainly don't know the answer to the question you posed except to say it seems so . I only know of my own personal experiences which doesn't include the words Quantum Physics or Theory nor the math of energy. I'm just not scientifically minded but Kudos to those who are.

yes, There are definitely things we can do to be peaceful and into tune with stillness and Christ rather than allow ourselves to get dragged down by things we have no control over.

Thanks for sharing.... I think you make a good point with your experience. Yes, when i look back i also reminded that there are things that i was doing that seem to contribute to the experiences happening more often in my life. When there was a real need and i was willing and able to receive there seemed to be more frequent occurrences.

Elen, I like what Thomas has said above and i would say if you are going to attempt to visualize God it would have to encompass ALL visible and invisible life (energy). While most may say God cannot be proven, i believe that life is not by chance or accident but by intelligent design. Therefor to me, existence itself is the proof of God. For the things and wonders that are manifest can be plainly seen appearing from that which is unmanifest with God being the potential and sustaining energy of all in ALL

Thanks for sharing. I too have found that we cannot create or re-recreate those experiences. It seems to me they just happen when conditions are ripe. In my case there were also painful or stressful times moving away from traditional Christianity dogma and doctrine . Perhaps i didn't want the dirty water but was able to throw out the bathwater without the Baby.. 🙂 I also think the mind comes into the picture trying to make sense of our experiences within the limits of our physical experience, intellect and a number of other factors. I can't say i really believed all we were fed. To me, i took it in but i didn't believe nor disbelieve all i was taught. Turned out I was waiting for something to happen that i could know was real and not just the teachings of others. Peace and goodwill