Hmmm

[Sammy615]

Conspiracy theory, yeah maybe. But hear me out to answer the question at the end.

Have you guys heard of The Venus Project(working with the Zeitgeist Movement)? If not, it's essentially a technological society in which there are no borders, no mundane jobs etc. It's similar to socialism except that there are computers to do the jobs, and everyone is provided with the things they need for free, so the incentive problem is eliminated. And humans are not in power and it's almost incorruptible. If I haven't explained well enough, just google their site. Anyways, to my question.

While a part of this movement promotes that religious teachings are false, I feel the rest of it could tie in well with Jesus' supposed teachings. This is a way(in theory anyway) to provide for everyone in the whole world, end war, and make sure no one ever starves to death, suffers needlessly etc. So, though this movement promotes sharing evidence against the Bible(although, not very strongly), would the Christians here still support such a thing(supposing it could work)? Which is better, to live in a world like this, or to live in this sort of society where the standard of living for all is great, but the word of God isn't quite so prominent?

(Note: these people do not want to force anyone to dismiss their religious ideals, so, one could still worship privately and go to church)

 

[dewaddict84]

Not a christian, so I can't really answer. But the problem with idea of a post-scarcity society is that life expands until it runs out of resources. I don't see this changing unless forced, in which case I would be one of the first to rise up against the robot overlords. The entire "humans not in control" bit.

 

[Mystman]

Not a christian, so I can't really answer. But the problem with idea of a post-scarcity society is that life expands until it runs out of resources.

Well, in many developed countries you actually see an opposite effect.. In quite a number of rich countries the average woman has less than 2 children.

My biggest problem with such an "everything is provided for free!" society is that the happiness of people might actually decrease..

..who has a more furfilling life, the man toiling on a field for 10 hours a day, who then comes returns to his self-build home to eat a well earned meal..

..or the guy who has nothing to do? Who is going to find work just to cure his boredom, knowing full well that what he's doing is completely useless?

(not extremely on-topic, but hey..)

 

[lawtonfogle]

Conspiracy theory, yeah maybe. But hear me out to answer the question at the end.

Have you guys heard of The Venus Project(working with the Zeitgeist Movement)? If not, it's essentially a technological society in which there are no borders, no mundane jobs etc. It's similar to socialism except that there are computers to do the jobs, and everyone is provided with the things they need for free, so the incentive problem is eliminated. And humans are not in power and it's almost incorruptible. If I haven't explained well enough, just google their site. Anyways, to my question.

While a part of this movement promotes that religious teachings are false, I feel the rest of it could tie in well with Jesus' supposed teachings. This is a way(in theory anyway) to provide for everyone in the whole world, end war, and make sure no one ever starves to death, suffers needlessly etc. So, though this movement promotes sharing evidence against the Bible(although, not very strongly), would the Christians here still support such a thing(supposing it could work)? Which is better, to live in a world like this, or to live in this sort of society where the standard of living for all is great, but the word of God isn't quite so prominent?

(Note: these people do not want to force anyone to dismiss their religious ideals, so, one could still worship privately and go to church)

A NASA study showed that environments which are more under human control and which provide more and more for humans every whim lead to solipsistic disorder, a disconnect from reality. Of course, I am unsure if humans or robots control things on the small scale (day to day lives), which is where this effect kicks in. Robots having control on the large scale is unlikely to influence this.

 

[Penumbra]

I think we should of course try to raise the standard of living for all humankind as much as possible, but keep in mind that if we get to a point where we have everything we want, we run out of reasons to live.

I watched the movie Wall-E on tv last night. All of the humans live on space ships and have robots catering to their every whim. They never even get off of their floating chairs, so they are all fat. There is nothing for them to do, and everything they want is available to them immediately.

I don't think we'll end up exactly like that, but it's a good exaggeration of how society can end up if we get everything we want. America is so highly developed and yet a majority of our country is overweight, and so many people are depressed.

 

[Washington]

PIE IN THE SKY​

 

[Sammy615]

Lol, it wasn't about whether the system could work, more about if those with religious beliefs would find such a society a good thing or bad thing because of the stance on their beliefs.

 

[keith99]

Lol, it wasn't about whether the system could work, more about if those with religious beliefs would find such a society a good thing or bad thing because of the stance on their beliefs.

Let's see. So you are asking if any Christian would see it as good to have all material needs met while there is a spirtual lack, such lack resulting in eternal death as they see it?

Why bother. Rather like asking a cow who will soon be Kobe beef if it is a good thing.

 

[Sammy615]

Let's see. So you are asking if any Christian would see it as good to have all material needs met while there is a spirtual lack, such lack resulting in eternal death as they see it?

Why bother. Rather like asking a cow who will soon be Kobe beef if it is a good thing.

No, because people are still allowed to practice if they wish. And many people who would be provided for wouldn't have been Christian anyway.

 

[Mystman]

Lol, it wasn't about whether the system could work, more about if those with religious beliefs would find such a society a good thing or bad thing because of the stance on their beliefs.

Well, as I understood the OP, this Venus project suggest a society that

1. provides free stuff for everyone
2. diminishes/attacks/whatever the belief in Christianity

where 1 is seen as good, 2 is seen as bad, and your question was whether the good of 1 outweighed the bad of 2.

(if that's not what you meant by the OP: my bad )

To answer the "does 2 outweigh 1?" question, it's quite relevant to determine how good 1 is.

 

[dewaddict84]

I'd say it's a bad thing. Even if our daily needs are met, the fact that robots are in control means we're slaves to our own creation. If you nix that, and the anti-religious thing, and all you're left with is robots doing, well, all the work, then I'd call it good. To that extent, we DO have laborers losing their jobs to automation all the time. It produces an overall more product at a cheaper cost so society benefits on the whole. You just have to hope that the laborers go get a job that hasn't or can't be automated yet.

 

[keith99]

I'm going to go a totally different direction.

My mother is alive, well and in her 80s. Very alive and well. Of course getting older she needs some help from time to time. She really can not take a 50 Lb. container of pool chemicals out of her car. A tight valve can be a problem. She really values being able to have children close that she can call and happily help her.

BUT I know her, while she values getting help she values a couple of things far more. She values still being close to her family, yet perhaps even above that she values being useful. And she is. I think if she ever starts to feel useless she will soon be dead.

The society proposed seems to have created people who are only consumers, no one needs them. I think many of what are the best people would wither and die in such a world.