Random Questions; Bible-based answers

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I will tell u if u r not going to read it , briefly , it's the story of a small rural community , mostly not rich but not poor either , God fearing Christians . There r a few poor misfits on the edges . One of them is very mentally ill and literally starving and freezing to death . He gets on everyone's nerves for a variety of reasons . They keep sending the local sheriff out into the woods to find him and castigate him about his behaviour . Not one of these ' good folks ' lifts a finger to help him . Eventually he looses the plot and does a few things that really annoys the community . That's it in a nut shell but it's very good and a savage endightment of the so called ' good folks ' , a powerful book and not a bad film . Can recommend both . Cormac McCarthy is an excellent writer but , one of the most depressing ones I have ever read , he makes John Steinbeck look like a comedy act 😬 .

That guy in "Child of God" sounds like my relative. I will try to get the book. Thanks for your input.
Yes, I think God has protected him, and I am grateful that his cross to bear is not mine, but we are trying to help him.
 
Okay, here is my first post attempting to answer the question, How should we help the mentally ill?

I will begin by noting what Eli said in #621 and Suze said in #625 combined with the example of my homeless relative,
who doesn't want rehab, medication or therapy but only money for motels and food stamps for Walmart as he either gets kicked out or gets paranoid that people are trying to poison him and moves around the country with his cartful of possessions. Other ideas are welcomed.

I see two main problems: 1. Helping takes money, and 2. The homeless don't want help other than money.
However, regarding #1, I would ask Eli whether Mass. is a model, and regarding #2, I would ask Suze whether she is willing to force vagrants to accept "whatever help they need , rehab , therapy , medication , somewhere safe to live and a support system".

I would be willing to pay higher taxes to pay for mental health institutions (probably privately owned and operated but monitored for quality control by governmental agencies) that would provide efficiency apartments for the homeless, who would be required to be domiciled there rather than be allowed to sleep in the streets or parks. Those unwilling to cooperate with this plan would need to be institutionalized (incarcerated).

In figuring out the cost of this plan, the cost of allowing vagrancy needs to be properly assessed, perhaps comparable to figuring out
the cost of allowing pollution or of utilizing wind turbines. My guess is that the Dems would waste money and enrich themselves,
but Trump might do a competent and compassionate job in this area as he is attempting to do in many others--just one more thing on his 24/7 plate!

What do y'all think?

I guess Suze may not have noticed my question regarding forced institutionalism, but I would initially provide homeless people access to a guarded building via a door with a digital lock whose code is changed weekly with metal detectors at entrances. Each person would be assigned a small lockable room with a bed and access to a restroom containing individual toilet stalls. Meals would be available in canned or sealed packages comparable to MREs. (I am trying to address my relative's paranoia about being poisoned.)

They would be expected to work supervised menial jobs during the day such as cleaning the streets of trash and graffiti, and those who refused to work would be institutionalized in a minimum security facility where they would be forced to do something useful in order to earn their meals and receive appropriate therapy for medical and mental issues.

Whatever income is received from jobs, food stamps or Social Security would be applied toward the cost of room and board.

What am I leaving out?
 
I guess Suze may not have noticed my question regarding forced institutionalism, but I would initially provide homeless people access to a guarded building via a door with a digital lock whose code is changed weekly with metal detectors at entrances. Each person would be assigned a small lockable room with a bed and access to a restroom containing individual toilet stalls. Meals would be available in canned or sealed packages comparable to MREs. (I am trying to address my relative's paranoia about being poisoned.)

They would be expected to work supervised menial jobs during the day such as cleaning the streets of trash and graffiti, and those who refused to work would be institutionalized in a minimum security facility where they would be forced to do something useful in order to earn their meals and receive appropriate therapy for medical and mental issues.

Whatever income is received from jobs, food stamps or Social Security would be applied toward the cost of room and board.

What am I leaving out?
How exactly would u force them to clean the streets , scrub graffiti and do something useful ? The key word here being ' forced ' . Isn't that the kind of thing that criminals r sometimes required to do ? R mentally ill / homeless people akin to criminals ?
So that's two questions , how would u force them and do u consider them to b on a par with criminals ?
 
How exactly would u force them to clean the streets , scrub graffiti and do something useful ? The key word here being ' forced ' . Isn't that the kind of thing that criminals r sometimes required to do ? R mentally ill / homeless people akin to criminals ?
So that's two questions , how would u force them and do u consider them to b on a par with criminals ?

Good question Suze, and Paul suggested the answer when he said (in 2THS 3:10): “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”

He also said (in Eph. 4:28), “He who has been stealing must steal no, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.”

Did I mention that vagrancy would be criminalized? Yes, mental illness is no excuse for committing crimes,
and my suggestion for penal reform is akin to what I am saying regarding mental illness as follows:

If I could, I would try to reform the criminal justice system in the following way. The key element in my suggestion is for special federal courts to assess a monetary restitution and identify the victim(s) for every felony crime, including murder. The punishment for people convicted of crimes would be to work for the minimum wage ten hours per day and six days per week. Their wages would be garnisheed 100% and sent to their victim(s) until the restitution was paid. Of course, no one could pay the penalty from other funds, so the length of the sentence is determined automatically. This system eliminates plea-bargaining, parole, innocent by reason of insanity and death row. It does not eliminate the need for lawyers, but their role would be changed to determining guilt and the just consequence/ restitution. Anyone who intentionally withheld information pertinent to establishing the truth and a fair penalty would be culpable of a crime.

The intent of this system is to maximize the probability of reforming criminals. The assessed restitution would be minimal on the assumption that the prisoner would reform until their behavior indicates otherwise. To the initial restitution would be added a uniform (system-wide) surcharge (based on the length of the sentence) to partially recover the costs involved in rehabilitating a prisoner: food, lodging, job training, counseling, supervision, etc. Ten percent of the surcharge would be put in a savings account, which the prisoner would be able to access when he/she is discharged. The living situation would approximate as close as practical what the prisoner would need to function as a law-abiding citizen, including an efficiency apartment type of cell, so that the prisoner would do his/her own cooking and laundry. If a prisoner refused to work, then he/she would not be paid and thus the sentence would be lengthened.

What do you think about these ideas? Over...
 
Good question Suze, and Paul suggested the answer when he said (in 2THS 3:10): “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”

He also said (in Eph. 4:28), “He who has been stealing must steal no, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.”

Did I mention that vagrancy would be criminalized? Yes, mental illness is no excuse for committing crimes,
and my suggestion for penal reform is akin to what I am saying regarding mental illness as follows:

If I could, I would try to reform the criminal justice system in the following way. The key element in my suggestion is for special federal courts to assess a monetary restitution and identify the victim(s) for every felony crime, including murder. The punishment for people convicted of crimes would be to work for the minimum wage ten hours per day and six days per week. Their wages would be garnisheed 100% and sent to their victim(s) until the restitution was paid. Of course, no one could pay the penalty from other funds, so the length of the sentence is determined automatically. This system eliminates plea-bargaining, parole, innocent by reason of insanity and death row. It does not eliminate the need for lawyers, but their role would be changed to determining guilt and the just consequence/ restitution. Anyone who intentionally withheld information pertinent to establishing the truth and a fair penalty would be culpable of a crime.

The intent of this system is to maximize the probability of reforming criminals. The assessed restitution would be minimal on the assumption that the prisoner would reform until their behavior indicates otherwise. To the initial restitution would be added a uniform (system-wide) surcharge (based on the length of the sentence) to partially recover the costs involved in rehabilitating a prisoner: food, lodging, job training, counseling, supervision, etc. Ten percent of the surcharge would be put in a savings account, which the prisoner would be able to access when he/she is discharged. The living situation would approximate as close as practical what the prisoner would need to function as a law-abiding citizen, including an efficiency apartment type of cell, so that the prisoner would do his/her own cooking and laundry. If a prisoner refused to work, then he/she would not be paid and thus the sentence would be lengthened.

What do you think about these ideas? Over...
What about criminals that already owned their own homes ? Or who had families to support and who had previously been supporting them ? What about the people who were already employed to do those jobs that now criminals will b doing ?
 
What about criminals that already owned their own homes ? Or who had families to support and who had previously been supporting them ? What about the people who were already employed to do those jobs that now criminals will b doing ?

Suze Q's, but no suggestions?

You DO realize that criminals are members of American society?
Whatever happens to their homes must not affect the length of sentence.
Families would have to learn to live without them as they do now.
Society would need to elect MAGA governments that know how to grow the economy so there are enough jobs for everyone.

I have not even shared the most controversial part of my ideas yet, but I guess that I might as well. It is this:
Prisoners who failed to reform but instead damaged property, injured people or committed some other illegal act would have the restitution for that crime added to their original sentence. They may be viewed as committing suicide by degrees.

When their misbehavior results in a sentence of 100 years, they would be allowed to complete their suicide or be executed. Of course, deciding on a crime’s just restitution for the myriad extenuating circumstances would require the wisdom of Solomon, as it does in the present system.

Qs Suze?
 
Suze Q's, but no suggestions?

You DO realize that criminals are members of American society?
Whatever happens to their homes must not affect the length of sentence.
Families would have to learn to live without them as they do now.
Society would need to elect MAGA governments that know how to grow the economy so there are enough jobs for everyone.

I have not even shared the most controversial part of my ideas yet, but I guess that I might as well. It is this:
Prisoners who failed to reform but instead damaged property, injured people or committed some other illegal act would have the restitution for that crime added to their original sentence. They may be viewed as committing suicide by degrees.

When their misbehavior results in a sentence of 100 years, they would be allowed to complete their suicide or be executed. Of course, deciding on a crime’s just restitution for the myriad extenuating circumstances would require the wisdom of Solomon, as it does in the present system.

Qs Suze?
My suggestion is to wait for the Kingdom of God and Christ's rule on earth . God will make all things new and every man shall sit under his own vine tree .
I assumed that u wouldn't mind me asking questions , I'm sorry if I got that wrong , if u don't mind answering them then will u answer my previous questions and a few more . R all mentally ill people to b treated as criminals ? R all homeless people to b treated as criminals ? R mentally ill people , homeless people and criminals , to b treated exactly the same as each other ?
Finally , would u put Jesus in one of your facilities ? Matthew Ch 8 V 19+20 , Luke Ch 9 V 57+58 and Mark Ch 3 V 21 .
 
My suggestion is to wait for the Kingdom of God and Christ's rule on earth . God will make all things new and every man shall sit under his own vine tree .
I assumed that u wouldn't mind me asking questions , I'm sorry if I got that wrong , if u don't mind answering them then will u answer my previous questions and a few more . R all mentally ill people to b treated as criminals ? R all homeless people to b treated as criminals ? R mentally ill people , homeless people and criminals , to b treated exactly the same as each other ?
Finally , would u put Jesus in one of your facilities ? Matthew Ch 8 V 19+20 , Luke Ch 9 V 57+58 and Mark Ch 3 V 21 .

My suggestion is to BOTH pray AND work for God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.
I assumed you wouldn't mind me requesting suggestions. Sorry for offending you by doing that.

Regarding #1&2, apparently you ignored me saying "Did I mention that vagrancy would be criminalized? Yes, mental illness is no excuse for committing crimes."

Regarding #3, apparently you do not think my idea of "providing criminals a living situation that would approximate as close as practical what the prisoner would need to function as a law-abiding citizen, including an efficiency apartment type of cell, so that the prisoner would do his/her own cooking and laundry" is humane.

Regarding #4, WWJD is exactly what I am trying to get you to answer, since you do not like my suggestions.
Apparently you think he would be content to let them roam the streets/wander the universe.
Do you think he inspired what Paul said that I cited?

Over...
 
My suggestion is to BOTH pray AND work for God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.
I assumed you wouldn't mind me requesting suggestions. Sorry for offending you by doing that.

Regarding #1&2, apparently you ignored me saying "Did I mention that vagrancy would be criminalized? Yes, mental illness is no excuse for committing crimes."

Regarding #3, apparently you do not think my idea of "providing criminals a living situation that would approximate as close as practical what the prisoner would need to function as a law-abiding citizen, including an efficiency apartment type of cell, so that the prisoner would do his/her own cooking and laundry" is humane.

Regarding #4, WWJD is exactly what I am trying to get you to answer, since you do not like my suggestions.
Apparently you think he would be content to let them roam the streets/wander the universe.
Do you think he inspired what Paul said that I cited?

Over...
So , once again , what do u do with mentally ill criminals that alrea
My suggestion is to BOTH pray AND work for God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.
I assumed you wouldn't mind me requesting suggestions. Sorry for offending you by doing that.

Regarding #1&2, apparently you ignored me saying "Did I mention that vagrancy would be criminalized? Yes, mental illness is no excuse for committing crimes."

Regarding #3, apparently you do not think my idea of "providing criminals a living situation that would approximate as close as practical what the prisoner would need to function as a law-abiding citizen, including an efficiency apartment type of cell, so that the prisoner would do his/her own cooking and laundry" is humane.

Regarding #4, WWJD is exactly what I am trying to get you to answer, since you do not like my suggestions.
Apparently you think he would be content to let them roam the streets/wander the universe.
Do you think he inspired what Paul said that I cited?

Over...
Ok , I don't wish to get into a heated debate with u , or anyone else for that matter , regarding theoretical scenarios . Neither of us is in charge of the world so , neither of us can attempt to put it right . It's been an interesting conversation and I thank u for it . When Christ returns , this earth is going to b an absolutely wonderful place to live , for everyone . We have that to look forward to , in the meantime we can theorise all we want to . If it was up to me , pizzas and cheesecake would b calorie free and available to everyone free of charge every day .
 
So , once again , what do u do with mentally ill criminals that alrea
Ok , I don't wish to get into a heated debate with u , or anyone else for that matter , regarding theoretical scenarios . Neither of us is in charge of the world so , neither of us can attempt to put it right . It's been an interesting conversation and I thank u for it . When Christ returns , this earth is going to b an absolutely wonderful place to live , for everyone . We have that to look forward to , in the meantime we can theorise all we want to . If it was up to me , pizzas and cheesecake would b calorie free and available to everyone free of charge every day .

Heated debate? I was merely asking for helpful suggestions! If you don't have any other than to read the book you recommended, that's okay, and it is true that we may not be able to implement solutions, but I always attempt to learn the best beliefs/opinions or solutions regarding issues.

I believe earthly suffering will cause us to enjoy heaven all the more, complete with calorie free fun food (figuratively speaking :^)!
TTYL
 
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I decided to google for help regarding the homeless issue, and here are some things I found:

What is happening to the people removed from the encampments?
  • Shelters and Housing:
    The immediate focus is to move displaced individuals into shelters and connect them with services to secure housing.

  • Enforcement:
    Under federal direction, law enforcement agencies are using existing laws to enforce orders to move into shelters, with potential consequences including fines or jail time for non-compliance.
What are the challenges?
  • Availability of Shelter:
    While efforts are being made to add shelter beds, there are concerns about immediate capacity and the feasibility of forcing people into shelter when spaces are limited.

  • Complexities of Displacement:
    City officials note that the process of transitioning people from encampments to shelters is complex, despite the increased efforts.

  • Data Discrepancies:
    Reports suggest that a significant portion of D.C.'s homeless population already resides in shelters, indicating that the federal focus on encampments may be targeting a smaller segment of the unhoused population.
While D.C. officials and organizations say they are trying to expand shelter space to house the homeless who had been living in encampments, they also caution the White House may have been successful in making the camps go away. The people who used to live in those camps are not going away.

By the numbers: The 2025 headcount by the Washington Council of Governments found there are over 5,100 homeless people in D.C., about 1,500 people homeless in Montgomery County and 271 in Arlington County. One of those people, a man named Robert, told FOX 5 that most of the people he’s lived with in camps have now dispersed, but where? "They move to different places but where they’re at, I don’t know," Robert said. "Everybody doesn’t get along so somebody will move to a different location."

D.C. officials and housing advocates are monitoring how some who lived in the encampments have moved to other parts of the District. "Come inside, there's space," Mayor Muriel Bowser emphasized on Thursday. She says her teams are currently doing outreach to those who have been displaced but recognized that getting these people into a city shelter is not easy. "It's about the hardest thing you can do, and it's still not illegal to be homeless. You cannot have camps; you cannot have tents," she added.

White House Senior Advisor Stephen Miller touted the Trump administration's efforts across the city during an unannounced visit to the National Guard troops at D.C.'s Union Station on Wednesday. "There are homeless encampments that have made it impossible for families to use public parks and public recreation for as long as I have lived here," Miller said.
 
Perhaps the most difficult part of discussion regarding mental health is the role of psychiatric medication.
I am concerned not only about my relative's paranoid schizophrenia but also about the trend of transgender murder.
Just yesterday I saw an interview of pediatrician Dr. Jill Simons, executive director of the American College of Pediatricians,
who seems to be honest and science-based. Consider these excerpts from her 2024 article, "Evidence over Ideology: Gender-Distressed Children Deserve Nothing Less":

"Many gender-distressed children have autism or pre-existing psychological co-morbidities such as anxiety and depression. These conditions must not be ignored in favor of a myopic focus on gender dysphoria. They must be considered and treated, and they must inform every pediatrician’s recommendation as to how best to help a child navigate gender dysphoria—without introducing drugs or procedures with life-altering effects."

"We also cannot ignore the rising number of people who detransitioned and regret their attempts to “transition” from their biological sex—a feat that can never be done at the cellular level even if they initially changed their outward appearances. These brave souls are sharing their stories of catastrophic loss—both mental and physical—hoping to dissuade others from being misled down the painful path of regret.

As pediatricians, we took an oath to help kids, not harm them. Our compassionate care of children is based on science, evidence, and ethics. That’s why we, together with seventeen other medical organizations, launched the Doctors Protecting Children Declaration. The coalition represents over 75,000 physicians and healthcare professionals through co-signing medical organizations, more than 5,000 individual doctors, and healthcare professionals in fifty-nine countries. Together, we are a strong voice for children, a vulnerable population in need of the utmost protection from adults. We advocate that US medical professional organizations follow the science—and Europe’s example—and immediately stop the promotion of harmful “gender transition” interventions and surgeries for minors distressed over their biological sex. We champion comprehensive mental health evaluations and therapies that can identify and address underlying psychological conditions that often accompany gender dysphoria.

When it comes to children’s health, ideology should never override evidence. Children who are distressed about their biological sex need evidence-based care that facilitates their journey to adulthood, keeping them mentally and physically intact."
 
RQ: What implications does Galatians 5:13 have for permitting parents of mentally ill people to abet their children's crimes?
 
RQ: What implications does Galatians 5:13 have for permitting parents of mentally ill people to abet their children's crimes?

RQ: Why does God allow demonic people to murder devout Christians like C.J. Kirk?
 
RQ: Why does God allow demonic people to murder devout Christians like C.J. Kirk?

Apparently, God allowed good people not to learn from Trump's near assassination and prevent a sniper with a rifle and scope
from having access to a nearby roof location.
:cry:
 
RQ: What implications does Galatians 5:13 have for permitting parents of mentally ill people to abet their children's crimes?

Returning to this RQ, I will say that parents should be held accountable for their children's evil behavior unless they tried their reasonable best to prevent it, such as by not providing a firearm to a child threatening violence against Charlie Kirk.

The same goes for law enforcement folks who fail to monitor websites known to foment violence and to arrest people who threaten violence.

The Second Amendment should not be interpreted to mean that good faith measures to prevent violent crime cannot be enacted.

IOW, gun control may be a slippery slope, but we need to climb the hill of murder prevention until we reach a better place than we are currently.
 
RQ: What is the meaning of "false moral equivalence"?

Google's AI answer:

The false moral equivalence fallacy occurs when someone wrongly claims two actions, people, or events are morally equivalent because they share superficial similarities, while ignoring vast differences in context, intent, or magnitude of harm. This fallacy distorts facts and can be used to justify or excuse reprehensible acts by downplaying the severity of the comparison. For example, equating the actions of a terrorist group with the foreign policy of a nation-state is a false moral equivalence because it overlooks the fundamental differences in their nature, goals, and the impact of their actions.

The fallacy or illogic works by emphasizing surface commonalities, like "both are illegal" or "both involve killing," to create a misleading equivalence, deliberately downplaying or ignoring crucial distinctions in intent, scale, context, and impact, making one action appear less egregious than it is, which undermines moral clarity, blurring the lines between minor offenses and serious atrocities, making it harder to condemn truly heinous acts like murder or terrorism and distracting from the real issues and making constructive debate more difficult. Examples include: 1. Claiming the atomic bombings of Hiroshima was morally equivalent to the starting of the war by Germany and Japan, and 2. Saying the commandment against killing in Exodus 20 means the commands to execute murderers in Exodus 21 are wrong.
 
RQ: What is the meaning of "false moral equivalence"?

Google's AI answer:

The false moral equivalence (FME) fallacy occurs when someone wrongly claims two actions, people, or events are morally equivalent because they share superficial similarities, while ignoring vast differences in context, intent, or magnitude of harm. This fallacy distorts facts and can be used to justify or excuse reprehensible acts by downplaying the severity of the comparison. For example, equating the actions of a terrorist group with the foreign policy of a nation-state is a FME because it overlooks the fundamental differences in their nature, goals, and the impact of their actions.

The fallacy or illogic works by emphasizing surface commonalities, like "both are illegal" or "both involve killing," to create a misleading equivalence, deliberately downplaying or ignoring crucial distinctions in intent, scale, context, and impact, making one action appear less egregious than it is, which undermines moral clarity, blurring the lines between minor offenses and serious atrocities, making it harder to condemn truly heinous acts like murder or terrorism and distracting from the real issues and making constructive debate more difficult. Examples include: 1. Claiming the atomic bombings of Hiroshima was morally equivalent to the starting of the war by Germany and Japan, and 2. Saying the commandment against killing in Exodus 20 means the commands to execute murderers in Exodus 21 are wrong.

FME is exemplified daily by Democrats who accuse MAGA's attempts to stop their criminal activity with Fascism
or undermining democracy. Defending against violence is not unjustified violence and capital punishment of murderers is not murder (Romans 13:1-5). On the contrary, justice manifests love.
 
FME is exemplified daily by Democrats who accuse MAGA's attempts to stop their criminal activity with Fascism
or undermining democracy. Defending against violence is not unjustified violence and capital punishment of murderers is not murder (Romans 13:1-5). On the contrary, justice manifests love.

And also contrary to the atheist Dems, Mercedes Sparks on the Lance Wallnau Show today observed that Raymond Rubio at Charlie Kirk's memorial service helped with leading a spiritual revival as he followed in Charlie Kirk's footsteps of combining politics with Christianity along with Rob McCoy who said that Charie viewed politics as an onramp to Jesus, believing that whoever is rowing up the streams of liberty will come to the source, who is the Lord.
 
Question #1: Are there other earths with human life on them?

My answer: I doubt it, although I have seen people say there must be, because there are so many billions of suns in the universe, but I do not understand how one could arrive at an estimate of probability from a known case of only one--US!

Your answer?...
I agree. I said this to God a few hours ago in prayer. Its impossible that there are trillions of planets but only one race. This is impossible.