There's an old saying, "The cost of living continues to rise... even so, it's (living is) still popular."

 

Paul tells us in his letter to the Romans, "...the wages of sin is death..." even so, sin is still very popular.

 

Just as our moms used to say (in one form or another) "If all your friends jump off a bridge would you?"

 

Principles ain't what they used to be... our culture is hell bound and gaining speed.

 

Jim, I live in Louisville so I can't speak for small towns in Kentucky. I know of small towns in Alabama that are still doing things of the Bible Belt. I do a lot of reading and I also do the walk that I mentioned before. Look at the nightly TV shows compared to the popular shows we rememeber of the 50s/60s and you might see my point. Then look at the music of the same era compared with 2010. Like Fastbreak said, and I agree with him people have changed and thats not good, man changed not God. They need to Repent which I have mentioned on here many times and still will.

 

Man, I respect where you guys are coming from. I strictly approach it from a First Amendment standpoint, simple as that.

 

As far as the whole "culture is going to hell in a handbasket" mentality goes, I think you guys think of "the old days" in too idyllic a fashion. Bottom line is there are Rolling Stones albums as old as I am -- I turn 40 this year -- that are every bit as nasty as anything that hits the charts in 2010.

 

TV, I'll grant, is much more racy than back then. But that had more to do with the fact that there were only a handful of distribution outlets -- TV networks -- at the time than anything else. Were cable TV around in the '60s, I have little doubt it would look a lot more like today's TV than it actually does.

Jim, "lets spend the nite together" was pretty racy back then, but c'mon the rap junk we all have heard.

Jim, "lets spend the nite together" was pretty racy back then, but c'mon the rap junk we all have heard.

 

Nobody's forcing anyone to plunk down the money for the records. The FCC still has rules that prohibit cursing on the air (I know this because I've come close to being fined), so it's not like anyone's hearing the bad stuff on the radio. You don't have to listen to it.

 

And let's not single out rap/hip-hop on this one either. There are plenty of other genres that feature material every bit as nasty as anything 2 Live Crew put out 20 years ago.

I respect the First Amendment and while I may qualify as an old fart in terms of age, I am not naïve enough to limit my concept of “the good old days” to my lifetime. Our culture has been on a steady slide for some time. Just as a sled gains speed the further it travels down a steep hill, certain key moral indicators continue to accelerate and/or increase in frequency.

 

The problem IMO is not that ghetto/gangsta rap exists (or any other genres with morally bereft messages)… it’s that good kids who should know better buy and listen to the stuff. It’s not the fact that “adult” magazines, strip clubs, prostitution and sexual websites exist… it’s that men who should know better patronize them. It’s not that abortions are legal… it’s that young women believe that is their best or only option. It’s not that beer and whiskey is available everywhere, or that adults enjoy mild libations responsibly, it’s that those who should know better abuse alcohol and place themselves and others at risk.

 

I don’t think “people” have changed in 4,000 years. We are all still motivated and tempted by the same things we were millennia ago. The problem is fewer “Christian” people in this country truly understand what it is to be "in" this world without being "of" this world.

Edited January 6, 201016 yr by Fastbreak

I respect the First Amendment and while I may qualify as an old fart in terms of age, I am not naïve enough to limit my concept of “the good old days” to my lifetime. Our culture has been on a steady slide for some time. Just as a sled gains speed the further it travels down a steep hill, certain key moral indicators continue to accelerate and/or increase in frequency.

 

The problem IMO is not that ghetto/gangsta rap exists (or any other genres with morally bereft messages)… it’s that good kids who should know better buy and listen to the stuff. It’s not the fact that “adult” magazines, strip clubs, prostitution and sexual websites exist… it’s that men who should know better patronize them. It’s not that abortions are legal… it’s that young women believe that is their best or only option. It’s not that beer and whiskey is available everywhere, or that adults enjoy mild libations responsibly, it’s that those who should know better abuse alcohol and place themselves and others at risk.

 

I don’t think “people” have changed in 4,000 years. We are all still motivated and tempted by the same things we were millennia ago. The problem is fewer “Christian” people in this country truly understand what it is to be "in" this world without being "of" this world.

 

Maybe more kids who were raised Christian started asking questions and gathering their own info rather than just going with what they were taught. For years children have been encouraged to read to gain as much information as possible, but when they question Christian beliefs they're off their rocker.

Maybe more kids who were raised Christian started asking questions and gathering their own info rather than just going with what they were taught. For years children have been encouraged to read to gain as much information as possible, but when they question Christian beliefs they're off their rocker.

Yeah, maybe...

 

Do I understand correctly that you are suggesting that these kids-given adequate information-are choosing violent and misogynistic rap lyrics, sexual immorality, abortion and substance abuse over the virtues of traditional Christianity?

Yeah, maybe...

 

Do I understand correctly that you are suggesting that these kids-given adequate information-are choosing violent and misogynistic rap lyrics, sexual immorality, abortion and substance abuse over the virtues of traditional Christianity?

 

No I'm saying people (not you) are saying the morals of today are destroyed and they like to lay blame at rap and other things that actually have nothing to do w/ making a moral decision. Also, long before rap "Christians" were sinning and I'd guess it's at about the same clip as it is now. There just weren't message boards to talk about how bad it was.

No I'm saying people (not you) are saying the morals of today are destroyed and they like to lay blame at rap and other things that actually have nothing to do w/ making a moral decision. Also, long before rap "Christians" were sinning and I'd guess it's at about the same clip as it is now. There just weren't message boards to talk about how bad it was.

Gotcha... :thumb:

 

We're pretty much on the same page.

 

My contention isn't so much the decay of society around us as it is the failure of people to do what they know is good and flee from what they know is not good.

 

It is my belief that each of us will one day stand before our Creator. We will be accountable for our individual choices and actions ( or lack of action. ) Pointing our finger at others, culture, or pleading a grade on the curve will not alleviate any of our burden.

Gotcha... :thumb:

 

We're pretty much on the same page.

 

My contention isn't so much the decay of society around us as it is the failure of people to do what they know is good and flee from what they know is not good.

 

It is my belief that each of us will one day stand before our Creator. We will be accountable for our individual choices and actions ( or lack of action. ) Pointing our finger at others, culture, or pleading a grade on the curve will not alleviate any of our burden.

 

The funny thing is we disagree more than you think, but we wish for the same things I think. I'm not sure our creator gives a darn about what we do. I just know that people love throwing around excuses for bad behavior.

I did a little research on this:

http://www.bringyou.to/apologetics/GodWhoLiconaReview.htm

In comparison with some informative programs on Discovery and History Channels (on, say, history of biblical translations, or the prophets)... 'The God Who Wasn't There' comes off more as a propaganda piece. Plus its old it came out in 2005.:deadhorse:

Did BGPs know this was coming up in their adds on the religion thread? Not complainng, just wondring how this works. Why the adds in the first place. I click on some of them and they can be helpful, 2005, wow I had no idea, that tells us how strong this junk was. Now what was the comment about our creator doesn't care or something I can't recall and don't want to go back I'll lose what I had posted.

 

But the Bible is full of his LOVE and the poster needs to read some of it.

SSC, I think he gives a "darn" about what we do, something about 10 or 12 rules/laws he gave his people, thats one for example, I have more but have a meeting to run to.

Did BGPs know this was coming up in their adds on the religion thread? Not complainng, just wondring how this works. Why the adds in the first place. I click on some of them and they can be helpful, 2005, wow I had no idea, that tells us how strong this junk was. Now what was the comment about our creator doesn't care or something I can't recall and don't want to go back I'll lose what I had posted.

 

But the Bible is full of his LOVE and the poster needs to read some of it.

 

If I'm not mistaken, the push ads come from Google advertising. Google essentially searches for common keywords on the page -- in this case, religion -- and "pushes" ads to the page that it thinks readers of the page might be interested in. In this case, it seems to have worked quite well. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong on this. Facebook does this as well, as my facebook page frequently features ads about Hunter S. Thompson (he's listed as one of my favorite authors on my info page) and photography.

 

As far as "why" goes, because it's advertising, and it helps defray costs.

SSC, I think he gives a "darn" about what we do, something about 10 or 12 rules/laws he gave his people, thats one for example, I have more but have a meeting to run to.

 

I'm of the opinion that He indeed cares, but is just a passive observer. I envision Him sitting back in a big 'ol recliner in front of a huge bank of TV screens watching the stupid stuff we do and laughing His behind off.

SSC, I think he gives a "darn" about what we do, something about 10 or 12 rules/laws he gave his people, thats one for example, I have more but have a meeting to run to.

 

While I think I agree, I can't be so sure. Faith is a big leap to me. I'm a firm believer that if I were raised in the Middle East I would believe Mohammed was a prophet. If I were raised Jewish I would believe Jesus wasn't the son of God. If I were from a long time ago and other lands I would believe in waiting for Egyptian "Gods" to come back or I would believe in Zeus. I'm just conflicted. The Old Testament is crazy in some parts. I'm not sure I want to believe in a God that would have said some of the stuff in the OT. I am starting to believe it may be a bit "wrong" to think everyone else is wrong about religion. I still think if there were no religion the world would be a safer and better place.