What can be done to avoid civil war?

dad

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If God’s people would just humble theirselves and seek Gods face and turn from their wicked ways, God will heal their land.

In all seriously though, we have a more identity crisis than anything else.

But I more see that South Africa will face a civil war.
When you steal property based on skin color you are a thieving racist.

When we talk of God's people, who are they?
 
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salt-n-light

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When you steal property based on skin color you are a thieving racist.

When we talk of God's people, who are they?

Which race can claim that they never stole based on skin color?

And God’s people are those who trust and follows God’s will.
 
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dad

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Which race can claim that they never stole based on skin color?

And God’s people are those who trust and follows God’s will.
Either it is ok or not. I wasn't the one who brought it up. I simply pointed out that I find it evil to steal and kill based on race.

So why bring up God's people in relation to a discussion about the US?
 
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2PhiloVoid

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It looks like there is division in the US. Some violence also.

Could anything be done to stop it?

...maybe. How about just not putting anyone in high offices of the land whose sexual lives haven't been too much better than those of Caligula or Nero, or who have owned casinos and strip-clubs?
 
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zippy2006

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Well, I'm thinking more in terms of intellectual movements. I've been following people in the Feser circle for a while now, and it's becoming clear to me that in the very act of denying that power structures exist, they're further contributing to them. Honestly, there are mechanisms in the academia on both sides that shut down debate, but I tend to be hyper-critical of the left while ignoring the even deeper institutional problems on the right. (Deeper, because they refuse to admit that any such thing could exist at all!) I got called out on this by a very liberal friend of mine yesterday, actually.

What are the power structures you're talking about here?

I wouldn't say it's about the Constitution so much as goodwill and authentic respect for persons. For example, the illegal leaking of information about Ford and the personal details of U.S. senator's places of residence, etc., is highly troubling. Inviolable human dignity and not using evil as a means are just going out the window. The whole thing is rather Nietzshcean.
 
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dad

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...maybe. How about just not putting anyone in high offices of the land whose sexual lives haven't been too much better than those of Caligula or Nero, or who have owned casinos and strip-clubs?

We only find out after they are in.
 
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Silmarien

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You were mentioning how the leftist can be just as shrill and intolerant but I think alot of that is a reaction to the frustration people feel with having a well-connected, powerful, anti-humanist, politically active religious-based movement in the US that makes having reasonable conversations very difficult. Because there's so much dogma and ideology in politics as a result. So some people have given in to despair and just opt for the more radical rhetoric and "punch a fascist" type stuff.

I think it's more than that. There could be an element of zeal of the convert in what I say, since I wouldn't have left the secular world if I weren't deeply dissatisfied with it, but I think there are significant differences between the religious left and the secular left. The major one is this: the religious left feels that they cannot lose, because their convictions are theological and God's will shall be done in the end. Knock them down and they will get back up, and if they must be martyred, so be it, but they will not despair, because the ultimate outcome is known in advance. See Martin Luther King Jr.

The secular left doesn't have this. They can lose, and if they do not do everything in their power, they may believe that they will lose. They lack the religious resources that supported earlier liberal movements like Abolitionism and the Civil Rights Movement, and I suspect that this more easily leads to despair and difficulty in suffering setbacks and moving on.
 
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SolomonVII

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Seems to me that if most of the press were owned and operated by biased parties with an agenda, that there is no free speech.

That would be a national emergency.
It is a national disgrace is what it is.
 
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Silmarien

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What are the power structures you're talking about here?

I'm thinking about that flagship of modern progressivism: privilege.

Conservative intellectuals seem intent upon attacking the concept. I think it plays into the way the right and the left approach equality--the right seems to take for granted that a level playing field exists, and the left says it does not. And the fact of the matter is that it does not. Focusing specifically on the gender issues right now, if a man is approached sexually by a strange woman, the situation is very different than if a woman is approached by a strange man, since in both cases if push comes to shove, the man is likely to be able to overpower the woman. So the sorts of strange sexual advances that a man might laugh off or feel flattered by, a woman is more likely to experience as potentially dangerous. The closest men are likely to get is approached sexually by another man, and many men are immediately threatened when that happens.

If conservatives would like to contest liberal solutions to issues like this, that's fine, but they need to start by admitting that the issues exist. I'm honestly not sure why they don't, what with original sin and all. And when they go after the liberal culture of victimization, there is a very thin line between a legitimate criticism and an attempt at silencing both victims and anyone who disagrees with their definition of what constitutes victimization. At the popular level, this plays itself out with the "snowflake" slur, which is actually a diabolically brilliant tactic.

I wouldn't say it's about the Constitution so much as goodwill and authentic respect for persons. For example, the illegal leaking of information about Ford and the personal details of U.S. senator's places of residence, etc., is highly troubling. Inviolable human dignity and not using evil as a means are just going out the window. The whole thing is rather Nietzshcean.

Oh, I don't think so. Nietzsche would be dead set against underhanded tactics and nursed grievances. Morality of the Übermensch, after all. ^_^

I don't like what's going on either, though, but it brought my pet issue into the spotlight in a somewhat unprecedented way, and the whole thing has been very unnerving. I'm worried about what the next month is going to look like, since both sides are going to try to keep emotions as high as possible. Which is terrible for discourse in general, but I'm hoping the liberals don't spend the time effectively triggering their base to keep them upset.
 
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timewerx

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Pray for your enemies, turn the other cheek, go the extra mile, return good for evil.

Many Christians misinterpret this passage. Perhaps, not having full awareness of the conditions the Jews were in.

The Jews were harassed by a far more powerful enemy in those times. If they retaliate, they could only get a much bigger response to which they may not be able to recover. It would be better for them to yeild to their enemies in those times, better yet, "show the other cheek" (to deny the enemy the pleasure of their bullying, NOT to show any fear, nor anger).

But under even, more ideal terms. One should be upholding justice than tolerating injustice or evil even if it means fighting - fighting for what is right and just.

In our modern times where justice is better observed and Christians and Jews are no longer a weak group, then we should fight if needed. Do not tolerate evil, do not give evil any foothold.
 
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Daniel Martinovich

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It looks like there is division in the US. Some violence also.

Could anything be done to stop it?
Ehhh, I posted this on my Facebook page today.

What we are seeing from the unhinged left in principle is this:

Revelations 12:12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short."

God is in the midst of doing great things for America and as an effect the entire world. Things many of us have been praying for, for decades. Things may get a bit crazier before they get better but we should be rejoicing. Those whom Satan is influencing will express his rage at losing his control over our nations affairs. That is what it is about, control and God is assuming some control we haven’t got to seen in a long time. It’s going to make the world a far better place for our children and grandchildren than the world we grew up in. You just wait and see!
 
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zippy2006

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I think it's more than that. There could be an element of zeal of the convert in what I say, since I wouldn't have left the secular world if I weren't deeply dissatisfied with it, but I think there are significant differences between the religious left and the secular left. The major one is this: the religious left feels that they cannot lose, because their convictions are theological and God's will shall be done in the end. Knock them down and they will get back up, and if they must be martyred, so be it, but they will not despair, because the ultimate outcome is known in advance. See Martin Luther King Jr.

The secular left doesn't have this. They can lose, and if they do not do everything in their power, they may believe that they will lose. They lack the religious resources that supported earlier liberal movements like Abolitionism and the Civil Rights Movement, and I suspect that this more easily leads to despair and difficulty in suffering setbacks and moving on.

A secular Libertarian friend of mine pointed this out to me with great astuteness a few weeks ago (though he was speaking only about the political parties). But I think it bleeds into the religious spectrum as well insofar as the theology of the religious left is often more entangled in the world for better or for worse.

Anyway, I'm sapped. This thread empowered me to try my hand with an old Democrat friend on Facebook and the whole thing went south very quickly. Crazy nasty. He promptly deleted the whole thing after finishing. Apparently you can only be impugned and attacked for so long before it's finally time for bed. ^_^

Always nice to chat!
 
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childeye 2

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Many Christians misinterpret this passage. Perhaps, not having full awareness of the conditions the Jews were in.

The Jews were harassed by a far more powerful enemy in those times. If they retaliate, they could only get a much bigger response to which they may not be able to recover. It would be better for them to yeild to their enemies in those times.

But under even, more ideal terms. One should be upholding justice than tolerating injustice or evil even if it means fighting - fighting for what is right and just.
I'm sorry, but I respectfully do not agree. There is a reason why God says we must forgive others and pray for our enemies. There is a reason why there is a spiritual war and why the weapons of our warfare are not carnal. There is a reason why we must pick up our cross and be crucified with Jesus. To understand that reason is to see that people are sometimes blind.
 
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childeye 2

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Ehhh, I posted this on my Facebook page today.

What we are seeing from the unhinged left in principle is this:

Revelations 12:12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short."

God is in the midst of doing great things for America and as an effect the entire world. Things many of us have been praying for, for decades. Things may get a bit crazier before they get better but we should be rejoicing. Those whom Satan is influencing will express his rage at losing his control over our nations affairs. That is what it is about, control and God is assuming some control we haven’t got to seen in a long time. It’s going to make the world a far better place for our children and grandchildren than the world we grew up in. You just wait and see!
So Trump is God's servant sent to make the world a far better place? And "the left" (anyone opposed to Trump) are the servants of Satan? Essentially if you're not for Trump you are against God. Do you think this assessment is consistent with the Spirit of Christ and loving others as you would want to be loved?
 
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dad

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Ehhh, I posted this on my Facebook page today.

What we are seeing from the unhinged left in principle is this:

Revelations 12:12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short."

God is in the midst of doing great things for America and as an effect the entire world. Things many of us have been praying for, for decades. Things may get a bit crazier before they get better but we should be rejoicing. Those whom Satan is influencing will express his rage at losing his control over our nations affairs. That is what it is about, control and God is assuming some control we haven’t got to seen in a long time. It’s going to make the world a far better place for our children and grandchildren than the world we grew up in. You just wait and see!

Interesting prophesy.
 
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dad

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So Trump is God's servant sent to make the world a far better place? And "the left" (anyone opposed to Trump) are the servants of Satan?
Broad brush strokes aside. I see abortion support or opposition as a dividing line.

That seems to be a big issue for the kavanaugh affair.
 
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childeye 2

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Broad brush strokesvaside. I see abortion support or opposition as a dividing line.
I don't. I see Satan working both ends against the middle with two counter narratives.
1) It's wrong to take a life.
2) It's wrong to force a woman to give life.
 
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