Comments on: Blessed are the poor http://www.getreligion.org/2008/10/blessed-are-the-poor/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=blessed-are-the-poor "The press . . . just doesn't get religion." -- William Schneider Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:07:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: The Poor Are Always With Us http://www.getreligion.org/2008/10/blessed-are-the-poor/comment-page-1/#comment-136177 The Poor Are Always With Us Wed, 05 Nov 2008 22:15:40 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=4072#comment-136177 [...] Over at Get Religion there is an interesting post credited to Mollie, entitled “Blessed Are the Poor”. [...] […] Over at Get Religion there is an interesting post credited to Mollie, entitled “Blessed Are the Poor”. […]

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]]> By: Bern http://www.getreligion.org/2008/10/blessed-are-the-poor/comment-page-1/#comment-135765 Bern Thu, 30 Oct 2008 02:42:03 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=4072#comment-135765 Although I don't agree with Mattk's conclusion about the Post article being some sort of get-out-the-vote for Obama, the official unemployment rate has been lowballed for decades, under every administration and in every economic situation. It only includes people actually collecting unemployment checks which generally run out 6 months after layoff, involuntary seperation (my personal favorite), downsizing, rightsizing, or what-have-you. I don't do predictions but if I did I'd say (official) double-digits are not that far off. And if it's YOUR job that's gone, that's as historic as unemployment needs to get. Although I don’t agree with Mattk’s conclusion about the Post article being some sort of get-out-the-vote for Obama,
the official unemployment rate has been lowballed for decades, under every administration and in every economic situation. It only includes people actually collecting unemployment checks which generally run out 6 months after layoff, involuntary seperation (my personal favorite), downsizing, rightsizing, or what-have-you. I don’t do predictions but if I did I’d say (official) double-digits are not that far off. And if it’s YOUR job that’s gone, that’s as historic as unemployment needs to get.

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]]> By: Jerry http://www.getreligion.org/2008/10/blessed-are-the-poor/comment-page-1/#comment-135687 Jerry Tue, 28 Oct 2008 22:14:31 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=4072#comment-135687 <blockquote>There is NOTHING scripturally correct about being poor.</blockquote> There is Matt 19:24 <blockquote>And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.</blockquote> Of course, the middle class is another matter.

There is NOTHING scripturally correct about being poor.

There is Matt 19:24

And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Of course, the middle class is another matter.

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]]> By: Mattk http://www.getreligion.org/2008/10/blessed-are-the-poor/comment-page-1/#comment-135683 Mattk Tue, 28 Oct 2008 19:06:23 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=4072#comment-135683 It is strange. Just 2 days ago some remarked to me about the "historic high unemployment" we are suffering. I reminded her that it is only 6.1%, and that during the 1980s there was a 12 month period when unemployment was above 10%, and that in 1933 it was over 24%. I think this story, about how hard times are, is targeted to young voters to get them to vote for Obama. It is strange. Just 2 days ago some remarked to me about the “historic high unemployment” we are suffering. I reminded her that it is only 6.1%, and that during the 1980s there was a 12 month period when unemployment was above 10%, and that in 1933 it was over 24%. I think this story, about how hard times are, is targeted to young voters to get them to vote for Obama.

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]]> By: Judy Rey Wasserman http://www.getreligion.org/2008/10/blessed-are-the-poor/comment-page-1/#comment-135681 Judy Rey Wasserman Tue, 28 Oct 2008 18:14:29 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=4072#comment-135681 say the New York Times would not cover the end of the world as everyone associated with it would have run somewhere to try to take cover! Just like most everyone else would do. In times of crisis we look for safety and security. The religious organizations have people in need (including spiritual need, flocking to them now as these groups are seen as offering safety and security from the cares of the world. Jesus said "Blessed are the poor in spirit." That refers to a kind of humility -- the kind Moses had, which was submitting to the Will of God. There is NOTHING scripturally correct about being poor. In fact, throughout the Bible there are promises of the many blessings, both spiritual and worldly that will be given to those who love the Lord with all their heart, mind, soul and might. That willingness to give up everything (part of one's might) is a Job like attribute. One could become materially poor like Job. However, at the end, Job's fortunes were more than fully restored! So that someone is wealthy, including living in a wealthy community like Greenwich does not immediately indicate that the person does not love the Lord. However, all Christians and Jews are called upon to give to those who are in physical need. That is lovingkindness. Last time i looked we very much had a separation of Church and state, so from a biblical point of view, the government of the USA is not obligated to care for its poor citizens. We have government programs only because citizens, many of whom are Christians or Jews or believe biblical principles, are in favor of such charity programs. Time when many people are experiencing less financial or material wealth have almost always been times that produced spiritual wealth for the people of the USA. As the financial problems grow, people are flocking together on the Internet into spiritual social networks and groups. Faith and spirituality are flourishing on the web, including through this web site. If history is an indicator, we ca prepare for some new understandings that include the promises and a new outpouring and revelation of divine purpose for our lives. The Churches and synagogue, temples, etc., where people's spiritual needs are being met will survive -- and possibly increase. Perhaps there will be fewer gala events and more pot lucks, but people will support what brings them closer to God. And giving to those in <em>real</em> need does that. Judy Rey Wasserman Artist, Author Post Conceptual UnGraven Image Art theory <strong>The Art of Seeing The Divine</strong> say the New York Times would not cover the end of the world as everyone associated with it would have run somewhere to try to take cover! Just like most everyone else would do.

In times of crisis we look for safety and security. The religious organizations have people in need (including spiritual need, flocking to them now as these groups are seen as offering safety and security from the cares of the world.

Jesus said “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” That refers to a kind of humility — the kind Moses had, which was submitting to the Will of God.

There is NOTHING scripturally correct about being poor. In fact, throughout the Bible there are promises of the many blessings, both spiritual and worldly that will be given to those who love the Lord with all their heart, mind, soul and might.

That willingness to give up everything (part of one’s might) is a Job like attribute. One could become materially poor like Job. However, at the end, Job’s fortunes were more than fully restored!

So that someone is wealthy, including living in a wealthy community like Greenwich does not immediately indicate that the person does not love the Lord.

However, all Christians and Jews are called upon to give to those who are in physical need. That is lovingkindness.
Last time i looked we very much had a separation of Church and state, so from a biblical point of view, the government of the USA is not obligated to care for its poor citizens. We have government programs only because citizens, many of whom are Christians or Jews or believe biblical principles, are in favor of such charity programs.

Time when many people are experiencing less financial or material wealth have almost always been times that produced spiritual wealth for the people of the USA. As the financial problems grow, people are flocking together on the Internet into spiritual social networks and groups. Faith and spirituality are flourishing on the web, including through this web site.

If history is an indicator, we ca prepare for some new understandings that include the promises and a new outpouring and revelation of divine purpose for our lives.

The Churches and synagogue, temples, etc., where people’s spiritual needs are being met will survive — and possibly increase. Perhaps there will be fewer gala events and more pot lucks, but people will support what brings them closer to God.

And giving to those in real need does that.

Judy Rey Wasserman
Artist, Author
Post Conceptual UnGraven Image Art theory
The Art of Seeing The Divine

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]]> By: Jerry http://www.getreligion.org/2008/10/blessed-are-the-poor/comment-page-1/#comment-135673 Jerry Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:00:16 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=4072#comment-135673 Given that Washington DC is the seat of the Federal government, I would not expect mass layoffs due to the economy. So that is a good point. <blockquote>It’s such a simple thing to include actual religion in religion stories</blockquote> Heh. Can you imagine a political story without politics or a sports story without sports? Sigh. Given that Washington DC is the seat of the Federal government, I would not expect mass layoffs due to the economy. So that is a good point.
It’s such a simple thing to include actual religion in religion stories

Heh. Can you imagine a political story without politics or a sports story without sports? Sigh.

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