Job 8-10

[wolfpurplemoon]

Job is still bemoaning his torment at the hands of Satan (with permission of God), he is definitely justified in his complaints.

Comments

[iopha.livejournal.com]

One last thing then, about the properity of secular societies. As you say, the truth of a (moral) philosophy may be in its fruits. If Christianity were the only way to truth, peace, prosperity and blessedness, you'd expect that countries where Christianity is absent and atheism or secularism present would be countries where things aren't going too well.

Sweden and Norway are good case studies. Only about 23% of Swedes answered 'yes' to a poll question asking whether they believe in a God; less than 4% attend regular, weekly Church services; another 25% explicitly deny there is a God or any higher power. Meanwhile, only 20% of Norwegians say religion is important in their lives.

Let's look at some statistics, then. I'm taking these from the CIA World Factbook (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/). According to our theory, Biblical Christianity not only should do better over-all, secular and atheistic countries should be floundering about in a moral cesspool of suffering and meaninglessness.

Infant Mortality Rate:
Sweden: 2.74 deaths /1,000 live births
Norway: 3.55 deaths / 1,000 live births
USA: 6.14 deaths / 1,000 live births

Life Expectancy:
Sweden: 80.97 years
Norway: 80.08 years
USA: 78.24 years

GDP per capita:
Sweden: $36,800
Norway: $58,600
USA: $46,400

Unemployment rate:
Sweden: 8.3%
Norway: 3.2%
USA: 9.3%

Prison Population per Capita:
Sweden: 75 per 100,000
Norway: 64 per 100,000
USA: 715 per 100,000

(from here (http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_pri_per_cap-crime-prisoners-per-capita)

So, while both Swedes and Norwegians have far lower infant mortality rates (a good signifier of lower rates of income inequality) and longer life-expectancy, Swedes make slightly less than their American and Norwegian counterparts. Norway, of course, has significant oil reserves and a small population; they share it equitably.

Sweden, meanwhile, has a leftist government that taxes its citizens heavily; so while they make about 10,000$ less, they do get a number of services from it. It might be a matter of personal taste what one prefers: more money (but private health care costs) or less money (and state-subsidized cradle-grave coverage).

Finally, the U.S. has ten times as many prisoners per capita as both these 'atheistic' and 'secular' countries. This is another index that reflects income inequality in a society. But I think the point is clear: these three democratic, advanced societies are all doing quite well. On some things, these secular countries are doing better than the US.

So it seems inescapable to conclude that Chritianity is not necessary to in order to have a moral, prosperous, well-functioning society. It doesn't seem to hurt very much, but it doesn't seem to help either (neither does atheism, for that matter!)

[jaronsjournal.livejournal.com]

I don't know enough about Norway and Sweden to give an educated answer to your post. What I do know, from what I have seen in my own life, is that the Christians have been the ones who care, and the ones who don't take God seriously are the ones who serve themselves.

[funkybomb.livejournal.com]

And from what I've seen in MY life, people who call themselves "christian" do so in order to have a thin veil of authority so they can make ridiculous claims such as being gay and not hating one's own sexuality being "sinful".

Surprise, your experiences don't magically trump everyone else'.