Who are Antifa? A very interesting and balanced article.

Originally posted by Artol
Capitalism alone is responsible for immense amounts of poverty and suffering

Another perspective is mixed economies - which includes the capitalistic innovations that come with it including the SEM and general uplift it brings - is responsible for greatest reduction of suffering and poverty in the history of human civilization.

I think you'd agree with me that a pure capitalistic system leads to corporatocracies which are barely functionally different than oligarchies and authoritarian regimes.

The US is currently in a mild to moderate oligarchy/corporatocracy.

Originally posted by dadudemon
Another perspective is mixed economies - which includes the capitalistic innovations that come with it including the SEM and general uplift it brings - is responsible for greatest reduction of suffering and poverty in the history of human civilization.

I think you'd agree with me that a pure capitalistic system leads to corporatocracies which are barely functionally different than oligarchies and authoritarian regimes.

The US is currently in a mild to moderate oligarchy/corporatocracy.

Originally posted by eThneoLgrRnae
@Scribble: I do believe that good works naturally flow from people who've been truly saved but the works themselves are not what saves you. Earning your way to Heaven thru works is not what scripture teaches. (at least not if you're reading the actual HOLY Bible aka The King James version which is hopefully what u r reading). People who're truly saved WANT to do good works because they know that it is the right thing to do, not because they think it'll earn God's approval.

They know that Christ's sacrifice on the cross fully paid the price for our sins (both future and past). The danger with believing in a works salvation or even faith + works is that you can easily become filled with pride over it and God hates that.

You should put your faith in Jesus Christ alone. Anything else and you're basically thinking that Christ's sacrifice wasn't enough. The Bible (again, this is if u r reading a KJV, not sure about the other versions but I wouldn"t trust them if I were you) says that Salvation is a free gift to those who truly want it. Of course, like any gift, you are free to turn it down if you like but if you genuinely accept it then you are forever saved. Nothing you do, no matter how bad, will ever make you lose your salvation. You will find that this will give you lasting peace of mind. You will still want to do good works but it will then be for the right reasons, not because you think it'll save you.

Remember, it is a free gift. If it was hard or you had to work for it then it wouldn't truly be a gift would it? When someone gives you something and they expect something in return it's not really a gift is it?

At least you're actually reading your Bible pretty regularly though. I salute you for that. That is something I need to get in habit of doing a lot more often. Get so caught up in worldly things that I never get around to making time for it. Usually the only time I really get around to reading it is when I'm sitting on the toilet lol. And even then, usually only read about one chapter. At this rate, Judgment Day will be here long before I finish.

It's just that some books have such incredibly boring parts it makes me want to sleep. Trying to read the book of Numbers currently. Jesus, it's so boring... not like Genesis, Exodus, or any of the Gospels or, of course, Revelation. Loved all those. Leviticus had a lot of really boring parts as well.

Oh yeah, in regards to your part about you not believing serial killers are saved just by believing: why not? Anyone who is genuinely sincere in asking God for forgiveness can be saved. Of course I'm not saying they don't deserve the death penalty for murdering someone in cold blood and I'm all for the death penalty 100%. But in regards to their eternal salvation then yes, I absolutely believe they can be saved if they're truly sincere in asking forgiveness. Saved from Hellfire, not saved from being punished by man for killing another innocent human being.

I'm generally a fan of the KJV, although I have a number of versions to compare and contrast. The KJV makes some changes from the original scripture, but it gets the message across is such a beautiful manner. Other versions tend to be very literal, which can actually diminish the meaning as certain words don't have the same meaning in English than they do in the Greek scripture all versions come from originally. But yeah, I'm no true scholar of the Bible, I'm just familiar with certain parts of it. I often feel guilty for not spending more time with it.

I think what I meant about serial killers is the idea of them praying, worshipping, but still committing grievous sins. I think that shows a lack of faith at its core, and I believe sins will be punished even if one is 'faithful'; God is Good, and so I find it hard to believe that someone who lives their life purely and does their best to make life on earth better for others would be consigned to Hellfire whilst a serial killer with faith would ascend. I dunno. It's all very complex and I'm still mostly a neophyte on the subject, admittedly. My faith stems from an extremely intense and personal revelation / experience, so I'm kind of working backwards from there, I guess.

Originally posted by dadudemon
Another perspective is mixed economies - which includes the capitalistic innovations that come with it including the SEM and general uplift it brings - is responsible for greatest reduction of suffering and poverty in the history of human civilization.

I think you'd agree with me that a pure capitalistic system leads to corporatocracies which are barely functionally different than oligarchies and authoritarian regimes.

The US is currently in a mild to moderate oligarchy/corporatocracy.

Originally posted by Old Man Whirly!
I've read Marx too, marxism is about ownership of the means of production by the people, it relies on the concept of trade.

Newsflash, there will always be someone in charge, no matter how much you preach it.

Do you honestly believe anyone would care to work hard if they can’t get anywhere in life? Why should I work hard for a position, when a lazy an idiotic individuals can receive the same amount as me for doing nothing but just sit on their asses?

Do you think Marx actually follow his own doctrine? He preached it, but I promise you he was the leader at the top, and everyone else were his pawns.

Unless you’re naive enough to believe the lowly farmer held the same sway as Marx, let alone walked in the same circle.

Originally posted by SquallX
Newsflash, there will always be someone in charge, no matter how much you preach it.

Do you honestly believe anyone would care to work hard if they can’t get anywhere in life? Why should I work hard for a position, when a lazy an idiotic individuals can receive the same amount as me for doing nothing but just sit on their asses?

Do you think Marx actually follow his own doctrine? He preached it, but I promise you he was the leader at the top, and everyone else were his pawns.

Unless you’re naive enough to believe the lowly farmer held the same sway as Marx, let alone walked in the same circle.

Originally posted by Scribble
Yeah, I think that's what Paul is more or less saying in Romans, that true faith leads to good works. He's basically saying that we're all connected to God, whether Jew or Gentile, and that faith is the most important aspect of worship, that everything else stems from that. Romans is very good, I enjoy it.

I'm generally a fan of the KJV, although I have a number of versions to compare and contrast. The KJV makes some changes from the original scripture, but it gets the message across is such a beautiful manner. Other versions tend to be very literal, which can actually diminish the meaning as certain words don't have the same meaning in English than they do in the Greek scripture all versions come from originally. But yeah, I'm no true scholar of the Bible, I'm just familiar with certain parts of it. I often feel guilty for not spending more time with it.

I think what I meant about serial killers is the idea of them praying, worshipping, but still committing grievous sins. I think that shows a lack of faith at its core, and I believe sins will be punished even if one is 'faithful'; God is Good, and so I find it hard to believe that someone who lives their life purely and does their best to make life on earth better for others would be consigned to Hellfire whilst a serial killer with faith would ascend. I dunno. It's all very complex and I'm still mostly a neophyte on the subject, admittedly. My faith stems from an extremely intense and personal revelation / experience, so I'm kind of working backwards from there, I guess.

The KJV is actually much more true to the original Hebrew and Greek texts than any other version. In fact, I wasn't aware of any changes it made at all. You can point them out if u like. The great King James, in his great wisdom, commissioned over 40 (I forget the exact number) of the best translators in the world at that time to translate the original texts into english. I promise you that IF (and that's a really big if) it doesn't match the ancient texts precisely it's still much closer to the originals than all of the modern day versions are.

All of the current modern day versions are corrupted "Bibles". They've made lots of changes which is why I don't trust any of them. They're not all just minor insignificant changes either. If you like, I could list some of them. I would never, ever swap my Authorized King James version for any other "Bible." Period.

Yes, I'm one of those "stubborn" KJV only folks you may've heard about. Though that doesn't mean I agree with every single thing that all other KJV only people believe. On the contrary, there are many KJV only people on You Tube who believe things that I certainly don't agree with. Some of it is just minor stuff like their views on current day Israel or the Sabbath but some of them believe really crazy stuff like the earth being flat lol.

Though I certainly believe in a literal 7 day creation as described exactly in the book of Genesis, I don't believe in a flat earth. I've seen no actual verses to support it and science also easily refutes it. Other things I may disagree with them about are stuff like when exactly the rapture takes place (I'm a post-tribber) or whether Noah's Flood was global or localized to the ME, or even geocentricity vs heliocentricity.

God can and often does discipline/punish those who are actually saved but still keep committing the same sins over and over while they're still on this earth just like a father punishes his child. No matter how much the child may misbehave or disobey his earthly father he will always technically be his son.

Same thing goes for those who've been saved. If a saved person just continues to keep committing same sins over and over again then God will punish/discipline him or her in some way while that person is still on this earth. However, he or she is still part of God's family and nothing will ever change that. God may punish the person very severely while he or she is still alive (He might even kill the person for being an embarrassment to Him; there are actually instances of God doing that to people in the Bible) but that person will still make it into Heaven when he or she dies.

Descending into tribalism is definitely the answer because I’m good and you’re bad and life isn’t nuanced or complicated at all.

Originally posted by Old Man Whirly!
You haven't read Marx, because he is about fair remuneration.

There is no such thing. Not even in a Utupia would everyone ever be truly equal. There will always be someone at the top. Do you truly believed if Marx had the means he wouldn’t have seek power?

Marx didn’t preach that shit and stay poor because he choose to stay poor, but because he was unable to become rich and powerful.

Originally posted by SquallX
There is no such thing. Not even in a Utupia would everyone ever be truly equal. There will always be someone at the top. Do you truly believed if Marx had the means he wouldn’t have seek power?

Marx didn’t preach that shit and stay poor because he choose to stay poor, but because he was unable to become rich and powerful.

Originally posted by Artol
They aren't they are non-hierarchical, decentralized groups. If anything they are closer to anarchists, but the truth is that they don't have any specific political agenda, except being vaguely on the left, and believing that fascist movements need to be opposed with force.

Anarchists by definition. Literally. No Fs given. They don't live long. But a few do. And they are all narcissistic sociopathic poop.

Originally posted by Old Man Whirly!
You haven't read Marx, because he is about fair remuneration.

I'd doesn't work my friend.

Originally posted by dadudemon
Another perspective is mixed economies - which includes the capitalistic innovations that come with it including the SEM and general uplift it brings - is responsible for greatest reduction of suffering and poverty in the history of human civilization.

I think you'd agree with me that a pure capitalistic system leads to corporatocracies which are barely functionally different than oligarchies and authoritarian regimes.

The US is currently in a mild to moderate oligarchy/corporatocracy.

I'm a big fan of mixed economies, though I think most don't go far enough in curtailing the power of capital and giving rights and freedoms to workers.

Originally posted by Artol
I'm a big fan of mixed economies, though I think most don't go far enough in curtailing the power of capital and giving rights and freedoms to workers.

dur