[Search for users] [Overall Top Noters] [List of all Conferences] [Download this site]

Conference lgp30::christian-perspective

Title:Discussions from a Christian Perspective
Notice:Prostitutes and tax collectors welcome!
Moderator:CSC32::J_CHRISTIE
Created:Mon Sep 17 1990
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1362
Total number of notes:61362

1022.0. "Charles Murray" by URQUEL::J_CHRISTIE (Unquenchable fire) Mon Dec 26 1994 23:20

Charles Murray, American sociologist; favors orphanages and Boys' Town
style institutions over AFDC and other government programs which seem
to him to promote fatherless households.

What do you think?  And how might the teachings of Jesus apply to the
situation?

Shalom,
Richard

T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
1022.1soap boxSOLVIT::HAECKDebby HaeckTue Dec 27 1994 01:1838
    I don't know enough about orphanages to comment.
    
    I've always thought the Boys' Town  approach  made sense.
    
    On AFDC I can speak from experience.  It got me out of deep sneakers. 
    It was where I had to turn when I left my first husband who was a
    violent and immoral man.  It allowed me to house my daughter, and feed
    her.  It paid my living expenses while another goverment program put me
    through school.  I graduated in '79 and have been a tax payer ever
    since.  
    
    I don't think shoving religion down someones throat is the way to go. 
    I'm sure, Richard, that's not what you meant, but it is too often the
    case.  I had a friend who was not able to feed himself.  I mean he
    earned a good living, but he could not put a spoon to his own mouth. 
    He was fed by a parade of volunteers.  The worst, in his estimation,
    were those who preached while they fed.  He often felt he'd rather go
    hungry.  
    
    During my welfare days I attended two different churches.  In one, the
    only people to talk to me were the priest as we filed out of the
    church, and the teacher who had my daughter in her class.  In the
    second, I was always greeted by many people.  I was too proud to call
    anyone for a ride to church, but they knew I walked, and I always had
    many offers for a ride home.  Which one do you think showed the greater
    charity?
    
    As I said, I was able to cloth my child.  I was still wearing cloths
    from high school.  They were still in one piece, so they didn't need
    replacing.  A woman bought me two nice, stylish yet simple and
    practical, outfits, telling me that someone had done that for her, and
    now she was passing it on.  It felt great to wear nice cloths. 
    Sometimes you have to feed the spirit too.  This woman was not a church
    goer, so I guess it wasn't a Christian thing to do.
    
    Well, I guess I should get off my soap box.  It's just that that base
    note struck me.  I don't think you have to be Christian to do the
    "Christian" thing.  
1022.2CSC32::J_CHRISTIEUnquenchable fireTue Dec 27 1994 21:1310
.1

Yes, Debby, I can relate to being a captive audience to the unwelcome
preaching of some.

And thank you for sharing your experiences and observations.

Shalom,
Richard

1022.3BIGQ::SILVANobody wants a Charlie in the Box!Tue Jan 03 1995 13:5416


	Debby, you showed us exactly how welfare is supposed to work. It helped
you, got you back on your feet, and are now out in the world working. If the
system could ALWAYS work like that, then the Newts of the world wouldn't have a
leg to stand on. But the system does need major reform, but I hope they keep in
place the ideals that helped bring you along to where you are today. 

	The story about the 2 churches was wonderful too. It's good to see how
much of a difference there can be from church to church, so that we can work to
keep our own church from falling backwards!



Glen