Are the numerous mass shootings an evidence of America's moral decline?

[ALAYMAN]

I'm only 44 years old, but in my short lifetime it seems the moral fabric of America has undergone monumental changes.  Pot is now good.  Gay is okay, even better than okay.  Shacking up is the standard now.  Twerking, jerking, going birzerking....absolute insanity and constant shifting sands with no moral anchor.  The fruit of postmodern relativistic thought.  So, do you think that these mass shootings are fruit from a generation of nihilists, rationalists, and skeptics that is coming to the natural conclusion that life is ultimately meaningless, so it don't matter if I vent my rage and take other folk out with me? 

 

[Bruh]

I'm only 44 years old, but in my short lifetime it seems the moral fabric of America has undergone monumental changes.  Pot is now good.  Gay is okay, even better than okay.  Shacking up is the standard now.  Twerking, jerking, going birzerking....absolute insanity and constant shifting sands with no moral anchor.  The fruit of postmodern relativistic thought.  So, do you think that these mass shootings are fruit from a generation of nihilists, rationalists, and skeptics that is coming to the natural conclusion that life is ultimately meaningless, so it don't matter if I vent my rage and take other folk out with me?

IMO, I believe it reveals the condition of man's heart.  I believe it will only get worse. 

 

[Fresh Air]

I think you are partially correct, but I think it also goes deeper than that. Nature abhors a vacuum, and as Christianity leaves the resulting religious mess will not be simple atheism, but rather an increasing conglomeration of paganism. Such paganism (read demonology) already has tremendous inroads into our culture in the form of entertainment via in our addiction to beat-heavy music, fantasy movies/books/games, etc. I also believe drug abuse opens up a door to the occult world as well. As more and more people open up their minds/hearts to that occult world one of the results you will see is an increasing amount of suicide and/or murder/suicide as the 'voices' in their head drive them to it.

It is MHO, of course, but I see much of what is happening in our societal culture today through the lens of spiritual warfare, or at least spirits and their activities becoming manifest. We see that in the increase of violence. We see that in the increase of orgiastic festivals i.e. Burning Man, Mardi Gras, Pride parades in the big cities, etc. We see that in the steep incline in the number of torture driven horror movies and/or dark fantasy, etc. We are returning to the worst of the Roman Empire, but there are two consolations: first, that authentic Christianity thrived in spite of all that back then, and second, that the godless atmosphere for Jesus' return is being formed.

 

[rsc2a]

On the other hand, children aren't downed on simply because their parents "don't match". Driving while drunk is universally (in America) frowned on. It's no longer acceptable to beat the absolute tar out of your kid because he told a lie. We no longer worry about the USSR blowing us to smithereens. Smoking is no longer cool. Skin color is no longer a determinative factor in whether you are electable or not. Women can pursue a career without being looked down upon as stepping outside their place. Factories cannot dump unlimited amounts of raw toxins into our air and water. And the fact that someone is different doesn't automatically give others (the 'normals') a right to abuse them.

Not better....not worse....different.

(As an aside, the number of mass killings is about the historical norm. There hasn't been a sharp increase, just a sharp increase in the publicity of the events.)

 

[The Rogue Tomato]

Pot is now good.  Gay is okay, even better than okay.  Shacking up is the standard now.  Twerking, jerking, going birzerking....absolute insanity and constant shifting sands with no moral anchor. 

Pot and cocaine were good until the early 1900s.  In fact, they were considered very good, especially cocaine.  Only somewhere between 1900 and 1914 were they considered something to be obtained only by prescription. 

We've had variations on sexual dances for a very long time. 

I don't deny moral depravity is increasing steadily over time, but I bet nearly every generation thinks it is the generation to see it spiral out of control for the first time.  Think the early age of rock and roll with Elvis and his pelvis. 

And what Miley Cyrus did is nothing new.  Giraffes have been doing it for ages.

 

[Bruh]

Pot is now good.  Gay is okay, even better than okay.  Shacking up is the standard now.  Twerking, jerking, going birzerking....absolute insanity and constant shifting sands with no moral anchor. 

Pot and cocaine were good until the early 1900s.  In fact, they were considered very good, especially cocaine.  Only somewhere between 1900 and 1914 were they considered something to be obtained only by prescription. 

We've had variations on sexual dances for a very long time. 

I don't deny moral depravity is increasing steadily over time, but I bet nearly every generation thinks it is the generation to see it spiral out of control for the first time.  Think the early age of rock and roll with Elvis and his pelvis. 

And what Miley Cyrus did is nothing new.  Giraffes have been doing it for ages.

I believe you may be right, but there was a time when these things were a "shame".  There is no shame any longer.  Everything is accepted. 

 

[Timothy]

Pot is now good.  Gay is okay, even better than okay.  Shacking up is the standard now.  Twerking, jerking, going birzerking....absolute insanity and constant shifting sands with no moral anchor. 

Pot and cocaine were good until the early 1900s.  In fact, they were considered very good, especially cocaine.  Only somewhere between 1900 and 1914 were they considered something to be obtained only by prescription. 

We've had variations on sexual dances for a very long time. 

I don't deny moral depravity is increasing steadily over time, but I bet nearly every generation thinks it is the generation to see it spiral out of control for the first time.  Think the early age of rock and roll with Elvis and his pelvis. 

And what Miley Cyrus did is nothing new.  Giraffes have been doing it for ages.

I believe you may be right, but there was a time when these things were a "shame".  There is no shame any longer.  Everything is accepted.

I believe they are still a shame to many many people. Issue is that this stuff is forced and nobody says anything. We are all politically correct.

 

[The Rogue Tomato]

I haven't seen videos to support this theory, but I bet I'd be more offended when Beyonce performs under the possession of the spirit "Sasha Fierce" than when Miley Cyrus performs under possession of the spirit of "Alexander Stupid". 

 

[ThatGirl]

I believe they are still a shame to many many people. Issue is that this stuff is forced and nobody says anything. We are all politically correct.

Nobody says anything?  There was public outcry from all age groups for weeks over Miley's "performance".  People are still analyzing and scrutinizing it. 

 

[ThatGirl]

On the other hand, children aren't downed on simply because their parents "don't match". Driving while drunk is universally (in America) frowned on. It's no longer acceptable to beat the absolute tar out of your kid because he told a lie. We no longer worry about the USSR blowing us to smithereens. Smoking is no longer cool. Skin color is no longer a determinative factor in whether you are electable or not. Women can pursue a career without being looked down upon as stepping outside their place. Factories cannot dump unlimited amounts of raw toxins into our air and water. And the fact that someone is different doesn't automatically give others (the 'normals') a right to abuse them.

Not better....not worse....different.

(As an aside, the number of mass killings is about the historical norm. There hasn't been a sharp increase, just a sharp increase in the publicity of the events.)

Exactly!  Not better, not worse but different.  Also, just because fundies say a thing is morally wrong doesn't make it morally wrong. 

 

[Evelyn]

I believe they are still a shame to many many people. Issue is that this stuff is forced and nobody says anything. We are all politically correct.

Nobody says anything?  There was public outcry from all age groups for weeks over Miley's "performance".  People are still analyzing and scrutinizing it.

Public outcry, indeed.  Even today I saw a news report that Elton John has come out against her and said that he believes he's watching her downfall and she will have a meltdown.  When Elton John is coming out against you for your morals, that's saying something.  Her actions have lost her a fiance, as well as the support of Hollywood. 

 

[ALAYMAN]

....Not better....not worse....different.

(As an aside, the number of mass killings is about the historical norm. There hasn't been a sharp increase, just a sharp increase in the publicity of the events.)

Statistics can be massaged and used in a variety of ways to prove points, but if we are talking about spree killings, yes, they are on the rise.

Nations go through predictable cycles from inception to death, and ours is most certainly exhibiting some characteristics that are troubling, even potential indicators of our eventual collapse.  I'd say that 50 million murdered babies dwarfs cold war apprehension.

The video below portrays a medical doctor in Washington responding to the latest massacre by stating the obvious, that there is evil among us, but she does what so many in our culture have done and declared such evil a sickness (therapeutic language) that seeks remedy in human terms.  Research confirms that a tremendously large number of the spree killers have been mentally ill, and therefore they seek to ignore the spiritual requirements for treatment and look for humanistic means of treatment.  Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord is still true, and this country is rapidly accelerating as it embraces many answers to its problem, but they're looking for those answers in all the wrong places. 

http://tv.msnbc.com/2013/09/16/something-is-wrong-here-trauma-center-doctor-pleads-for-an-end-to-gun-violence/

 

[Izdaari]

On the other hand, children aren't downed on simply because their parents "don't match". Driving while drunk is universally (in America) frowned on. It's no longer acceptable to beat the absolute tar out of your kid because he told a lie. We no longer worry about the USSR blowing us to smithereens. Smoking is no longer cool. Skin color is no longer a determinative factor in whether you are electable or not. Women can pursue a career without being looked down upon as stepping outside their place. Factories cannot dump unlimited amounts of raw toxins into our air and water. And the fact that someone is different doesn't automatically give others (the 'normals') a right to abuse them.

Not better....not worse....different.

(As an aside, the number of mass killings is about the historical norm. There hasn't been a sharp increase, just a sharp increase in the publicity of the events.)

Exactly!  Not better, not worse but different.  Also, just because fundies say a thing is morally wrong doesn't make it morally wrong.

I agree. In some ways better, in some ways worse, and overall just different,

And no, there isn't more mass violence than normal. It just gets more, and obsessive, media attention.

 

[ALAYMAN]

And no, there isn't more mass violence than normal. It just gets more, and obsessive, media attention.

Depends on how you define "mass violence".  Spree killing statistics show a consistent and gradual uptick over the last 30+ years for sure.

 

[ALAYMAN]

Exactly!  Not better, not worse but different.  Also, just because fundies say a thing is morally wrong doesn't make it morally wrong.

I mentioned legalized pot, legalized gay marriage, shacking up, twerking, and mass murders.  Which one of these are morally acceptable to you?  If you answer "none of them" does that make you a fundy?

 

[Izdaari]

And no, there isn't more mass violence than normal. It just gets more, and obsessive, media attention.

Depends on how you define "mass violence".  Spree killing statistics show a consistent and gradual uptick over the last 30+ years for sure.

Possibly so, I'd have to look at the numbers. But even if so, there could be many other possible causes than a general moral decline.

 

[Izdaari]

Exactly!  Not better, not worse but different.  Also, just because fundies say a thing is morally wrong doesn't make it morally wrong.

I mentioned legalized pot, legalized gay marriage, shacking up, twerking, and mass murders.  Which one of these are morally acceptable to you?  If you answer "none of them" does that make you a fundy?

Legalized pot and legalized gay marriage are two things I voted for in WA's last general election (both passed, btw). I am of course against mass murders. Shacking up and twerking I'd have to take on a case-by-case basis. But the clips I've seen of Miley Cyrus' VMA award performance were not good, though I have enjoyed some of her work before.

 

[rsc2a]

And no, there isn't more mass violence than normal. It just gets more, and obsessive, media attention.

Depends on how you define "mass violence".  Spree killing statistics show a consistent and gradual uptick over the last 30+ years for sure.

 

[ALAYMAN]

lol, as I said earlier, coming from a scientific background, I know the pitfalls of statistics.  Context is king, as always.  Would you like to comment on that graph, or would you rather I explain how you've erred?

 

[ALAYMAN]

Legalized pot and legalized gay marriage are two things I voted for in WA's last general election (both passed, btw). I am of course against mass murders. Shacking up and twerking I'd have to take on a case-by-case basis. But the clips I've seen of Miley Cyrus' VMA award performance were not good, though I have enjoyed some of her work before.

No offense, but you're an outlier (admittedly not even an evangelical).