Chicken Littling

[Arnold_Philips]

In my experience, religious (and some non-religious) people generally think that their generation is somehow more depraved previous ones, and, accordingly, that future generations will be even more corrupt. And because of this, the end times (whatever that means) are near.

My question is that, is this belief universal? and if so, why?

 

[knightlight72]

I think that scripture of the bible shows the end times have never been more accurate than it has now. Example, with the Israelites getting their lands back, that makes now more accurate than any other time in almost 2000 years previous.

 

[outlaw]

“The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers.”
~SOCRATES (469–399 B.C.)

 

[Arnold_Philips]

“The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers.”
~SOCRATES (469–399 B.C.)

"The Earth is degenerating today.
Bribery and corruption abound.
Children no longer obey their parents,
every man wants to write a book, and
it is evident that the end of the world is fast approaching."
- Assyrian clay tablet, 2800BC

 

[Lanakila]

I think that scripture of the bible shows the end times have never been more accurate than it has now. Example, with the Israelites getting their lands back, that makes now more accurate than any other time in almost 2000 years previous.

Nothing like making prophesy be fullfilled on purpose, which was what happened when Israel became a nation. This is part of the reason evangelicals are so opposed to the land for peace thing that happens over there.

 

[knightlight72]

Nothing like making prophesy be fullfilled on purpose, which was what happened when Israel became a nation. This is part of the reason evangelicals are so opposed to the land for peace thing that happens over there.

Evangicals are not opposed to peace over there, they just are aware that it will be a battleground, and seems to always have been that way.

 

[Lanakila]

No but they are opposed to Israel giving up any of the land, because then the prophecy can't be fullfilled.

 

[knightlight72]

No but they are opposed to Israel giving up any of the land, because then the prophecy can't be fullfilled.

They might want Israel to keep the land, because it is theirs.

 

[Blessed-one]

well, understanding God does open the eye somewhat to the increasing problems of today's generation. That's got nothing to do with prophecy. So why does it seem that religious people see it as a deprived generation? We see things differently from others.

about the future? that I'm not certain. But you can see trends.

Are older generations any better? oh sure, better in some areas, worse in some. um, but on the whole, humanity is just as bad as before.

People of this generation are just better at hiding it.

and end up amplifying it in a hundred ways.

 

[ApocryphaNow]

Romer's Rule (in more pithy form): the more things change, the more they say the same.

Nostalgia is an interesting and comfortable trap. I think fantasizing about a mythical golden era is fine... until people start trying to force the present to become a past that never existed.

 

[AnarKiss]

In my experience, religious (and some non-religious) people generally think that their generation is somehow more depraved previous ones, and, accordingly, that future generations will be even more corrupt... My question is that, is this belief universal? and if so, why?

Interesting thought! I think most of us tend to recall our younger days through rose coloured glasses. And it is easy to paint them as a simpler, more pure and beautiful time.

However, if I were to step back to a previous generation (or two) I think I would be grateful that I am not living then. A time when women were regarded as lesser beings (no voting rights, few leadership opportunities...), and people outside the norm were shunned (ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation).

I think we all have capacity for 'radical evil' and 'radical good' (to use Kant's words). Both can be expressed particularly powerfully with the communication and scientific developments available to us now. But, at least in Australia, I like to think we are being kept more accountable than at many times in the past. Of course, there are plenty of areas for improvement (both personally and communally).

 

[MethodMan]

Man has spiritually evolving downward since the Garden.

 

[heron]

"The Earth is degenerating today.
Bribery and corruption abound.
Children no longer obey their parents,
every man wants to write a book, and
it is evident that the end of the world is fast approaching."
- Assyrian clay tablet, 2800BC

LOL!

It's true that people are generalizing that it's all bad, so it's time. The prophecies are very specific about events.

Examples of more specific readings with unique events:

Rev. 14:20 - Blood ...up to the horses' bridles, for[SIZE=-1][/SIZE] a distance of two [SIZE=-1][/SIZE]hundred miles. (Appears to be from Jerusalem)

Daniel 12:4 - Seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase. (unique in that it increases with time)

Rev. 16:4 - The sea...became blood like that of a dead man; and every living thing in the sea died. (Red tide has had its problematic moments, but people contain and eradicate it.)

Rev. 16:3 - Malignant sore on people who get the mark (too much radiation from scanning?)

.

 

[outlaw]

Jaochim of Fiore predicted it in the 12th century, and thousands believed him. The “great disappointment” of 1843 had tens of thousands of followers. Hal Lindsay wrote the book “the late great planet earth” in the 70’s and tens of thousands believed him. Thousands also believed Edgar Whisenant who published a book titled 88 Reasons the Rapture Will Occur in 1988. The Trinity Broadcast company was so enamored with him thath they stopped all regular programming on the predicted date and ran specials about how to deal with suddenly missing loved ones. When the big send off didn’t happen Whisenant discovered he had made a mathematical error, and he published a sequel explaining that the rapture would come in 1989.

 

[cobweb]

Thousands also believed Edgar Whisenant who published a book titled 88 Reasons the Rapture Will Occur in 1988. The Trinity Broadcast company was so enamored with him thath they stopped all regular programming on the predicted date and ran specials about how to deal with suddenly missing loved ones. When the big send off didn’t happen Whisenant discovered he had made a mathematical error, and he published a sequel explaining that the rapture would come in 1989.

I remember that happening (not the TBN thing because we didn't have a tv). I was 10 or 11 years old and we spent a good chunk of the day in church waiting for the world to end.

My parents didn't buy into it since they were firm post-tribbers, but the rest of the church sure seemed convinced.

 

[knightlight72]

Thousands also believed Edgar Whisenant who published a book titled 88 Reasons the Rapture Will Occur in 1988. The Trinity Broadcast company was so enamored with him thath they stopped all regular programming on the predicted date and ran specials about how to deal with suddenly missing loved ones. When the big send off didn’t happen Whisenant discovered he had made a mathematical error, and he published a sequel explaining that the rapture would come in 1989.

It's too bad that the believed who read the book, didn't spend their time reading the bible instead. The bible says that the day will not be known.

 

[sister_maynard]

People like to believe that things are getting worse because it's a boost to self-confidence. After all, you were always a perfect child who did exactly as your elders commanded. Who are these young whippersnappers to be so disrespectful? The world must be coming to an end!
That is, of course, rather simplified and cynical, but it seems likely enough.

 

[ApocryphaNow]

People like to believe that things are getting worse because it's a boost to self-confidence. After all, you were always a perfect child who did exactly as your elders commanded. Who are these young whippersnappers to be so disrespectful? The world must be coming to an end!
That is, of course, rather simplified and cynical, but it seems likely enough.

I used to think similarly. Recently, I've come to see it as more complicated. I think people, in general, spend most of their younger years in a "formative" frame of mind in which we look up to adults, think the world is exactly as how it appears, and believe in absolute "truths", "justice" and "the American Way" (as if abstract words have concrete meanings).

We grow up and our perspective on life in general changes, but our memories remain the same. Therefore, we think the world actually was as we remember it, and not that our view may have been shaded from our thinking at the time. It is hard to keep the change of perspective in mind. We just understand so little of how humans and life actually are when we are younger. This, I feel, is what we know as "nostalgia." Rather literally, it is a mental trap.

 

[sister_maynard]

Ooh... that is extremely thought-provoking and far likelier to be true. I'll turn that one over for a bit.

 

[ApocryphaNow]

Ooh... that is extremely thought-provoking and far likelier to be true. I'll turn that one over for a bit.

Thanks! Heh, I'm rather pleased with myself for that one. Something about it seems more satisfying and useful. I'm not sure if I have carried this idea to full maturation yet, but I think I'm on the right track.