Seriously, this is the biggest problem in the world. Why isn't enough to live enough? You have to have every bling, every big screen tv, every single thing for your kids? Greed is the biggest problem this world has, and it's funny, many of those that do it claim to be Christians. Camel and needle, no? I find the ability to select which tenets you abide by both fascinating and horrifying.
We have to get over being greedy.
- Thread starter BrentJDiekman
- Start date
I don't totally disagree but there are some positives to greed that most don't want to admit up to. Maybe if we could just move away from monetary/consumption based greed things would be better.
Maybe religion of peace has it right, 72 virgins for your spoils (except instead of the afterlife you get it in real life for achieving peak levels of performance and innovation).
Rome used to pay chicks to remain virgins until 30. But if you broke the contract, they walled you up in a cave until dead.
More does seem to have become the game, hasn't it. Here were the rules at one time:
The American Dream is a national ethos of the United States, a set of ideals in which freedom includes the opportunity for prosperity and success, and an upward social mobility for the family and children, achieved through hard work in a society with few barriers.
Somewhere that got replaced with this:
A rat race is an endless, self-defeating, or pointless pursuit. It conjures up the image of the futile efforts of a lab rat trying to escape while running around a maze or in a wheel.
A society with few barriers, as opposed to a maze.
Greed is not a religious/not religious issue. The tenets that lead the non religious to be greedy little shits is not any different than the ones that lead a person of faith down that path.
Your point is well taken and I agree with you that too often we buy what we want and not what we need.
Greed is one of the 7 deadly sins. It seems to me its about as religious as most any other topic under creation.
It's BS that the rat race has replaced the American Dream. However, it really depends on how you look at things. If one tends to look at challenges as problems vs. opportunities, then I can see where this view comes from.
I won't excuse greed and I won't say that you're wrong with all of us getting caught up with materialism including Christians.
Like I told my son today, 'success' really boils down to 'making life easier'. Having the ability to pay for life's little problems makes things easier. A $6000 A/C repair isn't going to break me. I don't feel bad about that. Having nice things goes along with that. I don't apologize for having nice cars, a nice home with a pool, or big screen TV.
My wife and I have spent a small fortune adopting and taking care of our kids. We give thousands to church and charity as well. That's what we're called to do.
We work hard for what we have. God isn't against hard work or personal responsibility. Some of the wealthiest people in the Bible were some of the same folks the Bible says were men and women after God's own heart.
Wealth used as a blessing isn't the issue...it's when we let wealth consume us that the problems set in.
Also, let's not discount the greed of those who want what others have earned with no effort. That's very real as well....and just as problematic.
Like I told my son today, 'success' really boils down to 'making life easier'. Having the ability to pay for life's little problems makes things easier. A $6000 A/C repair isn't going to break me. I don't feel bad about that. Having nice things goes along with that. I don't apologize for having nice cars, a nice home with a pool, or big screen TV.
My wife and I have spent a small fortune adopting and taking care of our kids. We give thousands to church and charity as well. That's what we're called to do.
We work hard for what we have. God isn't against hard work or personal responsibility. Some of the wealthiest people in the Bible were some of the same folks the Bible says were men and women after God's own heart.
Wealth used as a blessing isn't the issue...it's when we let wealth consume us that the problems set in.
Also, let's not discount the greed of those who want what others have earned with no effort. That's very real as well....and just as problematic.
Here's something I don't get about these morons: it's the afterlife. Why would you want 72 chicks who have no idea what they'er doing. It's not like there is VD in the afterlife. I'd want 72 porn stars. Unless, terrorists have tiny penises and don't want the girls to have a comparison. Actually, the tiny penis theory makes a lot of sense.
The old, "Endeavor to persevere." Challenges are opportunities!
Let's see what a challenge is according to the dictionary:Noun: "A call to take part in a contest or competition, especially a duel."
Goes right back to the OP doesn't it, about greed. Thanks for clarifying my point. We as a society have become all about the race, the challenge. And some people don't even know it.
A duel.
No, I prefer the idea of an American Dream, which by the way was once being a part of the Middle Class. But the Middle Class is shrinking everyday. Thanks to the Rat Race.
Everyone is hung in my heaven.
So religion is responsible for greed?
What do you think the cause of greed was before the 7 deadly sins?
Greed happens thru out society. Trying to say it is worse among believers than non believers is a quibble to far.
Last edited:
Someone just came to the full realization of what their Liberal Arts degree means...
Lol if you think Jesus has a big screen, a nice car, and big suburban house. You are failing miserably at being a Christian if you have any of these.
No one ever really commits to putting Jesus first. Mostly, peoples first priority is their own comfort. If you put God first in your life, you wouldn't want or need any of those things.
No one ever really commits to putting Jesus first. Mostly, peoples first priority is their own comfort. If you put God first in your life, you wouldn't want or need any of those things.
I refer back to my post about Steven Spielberg. Does he REALLY need a 300 foot, $250 MILLION dollar boat?
He's going against everything progressive.
He's going against everything progressive.
This is an excellent post.
some of the most generous and giving people I know would be considered "wealthy" by many and nearly every one of those are very religious.
On the flip side, some of the more vile people I know aren't religious, don't have much wealth and are greedy and selfish.
Yeah, I want 72 whores. But hey, those guys screw their pet goats so they'll probably take 72 of anything
I don't fully disagree.
Christians should be compelled by their faith to give of the resources to others.
Government coercing resources from individuals is not a replacement.
Ahhh, wouldn't rainbows and teddy bears be great for all?
Any time you got a plan that'll work to change human nature * 8,000,000,000, let me know.
Any time you got a plan that'll work to change human nature * 8,000,000,000, let me know.
What option is there when those who are ostensibly taught weekly this lesson, is there, if not government? I really appreciate the work that churches do, believe me. They have been fantastic in my situation with my father. I'm not usually one for hyperbole, but dare I say miraculous. They are not enough to cover all of it, at least not now. The government has to do something, or people are dying in the streets. I don't think that's what anyone wants.
What if the problem is that you don't make enough?
How about we put you in jail for a for a few years until you decide to become an earner? Your choice to get a journalism degree didn't serve our collective sufficiently. Therefore you will be reeducated until you can become value add to our society.
If you're willing to forcibly take what I've earned, can I not advocate forcibly to taking what you chose not provide.
Are you not capable of providing as I do? Or, were you selfishly thinking of your own desires to write?
Who is self centered?
Whatever writing based degree that got you a abbreviated stint on this site.
The point being is that you're shorting the tax base with you career path. Please don't comment on those of us who carry your water.
Military spending is such a small part of total government spending. Nevertheless, are you advocating cutting more than recently has been cut? Cutting it all?
It's ironic that the very thing most liberals most hate - our military - is the very thing that allows them to relentlessly sound off.
I wouldn't call 20% small, especially when it is the biggest source of greed and theft in the pie chart. We can protect out liberties with a fraction of that amount. Most is spent for imperial gain.
Isn't welfare the perfect form of economic stimulus? Doesn't like 98% go immediately right back into the economy? Does too much of it go to Walmart and McDonalds for the cons liking?
Imperial gain?? Don't recall when we last added territory or really gained any sort of wealth through military use of force.
