Making sense of the Pandemic

[dad]

Nor have I given my opinion about the many varied actions and conditions which you have included in this thread.

Great. The only opinion asked for basically was whether you thought it possible that God had gotten involved. Not on whether you like God or agree with wickedness laid out in Scripture.

But I have asked you a question, and wonder what you think about:-
You mention abortion as well, which is a different subject, but since you did mention it, can I ask you....:-
What do you think about totally free medicare, education and subsistence for all minors?

No such thing as free. But if you pay for it, great!

 

[dad]

How could God's saved children help God to rule?
What could they possibly do?
What kind of a World would it be like?

A world with love and laughter and peace ever after, where there is no more hunger or war.

 

[dad]

..... but you would (presumably) take many of your tenets and laws from the Old Testament, from those days.... yes?
Which ones to take, and which ones to discard?

It is not a matter of what you or I would 'take' from the ancient world. It is a matter of what God says was right and what He warned us to avoid as evil.
Whatever it may be, could it be possible that the pestilence now affecting the whole world could be a judgment from God on nations?

 

[John53]

Insane false allegation.

Hardly seems like just a virus.

Your words.

If you want to deny any possibility that God may step in no matter what people do, then you are in denial of history.

Show me evidence that a God has stepped in ever and you would have a point.

The question of whether or not nations have warranted judgment from God is valid. Your denial and lack of ability to debate or reason show you have nothing but attitude, and that needs adjusting.

Then adjust it with some facts.

True. It also talks about a lot of other things.

Mass murder, rape, slavery....

So basically you are denying for no reason and making stuff up falsely about the position of other posters. How small.

No, I'm denying because you have provided zero evidence for your argument and your position is clear. Fear is your weapon not facts which you use to try and make people believe what you believe.

 

[dad]

Your words.

Right it hardly seems like just another virus. It is serious. (not that the virus is not a virus)

Show me evidence that a God has stepped in ever and you would have a point.

So your position is no God and no God stepping in...eat drink and be merry?

Then adjust it with some facts.

I'll leave that to the great Attitude Adjuster.

Mass murder, rape, slavery....

A Shepherd that cull the flock to save those that are not sick is not performing murder. Jesus died to set the captives free. And rape is a crime in Scripture.

 

[oldbadger]

Great. The only opinion asked for basically was whether you thought it possible that God had gotten involved. Not on whether you like God or agree with wickedness laid out in Scripture.

I'm a Deist.
I don't think God is involved in or with this tiny planet of no consequence.

No such thing as free. But if you pay for it, great!

Now that is my idea of evil.
Some folks want to dominate women and make them give birth, calling themselves 'Pro-Life', and in the moment of birth they clear off, totally careless about the child's welfare, subsistence, medicare or anything else.

That is not Pro-Life...... That's total wicked hypocrisy, imo.

 

[oldbadger]

A world with love and laughter and peace ever after, where there is no more hunger or war.

Nah! I've read the ideas of 'Christians' about all this, and it wouldn't be too much fun. And don't forget that you'd be sharing with all kinds of Creeds, Churches and other religions. They all say that they'll be there. And don't forget the Muslims, Bahais, Jews etc.....

 

[oldbadger]

It is not a matter of what you or I would 'take' from the ancient world. It is a matter of what God says was right and what He warned us to avoid as evil.

Well, God insisted on about 15 poor laws in the Old Testament and I never have seen any support for these from extreme Christians....... they mostly just focus upon sex laws.... poor people!

Whatever it may be, could it be possible that the pestilence now affecting the whole world could be a judgment from God on nations?

I'm a Deist, but I could be wrong, in which case this God might be coming for such as you. The first shall be last...... etc.

 

[John53]

Right it hardly seems like just another virus. It is serious. (not that the virus is not a virus)

Hardly seems like a virus but it is a virus. Maybe that makes sense in your world...

So your position is no God and no God stepping in...eat drink and be merry?

My position is I don't know if there is a God or Gods but I have never seen any evidence to suggest there is.... so I live my life the best I know how.

I'll leave that to the great Attitude Adjuster.

In other words you have no evidence and resort to more scare tactics.

A Shepherd that cull the flock to save those that are not sick is not performing murder. Jesus died to set the captives free.

Any excuse to make your God look like the good guy.

And rape is a crime in Scripture.

Not always.

 

[dad]

I'm a Deist.
I don't think God is involved in or with this tiny planet of no consequence.

Not much we can do but disagree. Now if the bible was true would you think that the current pestilence could be a judgment?

Now that is my idea of evil.
Some folks want to dominate women and make them give birth, calling themselves 'Pro-Life', and in the moment of birth they clear off, totally careless about the child's welfare, subsistence, medicare or anything else.

Again we could never agree. I see no rights for murderers, but I do see some rights for victims.

 

[dad]

Hardly seems like a virus but it is a virus. Maybe that makes sense in your world...


My position is I don't know if there is a God or Gods but I have never seen any evidence to suggest there is.... so I live my life the best I know how.


In other words you have no evidence and resort to more scare tactics.



Any excuse to make your God look like the good guy.



Not always.

Hardly seems like a usual virus. Maybe it does in your world.

 

[dad]

Nah! I've read the ideas of 'Christians' about all this, and it wouldn't be too much fun. And don't forget that you'd be sharing with all kinds of Creeds, Churches and other religions. They all say that they'll be there. And don't forget the Muslims, Bahais, Jews etc.....

All creeds will agree that Jesus is King. Or they will not be on the planet.

 

[dad]

Well, God insisted on about 15 poor laws in the Old Testament and I never have seen any support for these from extreme Christians....... they mostly just focus upon sex laws.... poor people!


I'm a Deist, but I could be wrong, in which case this God might be coming for such as you. The first shall be last...... etc.

So you admit God would have to step in, but you are not sure why or what is right or wrong. OK.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

Hardly seems like a virus but it is a virus. Maybe that makes sense in your world...


My position is I don't know if there is a God or Gods but I have never seen any evidence to suggest there is.... so I live my life the best I know how.


In other words you have no evidence and resort to more scare tactics.



Any excuse to make your God look like the good guy.



Not always.

It is a strange notion but fitting with his very incomplete understanding and knowledge of the world. As if his only awareness of viruses are the flu and the common cold. There appears to be a complete ignorance of the existence, nature and seriousness of known viral pathogens that are not just "another virus".

All I have seen is the use of fear, shaming and narcissism to spread the love of Jesus. The irony is as obvious as an elephant in your living room, but there is no evidence that it is self-evident to him.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

Well, God insisted on about 15 poor laws in the Old Testament and I never have seen any support for these from extreme Christians....... they mostly just focus upon sex laws.... poor people!


I'm a Deist, but I could be wrong, in which case this God might be coming for such as you. The first shall be last...... etc.

Fundamentalists do seem to spend a disproportionate amount of time and energy on sex. Who is having it. How. Where. How often. And with whom and how many. As a 16 year old, I did not think about sex as much as that and I thought about it most of the time then.

 

[John53]

All I have seen is the use of fear, shaming and narcissism to spread the love of Jesus. The irony is as obvious as an elephant in your living room, but there is no evidence that it is self-evident to him.

His logic is the exact reason I got turned off Christianity as a youngster. I could not work out why I should fear the magical being that loved me so much, 60 years later I still can't work it out.

How's thing in your neck of the woods? My wife got back from America 2 days before an enforced 14 day quarantine of people arriving from overseas but we decided to do the 14 days anyway, I'd hate to think I passed it onto someone else. To be honest as a massive introvert it's not that great an ordeal lol. I was however guilty of treating coronavirus as a bit of a joke until I found out the situation in Italy a week or so back... it's no joke.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

His logic is the exact reason I got turned off Christianity as a youngster. I could not work out why I should fear the magical being that loved me so much, 60 years later I still can't work it out.

How's thing in your neck of the woods? My wife got back from America 2 days before an enforced 14 day quarantine of people arriving from overseas but we decided to do the 14 days anyway, I'd hate to think I passed it onto someone else. To be honest as a massive introvert it's not that great an ordeal lol. I was however guilty of treating coronavirus as a bit of a joke until I found out the situation in Italy a week or so back... it's no joke.

Here in Missouri, we have 106 reported cases so far and are going into quarantine conditions starting tomorrow. I have been deemed to be among the essential and must carry documentation to excuse my commuting travel.

I have been rather calm as this all escalates. I maintain my personal hygiene at the level it has always been at and maintain social distancing as recommended, but I have not experienced the fear and panic others are exhibiting. Not to say that I am not concerned, just more for others than myself I suppose. I am puzzled by the irrational behavior I see with people. It is as if the majority are only now starting to recognize this as a real issue after having ignored it all the way to the last minute. I wonder if this has been the result of the early dismissal of the issue as a problem by some of our leadership and their political base. I know many people that thought it was some sort of political ploy. Not being panicky does not mean I am not concerned or taking it seriously though. Like you, my concern has developed from initial emotional and intellectual responses to more practical and useful responses. Yeah, the level of solitude that I can tolerate is pretty high for me too. I can be very introverted at times.

I have developed a strong distaste for rabid, ignorant, arrogant and even hateful views that some believers consider is the expression of Christian wisdom, love and values. If they the only Christians around, I would have been driven from it too. Their theology is more Bible worship than anything and especially their personal interpretation. Supporting it with the dissemination of fear and hate seems to be their favored method of proselytizing.I

Take care of yourself. I am hoping that we all come out of this wiser and together.

 

[John53]

Here in Missouri, we have 106 reported cases so far and are going into quarantine conditions starting tomorrow. I have been deemed to be among the essential and must carry documentation to excuse my commuting travel.

I have been rather calm as this all escalates. I maintain my personal hygiene at the level it has always been at and maintain social distancing as recommended, but I have not experienced the fear and panic others are exhibiting. Not to say that I am not concerned, just more for others than myself I suppose. I am puzzled by the irrational behavior I see with people. It is as if the majority are only now starting to recognize this as a real issue after having ignored it all the way to the last minute. I wonder if this has been the result of the early dismissal of the issue as a problem by some of our leadership and their political base. I know many people that thought it was some sort of political ploy. Not being panicky does not mean I am not concerned or taking it seriously though. Like you, my concern has developed from initial emotional and intellectual responses to more practical and useful responses. Yeah, the level of solitude that I can tolerate is pretty high for me too. I can be very introverted at times.

I have developed a strong distaste for rabid, ignorant, arrogant and even hateful views that some believers consider is the expression of Christian wisdom, love and values. If they the only Christians around, I would have been driven from it too. Their theology is more Bible worship than anything and especially their personal interpretation. Supporting it with the dissemination of fear and hate seems to be their favored method of proselytizing.I

Take care of yourself. I am hoping that we all come out of this wiser and together.

I couldn't believe the amount of hysteria here over toilet paper, I'm ashamed to say I think the hoarding outbreak started in Australia. I thought Australians were above that kind of thing but I was proved wrong. And some of the rubbish doing the rounds on facebook leaves me speechless. The current rumour is bus loads of Asians raiding little country towns like mine and stripping stores bare and selling it for a massive profit to China. If people took the time to ask the shop keepers they'd find out it's the locals that are emptying the shops and with a little more investigation they would find out the rumours are being started by a racist right wing group trying to push their agenda during uncertain times.

The good news is the hoarding seems to be slowing down, it's only taken a month, my daughter said the supermarket was back to normal this morning and she was even able to get us toilet paper, we were down to 3 rolls, it was almost a crisis lol

 

[Dan From Smithville]

I couldn't believe the amount of hysteria here over toilet paper, I'm ashamed to say I think the hoarding outbreak started in Australia. I thought Australians were above that kind of thing but I was proved wrong. And some of the rubbish doing the rounds on facebook leaves me speechless. The current rumour is bus loads of Asians raiding little country towns like mine and stripping stores bare and selling it for a massive profit to China. If people took the time to ask the shop keepers they'd find out it's the locals that are emptying the shops and with a little more investigation they would find out the rumours are being started by a racist right wing group trying to push their agenda during uncertain times.

The good news is the hoarding seems to be slowing down, it's only taken a month, my daughter said the supermarket was back to normal this morning and she was even able to get us toilet paper, we were down to 3 rolls, it was almost a crisis lol

I am not aware of the origin of even the reason toilet paper would be the first item people would choose to hoard. It remains baffling to me, though I heard initial rumors that most toilet paper is manufactured in Asia and factories were shutting down. Not even remotely true. We manufacture in the US and even in Missouri. Production has not ceased. Really weird.

Chinese bashing started early with our president making it acceptible. Another proud moment for me to beam about. I suppose Muslims are probably happy to pass the mantle to China, since they seem to have tried of being a target group for prejudice.

I'm no saint and I have my own prejudices to deal with, but I do try to fight them rather than grow them. Call me crazy for my radical ideas.

I did some shopping today and noticed that shelves were generally better stocked, but there were still some gaps here and there. Glad that we have truckers willing to work and keep the supply chain going.

 

[oldbadger]

Not much we can do but disagree. Now if the bible was true would you think that the current pestilence could be a judgment?

What..... like the migration of Genghis Khan across Siberia/Europe? The Great War? WWII? The Cambodian genocide. Vietnam? Rwanda?
What.... every catastrophe a punishment sent by the God of fire, brimstone, wrath, and Jesus returning with the sword of retribution flicking from his mouth? And a World where Justice is dished out from a few cherry-picked verses of the OT? And in the next minute Jesus turns in to a sweet loving God who demands that children be cared for, as in looking after them after birth which many Christians don't bother with?
How do you spell theological schizophrenia?

Again we could never agree. I see no rights for murderers, but I do see some rights for victims.

Pity you don't bother to pay taxes for their subsistence, medicare, education...... It looks loke hypocrisy to me.