I love animals but are we getting our priorities wrong?

[Ignatius the Kiwi]

Americans spend:

$250 billion on alcohol.
$150 billion on illegal drugs
Cigarette smoking and it's associated costs are estimated at $600 billion.

Compare that to the fact that the health benefits of having a pet may well exceed the overhead cost. So you tell me, which of these things do you really think we should cut back on?

Don't forget Entertainment and tech that we ultimately don't need.

 

[Neogaia777]

Do you consider this a good thing for us to be in as a society? Does God desire that the poor not have the consolation of children and a future in your opinion?

I try not to consider the good or bad in it either way, it's just the way things are becoming, etc...

Who should I be most angry with for it after all, etc...?

In my opinion, all of humanity is to blame, etc...

God Bless!

 

[Neogaia777]

Don't forget Entertainment and tech that we ultimately don't need.

That depends...?

 

[Ignatius the Kiwi]

I try not to consider the good or bad in it either way, it's just the way things are becoming, etc...

Who should I be most angry with for it after all, etc...?

In my opinion, all of humanity is to blame, etc...

God Bless!

It's not good to have children? How do you interpret the very first commandment God gave to humanity then?

All of humanity is to blame for our current scenario? In a certain sense yes, since we are all fallen but how do the elites not earn particular criticism for enacting policies which have made it so hard to have a family? To buy a house? etc?

 

[Neogaia777]

It's not good to have children? How do you interpret the very first commandment God gave to humanity then?

All of humanity is to blame for our current scenario? In a certain sense yes, since we are all fallen but how do the elites not earn particular criticism for enacting policies which have made it so hard to have a family? To buy a house? etc?

As I said, I try not to judge the good or bad about it either way, I only said it might not be wise right now, etc...

I also try not to place blame either way either, other than saying all are at fault, etc...

Yet you are upset with me, etc...

God Bless!

 

[FireDragon76]

Where did I judge anyone? I only made the comment that it was a bad thing that people are not having children and this is based of a traditional Christian view that sees children as a blessing rather than a curse or a drain on resources. Do you consider it good that people not have children?

I consider it a personal decision that's up to the potential parents in question.

Blessing doesn't mean commandment.

 

[FireDragon76]

Do you consider this a good thing for us to be in as a society? Does God desire that the poor not have the consolation of children and a future in your opinion?

Children aren't always a "consolation". Also, the notion that children are a "future" is straight out of the bronze age and doesn't reflect many modern peoples lived experiences.

 

[jayem]

Most people now days in the US prefer pets because they are lonely and lack the social skills to have alot of friends, and/or they live physically isolated lives.

There is truth to that. Not all pet owners are socially isolated. But in the 21st century, we don't reside in small villages/hamlets or closely-knit neighborhoods anymore where everyone knows and interacts with everyone else. And we spend money on pets because they're more than just companions. They become members of our families.

 

[Ignatius the Kiwi]

Children aren't always a "consolation". Also, the notion that children are a "future" is straight out of the bronze age and doesn't reflect many modern peoples lived experiences.

Children are a consolation for most and have been throughout most of history. It's what's given men and women meaning in their lives and perhaps the greatest lasting accomplishment they will ever have in their lives.

Also, why should I respect modern people's thoughts on this subject above the ancient and venerable tradition which has been handed on to us since the bronze age? You seem to think that because this attitude is old it's wrong.

 

[Lost Witness]

Children aren't always a "consolation". Also, the notion that children are a "future" is straight out of the bronze age and doesn't reflect many modern peoples lived experiences.

 

[Ignatius the Kiwi]

I consider it a personal decision that's up to the potential parents in question.

Blessing doesn't mean commandment.

Naturally you consider it a personal decision because you are an individualist first and not a Christian.

 

[ViaCrucis]

I was talking about couples who opt to not have kids and just have pets.

What's the issue?

-CryptoLutheran

 

[Ignatius the Kiwi]

What's the issue?

-CryptoLutheran

To you as a progressive Lutheran, there is no issue.

 

[ViaCrucis]

Where did I judge anyone? I only made the comment that it was a bad thing that people are not having children and this is based of a traditional Christian view that sees children as a blessing rather than a curse or a drain on resources. Do you consider it good that people not have children?

Why does it have to be good or bad?

-CryptoLutheran

 

[ViaCrucis]

To you as a progressive Lutheran, there is no issue.

Progressive is your word, not mine.

As a Christian I'm not seeing the issue.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[Ignatius the Kiwi]

Progressive is your word, not mine.

As a Christian I'm not seeing the issue.

-CryptoLutheran

I think it's a word which adequately describes you. Christianity historically has not been neutral on the point of rearing and raising children and has encouraged it for the married, as much as it was within their capacity. That it is natural, good and the order of things.

It's more the progressive who says children in married life are an option.

 

[ViaCrucis]

I think it's a word which adequately describes you. Christianity historically has not been neutral on the point of rearing and raising children and has encouraged it for the married, as much as it was within their capacity. That it is natural, good and the order of things.

It's more the progressive who says children in married life are an option.

My political views probably can be broadly described as "progressive". But the term "Progressive Christian" is a loaded one. I call myself Christian, not a liberal Christian, not a conservative Christian, not a progressive Christian--but Christian. I am a Christian that confesses the Lutheran Confessions as a true exposition of Christian faith.

Further: I don't see these two statements as mutually exclusive. "Be fruitful and multiply" speaks to the inherent goodness of creation. The bearing of children is a good thing. That does not, however, translate into "it's a bad thing if you don't reproduce".

There might be a lot of reasons why someone doesn't have children, and frankly it's nobody's business but theirs.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[Ignatius the Kiwi]

My political views probably can be broadly described as "progressive". But the term "Progressive Christian" is a loaded one. I call myself Christian, not a liberal Christian, not a conservative Christian, not a progressive Christian--but Christian. I am a Christian that confesses the Lutheran Confessions as a true exposition of Christian faith.

Further: I don't see these two statements as mutually exclusive. "Be fruitful and multiply" speaks to the inherent goodness of creation. The bearing of children is a good thing. That does not, however, translate into "it's a bad thing if you don't reproduce".

There might be a lot of reasons why someone doesn't have children, and frankly it's nobody's business but theirs.

-CryptoLutheran

Loaded how? You're a very progressive Christian from what I can tell and it would not be wrong to describe you as such. Just as it would not be wrong to describe myself as a Traditionalist and or reactionary Christian.

The real problem with the idea that children are merely an option, especially as it relates to Christianity is that this belief is not warranted historically by the tradition. Children were not considered something one chose but were a natural result of marriage and the point of marriage. A good policy to actually give men and women meaning and carry on the faith.

It's not necessarily a bad thing to not have children, especially if you can't (via infertility or something similar) but to choose when one is perfectly able to have children. Well, that decision can only lead to one thing, death and endless consumption.

 

[seeker2122]

The correlation is assumptive, not factual.

All pets ceasing to exist does not mean world hunger would be eliminated. . .nor anything else resolved.

Never said pets should cease to exist. I simply said we got our priorities wrong it seems if we spend more money on dog and cat food than we do on feeding the starving people of this world. Think about it carefully. What I said is a fact.

 

[seeker2122]

I think God is more displeased that people are willing to have pets before having children these days.

This is another good point. I love my dogs and cats as I said and sometimes I love them more than I would love humans (easily). But the facts are the facts. God desires humans more than he desires animals. He would rather we be taking care of children and raising children than to be pampering dogs and cats like royalty spending all our time and money on them.