How would you define poverty in a world where there is such variation and inequality of wealth?
According to your religious, spiritual, or philosophical beliefs, to what extent should people take concerted action to alter the systems that give rise to or perpetuate wealth and poverty?
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-Removed-In the book of Acts, right after the church was started, right before it was persecuted.
They gave all of their stuff away and shared everything in common.
There is still nothing wrong with wealth or ownership; both are biblical.
Greed is a deadly sin, difficult to see in one's own life.
Money or power never satisfies; you want more no matter how much you have.
Therefore, the love of money is the issue, and you can have that being rich or poor.
@fmf saidThe short answer from me is 'no'. Very little can be done about poverty. Maybe I see the root causes of poverty differently. Poverty has nothing to do with what others have but more to do with the mindset and personal philosophy of the poor.
How would you define poverty in a world where there is such variation and inequality of wealth?
According to your religious, spiritual, or philosophical beliefs, to what extent should people take concerted action to alter the systems that give rise to or perpetuate wealth and poverty?
In terms of doing things to assist the poor, I think most governments are already doing that. Some people help the poor from their personal resources. From a biblical perspective, Jesus said the poor will always be with you.
In a nutshell, poverty cannot be solved by redistributing wealth to the point where all people share the same standard of living.
@fmf saidPoverty is artificially cultivated to maintain systems of control
How would you define poverty in a world where there is such variation and inequality of wealth?
According to your religious, spiritual, or philosophical beliefs, to what extent should people take concerted action to alter the systems that give rise to or perpetuate wealth and poverty?
@fmf saidIt has been estimated that if all the money used for military spending by all nations in one year was used for food production we could feed the whole world for a hundred years.
How would you define poverty in a world where there is such variation and inequality of wealth?
According to your religious, spiritual, or philosophical beliefs, to what extent should people take concerted action to alter the systems that give rise to or perpetuate wealth and poverty?
Chew on that for a while.
@josephw saidAssuming your post is not just virtue signalling, [1] how would you transfer all that money - which currently almost exclusively goes to fabulously rich [and politically influential/generous] American-owned corporations [and wealthy individuals attendant thereto] - from the military budget into schemes that tackled poverty? And [2] what would be some examples of the kinds of schemes you have in mind?
It has been estimated that if all the money used for military spending by all nations in one year was used for food production we could feed the whole world for a hundred years.
@fmf saidI would define "poverty" - in a diverse world - not in terms of what you can and can't buy with the money that you do have.
How would you define poverty in a world where there is such variation and inequality of wealth?
I would define "poverty" in terms of vulnerability and the proximity or imminence of disaster.
If one lives one pay packet/one month away from financial ruin ~ if one lives 'from hand to mouth' ~ if even a moderate health crisis would bankrupt one's family ~ if there are no savings and no assets to liquidate ~ if one cannot afford to get fired or laid off for fear of losing one's home etc. ~ then I think the term "poverty" applies, even in "rich" countries.
@fmf saidSpiritual impoverishment is the real killer.
I would define "poverty" - in a diverse world - not in terms of what you can and can't buy with the money that you do have.
I would define "poverty" in terms of vulnerability and the proximity or imminence of disaster.
If one lives one pay packet/one month away from financial ruin ~ if one lives 'from hand to mouth' ~ if even a moderate health crisis would bankrupt one's ...[text shortened]... fear of losing one's home etc. ~ then I think the term "poverty" applies, even in "rich" countries.
To meet the material needs of the masses, so that no one starves to death, and no one faces financial disaster, would require more than just equitable distribution of wealth, it would require that corruption and greed be destroyed first.
@josephw saidSo to what extent should people take concerted action to alter the systems that give rise to or perpetuate wealth and poverty?
Spiritual impoverishment is the real killer.To meet the material needs of the masses, so that no one starves to death, and no one faces financial disaster, would require more than just equitable distribution of wealth, it would require that corruption and greed be destroyed first.
@fmf saidThere's nothing man can do.
So to what extent should people take concerted action to alter the systems that give rise to or perpetuate wealth and poverty?
This current "system" is scheduled to reach its end. And soon.
Jesus Christ will return and end the rule of man and establish his kingdom.
The return of Jesus Christ is the blessed hope. A sure thing.
Until then all will continue as before, getting worse by the day.