Comments on: Giving £1m to charity

By: ganzo

ganzo — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:50:56 +0000

Just as Peter (150), I am “saddened” by StillConfused’s attitude.

StillConfused appears to be very sensitive about judging someone based on material possessions (109) but has no problem at all judging others for not being able to provide for themselves (147). While there are apparently no good excuses for not being self-reliant there are plenty of good excuses for not giving financially (i.e., I give my time instead because that is what I am passionate about and giving money is an inferior form of charity).

By: By the Rules

By the Rules — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:44:23 +0000

Opinioniated, yes. Troll, no way. You’re talking with a true fan here. And yes, I can change my opinion based upon reason and logic; to which I remain open.

By: ganzo

ganzo — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:37:01 +0000

I think that 153 confirms Ronan’s earlier suspicion that By the Rules is a troll.

By: Cort

Cort — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:33:36 +0000

Also, I didn’t mean to advocate living celestially in only one area, I meant to acknowledge that on the topic of the original post we all have a ways to go and there’s no sense in pretending we don’t. By the way, I also have no intention of reading only scriptures. Ugh! Despite that, I still see Pres. Hinckley’s point.

By: By the Rules

By the Rules — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:31:20 +0000

159

I would be interested in your opinion on the following scenario: Old West homesteaders. One homesteader works twice as hard and builds a cabin twice as large as his neighbor. Does he owe his neighbor anything?

By: sam

sam — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:30:57 +0000

Cort, thanks for the compliment. I probably make more than you do, no bragging intended. So I didn’t “need” it. That being said, my wife and I spend less than most people we know with 2 kids (and I don’t associate with high earners).

By: sam

sam — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:28:09 +0000

Enna,
The economy is not so easy to control, and any attempt at controlling it usually leads to widespread misery within a lifespan.

If the prophet is in charge of the economy, maybe then we can trust them with trying to apply a celestial standard for all of us to follow — wait that didn’t really work out to well when the prophets were in charge of the economy.

I think we should all strive to do the most we can do, and then do even more. But my personal thought is, it ends there.

Because I cut my pay and got a pay raise for my subordinate, does not mean I should require everyone to do that.

But when I read a few posts up that “society should…” I see reasoning that is very well intentioned, but completely disregards the economic realities of life, motivation, risk, reward, scarcity, etc.

By: Cort

Cort — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:27:13 +0000

Sam (157) You are right, forcing anyone to live a celestial economy isn’t celestial (and is a public policy disaster). I thought your first comment was perfectly reasonable. You acknowledge that current economic forces make it unrealistic to pay everyone equally, and that it is not fair. I also accept both parts of that sentense. I guess I was reponding more to some of the earlier comments that didn’t ackowledge the unfairness.

As you point out, there is a LOT we (I) can do that we aren’t doing. We shouldn’t pretend it is otherwise, although our frailty might limit what we can realistically accomplish. I certainly am not signing up for a pay cut like you have, but I’m not going to pretend your generosity isn’t living a higher law than I am ready to live. So thanks for your example!

By: Enna

Enna — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:08:40 +0000

-So the suggestion that we all of the sudden apply a celestial standard to one area of life (the economy) and not another, is also a bit unfair.

Why? You have to start somewhere. And I imagine starting in one area of life would lead to a ripple effect in the other areas.

It seems like the alternative is to say that it’s not fair, so let’s just not try to apply celestial principles at all…

By: Enna

Enna — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:06:07 +0000

-We, as a Zion society, can properly reward greater works with greater salary, can we not?

My concern is with who’s judging “greatness” in this scenario. In determining my eternal dwelling place, God is judging. He knows me – my works and my intentions – perfectly, He judges perfectly. I am 100% okay with Him determining my eternal status.

By on earth, and especially when it comes to monetary rewards rather than celestial glory, look at what the world is most valuing as great – physical beauty at the expense of health, corruption, the bottom line, the ability to throw a ball while ignoring the latest shooting incident. I don’t think we have shown any ability at all to judge “greatness”.