This seems to fit

[NeuroTypical]

Anyone disagree?

[Phoenix_person]

A rather depressing trifecta down there in the Bible Belt. 

 

Also, I'm surprised that my home state of Maryland is the Catholic state and not Massachusetts.

[LDSGator]

21 hours ago, Phoenix_person said:

A rather depressing trifecta down there in the Bible Belt. 

 

Also, I'm surprised that my home state of Maryland is the Catholic state and not Massachusetts.

The “bible belt” doesn’t really exist anymore. People move so much and values have changed so drastically that evangelicals have lost huge numbers.
 

This ain’t 1991 anymore, and thank God for it. 

[Traveler]

22 hours ago, Phoenix_person said:

A rather depressing trifecta down there in the Bible Belt. 

 

Also, I'm surprised that my home state of Maryland is the Catholic state and not Massachusetts.

Really?  Your home state is Maryland, and you do not understand why it is Catholic?  I tried living in Maryland while I was working for the Defense Department (Pax River Navy base) in St Mary’s County.  The county was settled by English speaking Catholics that has no place to live in peace in Europe.  The initial settlement was slaughtered by Protestants that came to America seeking religious freedom.   This nearly started a war in Europe but was averted with the Maryland Toleration Act of 1649 – the first time in history that Traditional Christians passed a law preventing the majority Traditional Christian religion from killing or taking property of non-majority Traditional Christians or heretics.  Note that this act did not prevent the killing or taking of property of non-Trinity believing religious individuals or people (like native Americans).

I have long pointed to this bit of history that I believe proves (among other historical events) that Traditional Christians had apostatized from the Apostolic Church established by Christ and that the groundwork for a restoration was in the beginning phases of taking place.

 

The Traveler

[Phoenix_person]

15 minutes ago, Traveler said:

Really?  Your home state is Maryland, and you do not understand why it is Catholic? 

That's not at all what I said. Catholic? Yes. More Catholic than Massachusetts? Big, if true.

[LDSGator]

19 minutes ago, Phoenix_person said:

That's not at all what I said. Catholic? Yes. More Catholic than Massachusetts? Big, if true.

Isn’t Maryland nominally Catholic like Massachusetts is? In fact, not even nominally anymore. Both states are very secular. 

[Phoenix_person]

17 hours ago, LDSGator said:

Isn’t Maryland nominally Catholic like Massachusetts is? In fact, not even nominally anymore. Both states are very secular. 

As I understand it, yes. My former in-laws are Catholic, but I wouldn't call them religious at all. And from my experience, they seem to be pretty typical Maryland Catholics. You'd see people with smudges on their foreheads on Ash Wednesday and think "Really?!?" Polar opposite of San Antonio, another very Catholic place I have lived.

Edited October 30, 2024 by Phoenix_person

[LDSGator]

11 hours ago, Phoenix_person said:

My former in-laws are Catholic, but I wouldn't call them religious at all.

My parents are very orthodox, and I went to Catholic elementary schools, high schools, and two years of a catholic college. When you swim in that bubble you tend to grossly overestimate the influence/size of the church.
 

It took me years to realize that the catholic church, even in “Catholic” states, has practically zero influence on society. And it’s influence has shrank even more after the scandals of giving Whitey Bulger a catholic funeral, sex scandals, etc.   

Edited October 30, 2024 by LDSGator

[Traveler]

17 hours ago, Phoenix_person said:

That's not at all what I said. Catholic? Yes. More Catholic than Massachusetts? Big, if true.

I realize that many think in current terms but most things or how people think are shaped through history and tradition.  For example, if I ask what place is most associated with witches – the response is Salem.  But what we think of witches has greatly evolved.  What was once thought of as witches was pure evil and destruction of civilization through dark arts of curses bringing plagues, drought, war (violence), earthquakes, severe storms or horrific bad luck.  Now days witches as somewhat desirable to have around and a favorite dress up for Halloween.

The map for this thread has a strange association with states.  It is not really what a state is known for but rather what individuals are most likely to look up about the state.  It may not be the most important element of the state but rather something that is most likely to get attention associated with that state.  You would think gambling is the association with Navada – who would have thought that a type of slavery is what generates more interest about the state.

 

The Traveler

[LDSGator]

13 minutes ago, Traveler said:

who would have thought that a type of slavery is what generates more interest about the state.

I totally agree that prostitution is slavery.
 

I think gambling is too if taken to the extreme. 

[Traveler]

10 minutes ago, LDSGator said:

I totally agree that prostitution is slavery.
 

I think gambling is too if taken to the extreme. 

I think of gambling as a type or kind of bondage or prison.  Sort of like slavery but I believe different enough to have its own term.

 

The Traveler

Edited October 30, 2024 by Traveler

[LDSGator]

7 minutes ago, Traveler said:

think of gambling as a type or kind of bondage or prison.  Sort of like slavery but I believe different enough to have its own term.

Understand

[LDSGator]

I know the church has spoken out against gambling before, but I wish they did it more often.
 

We are all human, so I don’t want to see people excommunicated for it, but no one in history has had their life improve after they start gambling.  

[Traveler]

33 minutes ago, LDSGator said:

I know the church has spoken out against gambling before, but I wish they did it more often.
 

We are all human, so I don’t want to see people excommunicated for it, but no one in history has had their life improve after they start gambling.  

Interesting – several years ago I read an article that implied that the winners of lotteries have an abnormally high suicide rate.  I believe (how I was raised) that gambling is a repressive tax on individuals that struggle with math.

I do stand by my initial statement – gambling is a kind of prison and bondage.  I believe that the great problem is in understanding what gambling is.   Like so many things (including spiritual things) two people can be involved in the same use of money, and one will be an investment and the other will be gambling.  One seeking freedom and liberty – the other seeking a easy solution with no responsibility.

 

The Traveler

[LDSGator]

2 minutes ago, Traveler said:

do stand by my initial statement – gambling is a kind of prison and bondage

Oh we agree totally, I’m not arguing with you in the least. 

[Ironhold]

2 hours ago, Traveler said:

Interesting – several years ago I read an article that implied that the winners of lotteries have an abnormally high suicide rate.  I believe (how I was raised) that gambling is a repressive tax on individuals that struggle with math.

I do stand by my initial statement – gambling is a kind of prison and bondage.  I believe that the great problem is in understanding what gambling is.   Like so many things (including spiritual things) two people can be involved in the same use of money, and one will be an investment and the other will be gambling.  One seeking freedom and liberty – the other seeking a easy solution with no responsibility.

 

The Traveler

People who come into large sums of money generally blow it all quickly because they don't know what to do with it. They either quit their day jobs & spend themselves poor, or they give into the nagging of relatives and "acquaintances" who want them to fork it over for something. 

[LDSGator]

1 hour ago, Ironhold said:

People who come into large sums of money generally blow it all quickly because they don't know what to do with it. They either quit their day jobs & spend themselves poor, or they give into the nagging of relatives and "acquaintances" who want them to fork it over for something. 

100% correct. 

[Traveler]

5 hours ago, Ironhold said:

People who come into large sums of money generally blow it all quickly because they don't know what to do with it. They either quit their day jobs & spend themselves poor, or they give into the nagging of relatives and "acquaintances" who want them to fork it over for something. 

I will attempt to summarize what I remember of the article.  It is very likely that there will be an argument between the husband and wife on how to spend the money which will end in divorce.  Winners tend to quit work.  The big problem here is that there is no one to spend time with.  Old friends must continue working and new friends just are not the same.  Another problem is that a lot of money is spent without realizing how much will disappear when taxes come due.

The primary problem is that the winners end up isolated losing old friends and family that become displaced and new friends because they are more interested in money than friendship.

 

The Traveler