what am i poltically?

[SimonNova]

I agree, yes, because if that were the case then surely it would make sense to have everyone on welfare. (not)

anyway, I think Henry Ford had the right idea: ie: pay the workers enough so they can afford to buy things.

 

[Gracchus]

The way to deal with criminals is not to punish them. The way to deal with criminals is to exact restitution (Insofar as that is possible!) and to prevent re-offense. This can be done by imprisonment, or by other means suited to the individual case.

so are you talking eye for an eye, molestation for molestation, life for life, etc.?

You're projecting. The objective is to prevent re-offence by the most humane means possible

Imprisonment. Isn't that punishment?

Psychology has shown that punishment deters only when it is immediate and sure. Imprisonment may be unpleasant, but the only objective is to prevent re-offense.

"u·to·pi·a (y-tp-) n.
1. a. often Utopia An ideally perfect place, especially in its social, political, and moral aspects.
b. A work of fiction describing a utopia.
2. An impractical, idealistic scheme for social and political reform.

[New Latin topia, imaginary island in Utopia by Sir Thomas More : Greek ou, not, no; see aiw- in Indo-European roots + Greek topos, place.] "
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

There may not be an ideally perfect place, but we can certainly make a better place. Presumably, God could too, but he hasn't. So, as usual, it is up to us.

It is also why Christianity hasn't brought about the Kingdom of God: Christians always prefer to be forgiven over not offending in the first place.

Must have your religions mixed up we're not trying to reveal the last imam and bring about the Kingdom of God. We are just trying to prepare for the coming of Christ.

Still wainting for someone else to do it for you! I should have noticed!

You know all Christians???

Of course not, but in my nearly seventy years I have known a good many. They have been morally indistinguishable from anyone else. (A bit more annoyingly arrogant and self-righteous perhaps; a bit more illogical!)

Actually, atheists and agnostics have come off the best morally in my admittedly limited observations.

 

[diychristian]

You're projecting. The objective is to prevent re-offence by the most humane means possible

Psychology has shown that punishment deters only when it is immediate and sure. Imprisonment may be unpleasant, but the only objective is to prevent re-offense.

The prisons are full of repeat offenders. Imprisonment as it is today is the epitome of a failed system.

Still wainting for someone else to do it for you! I should have noticed!

I know my limitations. A drowning man can't save himself. When I don't have strength to get up on my own I have God there to help me.

Of course not, but in my nearly seventy years I have known a good many. They have been morally indistinguishable from anyone else. (A bit more annoyingly arrogant and self-righteous perhaps; a bit more illogical!)

Actually, atheists and agnostics have come off the best morally in my admittedly limited observations.

"Best Morally"? How can morals be "best" in a relativistic worldview (such as atheism or agnosticism)

 

[Gracchus]

The prisons are full of repeat offenders. Imprisonment as it is today is the epitome of a failed system.

I agree. It fails because we let them out, without any assurance that they will not re-offend..

I know my limitations. A drowning man can't save himself. When I don't have strength to get up on my own I have God there to help me.

And yet, look at all those who have drowned. Some have saved themselves (I did it myself, once.), some have been saved by others. But lots have drowned dead, enough that god might be fairly judged as ... unreliable.

"Best Morally"? How can morals be "best" in a relativistic worldview (such as atheism or agnosticism)

Society decides what is moral, and you disagree at your own risk. But I didn't say that atheists and agnostics were very moral. I only said that my observations had led me to believe that they were the best of an admittedly bad lot. Some were soldiers. Some were murderers. Some were child molesters. Some were lawyers. Some were even (SHUDDER!) Republicans