Is western civilizations plight of the homeless a sad, glaring example of religious hypocrisy?

[Spirosmav]

In the most affluent western countries, It seems that homelessness and extreme poverty grow larger. This poverty is visibly noticeable in the UK, America ,Canada and parts of central Europe.


Western countries are often melting pots of religion and spirituality. With all the different religions and spirituality movements, do you think that there lies hypocrisy that eats at the facade of those who work and engage in apathetic, indifferent professions?



With many world religions and spiritual movements such as new age, do you think that there exists a poverty of humanity that opens up difficult questions about the peaceful, humility and compassion that many religions or spiritual movements claim to advocate

Is homelessness a sad, glaring example of the modern western worlds religious hypocrisy?

Excuse unedited grammar broken sentences

 

[Axe Elf]

Nope; Jesus said the poor would be with us always.

 

[Spirosmav]

Nope; Jesus said the poor would be with us always.

That is true. But what about all the other religions as well as those spirituality movements

 

[Axe Elf]

That is true. But what about all the other religions as well as those spirituality movements

I can't speak for them, but I still don't think that the existence of a problem that can't ever be completely solved is indicative of ANYTHING really--let alone hypocrisy of the religious. It's no more indicative of hypocrisy than hurricanes and earthquakes--we can't prevent those either, but we can take steps to ameliorate the suffering of those who are struck by them. And that's what we do with the poor; we do what we can.

At least, those who are actually and legitimately practicing one of the many valid religions of the world do what they can. You know who you are.

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this; to look after orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." --James 1:27 (NIV)

 

[SomeRandom]

I think it's more a glaring example of greedy capitalism and a dog eat dog mentality. No doubt there exists people in religions who are hypocrites. Some might not help the homeless despite a clear instruction to by their religious books/leaders.

But you do realise that in most world religions to live a life of utmost devotion usually involves living poor and outright rejecting wealth.
Jains, monks, nuns etc. Meaning in some places homelessness is a specific result of religious practices. (Not saying that is the case with homelessness in general of course. There are many factors involved.)
A better argument might be hypocrisy at the hands of certain highly profitable religious organisations I suppose.

 

[Spirosmav]

I can't speak for them, but I still don't think that the existence of a problem that can't ever be completely solved is indicative of ANYTHING really--let alone hypocrisy of the religious. It's no more indicative of hypocrisy than hurricanes and earthquakes--we can't prevent those either, but we can take steps to ameliorate the suffering of those who are struck by them. And that's what we do with the poor; we do what we can.

At least, those who are actually and legitimately practicing one of the many valid religions of the world do what they can. You know who you are.

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this; to look after orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." --James 1:27 (NIV)

I don't blame religion. I just do not understand how extreme poverty was left so unabated especially with the plethora of religious and spiritual movements--most claiming to be peaceful compassionate karma etc. Homelessness and extreme poverty has ballooned in the last couple of decades which is indicative of the western worlds religious hypocrisy.

 

[Spirosmav]

I think it's more a glaring example of greedy capitalism and a dog eat dog mentality. No doubt there exists people in religions who are hypocrites. Some might not help the homeless despite a clear instruction to by their religious books/leaders.

But you do realise that in most world religions to live a life of utmost devotion usually involves living poor and outright rejecting wealth.
Jains, monks, nuns etc. Meaning in some places homelessness is a specific result of religious practices. (Not saying that is the case with homelessness in general of course. There are many factors involved.)
A better argument might be hypocrisy at the hands of certain highly profitable religious organisations I suppose.

The western world is a melting pot of religion and spiritual belief. This was even more prevalent decades ago. I just do not understand how this plethora of spirituality and religion created such apathetic indifference that exasperated thing like greed that created such inhumane poverty. Poverty hasn't decreased. It has only increased. What good is religion to the western world if It can't give common human dignity

 

[Spirosmav]

I think it's more a glaring example of greedy capitalism and a dog eat dog mentality. No doubt there exists people in religions who are hypocrites. Some might not help the homeless despite a clear instruction to by their religious books/leaders.

But you do realise that in most world religions to live a life of utmost devotion usually involves living poor and outright rejecting wealth.
Jains, monks, nuns etc. Meaning in some places homelessness is a specific result of religious practices. (Not saying that is the case with homelessness in general of course. There are many factors involved.)
A better argument might be hypocrisy at the hands of certain highly profitable religious organisations I suppose.

Capitalism is a good thing especially if it assures justice that overrides double standards. Capitalism Is only good if it is complimented with a fair ethical justice system. Without that...there is fascism.

I agree.

 

[Aldrnari]

It's a reality that's exacerbated by Western culture, imo. People have a tendency to associate those on the street with laziness, drug use, and other such things. Why spend tax dollars on welfare for those who won't even help themselves, or who would try to cheat or take advantage of the system?

It's a disgusting point of view, and shows a great deal of ignorance for what these people deal with, imo... But it's a point of view shared by many regardless of their religious (or non religious) views.

 

[Axe Elf]

Ten years gone now; still hard to believe.

 

[Axe Elf]

Let me put that another way.

 

[sun rise]

Is homelessness a sad, glaring example of the modern western worlds religious hypocrisy?

On the part of many, yes. But not all. Pope Francis, following his namesake, St. Francis has raised the plight of those on the bottom such as migrants to the same level as abortion. Agree or disagree on abortion, but he's intellectually honest and consistent in his beliefs. And he's not alone.

But even further is what has been anticipated by people of all religions, each in his or her own way. A spiritual figure in India put it this way: Man-made world will end; and God-made world will come to life

 

[oldbadger]

Is homelessness a sad, glaring example of the modern western worlds religious hypocrisy?

It's a glaring example of human hypocrisy.

Where I live the gap between poor and rich is quite shocking, but it's a human failing, not a 'western' one. imo.

 

[Jumi]

Homelessness is biggest in the US, the most religious country of the West. We can consider it, that at least the collective desire to identify with a religion doesn't help the cause of the homeless.

 

[SomeRandom]

The western world is a melting pot of religion and spiritual belief. This was even more prevalent decades ago. I just do not understand how this plethora of spirituality and religion created such apathetic indifference that exasperated thing like greed that created such inhumane poverty. Poverty hasn't decreased. It has only increased. What good is religion to the western world if It can't give common human dignity

Materialism happened.

 

[PureX]

Most religions admonish us to let go of our fear-driven greed and indifference to the suffering of others. And yet we do not heed this admonishment much of the time.

How is this, then, religion's fault? And not our own?

 

[BSM1]

I think it's more a glaring example of greedy capitalism and a dog eat dog mentality. No doubt there exists people in religions who are hypocrites. Some might not help the homeless despite a clear instruction to by their religious books/leaders.

But you do realise that in most world religions to live a life of utmost devotion usually involves living poor and outright rejecting wealth.
Jains, monks, nuns etc. Meaning in some places homelessness is a specific result of religious practices. (Not saying that is the case with homelessness in general of course. There are many factors involved.)
A better argument might be hypocrisy at the hands of certain highly profitable religious organisations I suppose.

So how do you justify a country like India or Ethiopia where poverty is rampant with little government or private sector relief efforts?

 

[SomeRandom]

So how do you justify a country like India or Ethiopia where poverty is rampant with little government or private sector relief efforts?

I don't. I'm a capitalist I'm just saying. But aren't their governments highly abusive and corrupt? You know, more than ours I mean.

 

[Revoltingest]

In the most affluent western countries, It seems that homelessness and extreme poverty grow larger. This poverty is visibly noticeable in the UK, America ,Canada and parts of central Europe.


Western countries are often melting pots of religion and spirituality. With all the different religions and spirituality movements, do you think that there lies hypocrisy that eats at the facade of those who work and engage in apathetic, indifferent professions?



With many world religions and spiritual movements such as new age, do you think that there exists a poverty of humanity that opens up difficult questions about the peaceful, humility and compassion that many religions or spiritual movements claim to advocate

Is homelessness a sad, glaring example of the modern western worlds religious hypocrisy?

Excuse unedited grammar broken sentences

Such hypocrisy isn't just for religious folk.
Americastanian liberals also do little to mitigate homelessness.

I might be one of the few non-hypocrites, since I don't "believe in" helping them.
But if I do occasionally help, it's not because of ideology.

 

[Spirosmav]

Such hypocrisy isn't just for religious folk.
Americastanian liberals also do little to mitigate homelessness.

I might be one of the few non-hypocrites, since I don't "believe in" helping them.
But if I do occasionally help, it's not because of ideology.

This is in the context of religion and spirituality not conservative, liberal Republican Democrat etc...with the plethora of religion and spirituality, why did the religious western world allow financial sector deregulation , nafta, Reagan policies brexit and citizens united---all things that made people poor so they couldn't help themselves. How could religious politicians and western religious, spiritual citizenry allow such things that exasperated poverty, creating an economic situation that goes against religious and spiritual tenants such as karma mercy enlightenment peace humility moral code etc



I wrote purposely