An Even Closer Call

I'm going to only write five sentences. Then I will go back and edit this post to add "content". Liz was supposed to post for me so I wouldn't be late, but she didn't. She is a tool. Luckily, I made it back from trivia just in time.

~Anne

*Added Content* (after midnight, but we never made rules about editing our posts!)

One of my friends asked me about the new 7 deadly sins. Since that makes for an awfully long Facebook message, I'm going to post it here. I got the list of the sins off the BBC website, so they should be accurate.

(1) genetic manipulation: This I can understand, because we were created in God's image. To tamper with that is to reject a part of yourself that God specifically designed for you. As for genetic defects- I think preventing inbreeding might help that a lot. But there are some conditions that genetic manipulation might cure. And that's where I've decided I need to think about it more. At the very least, we need to be very cautious as genetics as a field progresses. And it wouldn't hurt to examine why we research the areas we do. Cure disease? Good cause. Make you younger? Not so much.

(2) morally debatable experimentations: The first thing that comes to mind is the Nazi experiments on concentration camp prisoners in this category. But it does include stem cell research. While some may say "waste not, want not", I can't bring myself to relax my views against abortion* to be comfortable benefiting from it. I think that's the main issue concerning this sin. Besides, if it's morally "debatable", then that's a red flag to check the motivation and process of this experiment. My personal guideline? It should respect life and advance scientific research in way that can improve the human condition.

(3) environmental pollution: How about an "Amen!" for this one? Respecting the environment is just an extension of respecting one another. "Love they neighbor" in the global sense. I'm really in favor of this one. I'm not about to join Green Peace, but I can make sure I recycle. This does have larger ramifications about companies dumping toxic waste and such, but it generally comes down to the individual. People wanted cleaner cars. Guess what? We got cleaner cars. When it becomes the social standard to care about the planet, the companies will get in line.

(4) violation of fundamental rights of human nature: God gave us free will- we should be able to exercise it. I think this sin is meant to target those who practice torture and oppressive governments. Since I do not condone either, this one was simple for me.

(5) Inflicting poverty: Poverty is a vicious cycle that dehumanizes people, as well as providing an environment for crime and disease to flourish. What else is there to say? Other than it is usually the impoverished whose fundamental rights are violated in order for others to become even richer than they already are. See a pattern yet?

(6) Accumulating excessive wealth: This is just a modern way of saying "greed". It's one thing to earn money, it's another to amass a fortune just because you can. Bill Gates made tons of money, but he gives generously to charities, and lives quietly. Donald Trump? Not so much. There are concerns about Microsoft being a monopoly, so he might not be the best example. Maybe Steve Jobs would be better? But you should be able to get the idea.

Let's try another one.
Bono: has been using his influence and money to help people in 3rd world countries.
Paris Hilton: goes to clubs, parties, award shows. Uses her influence and money to inflict the population with her "acting" skills.

(7) Drug trafficking and consumption: see sins #1 & 2. The human body was created in God's image, it's a miraculous and precious gift. To take drugs (at least to the point of addiction) is to enslave and damage that gift. To push those drugs is to encourage others into sin, to spread the disease. Addiction does get out of the control of the drug user, so there must be compassion and help. But saying "no" to that first shot of heroin or line of cocaine would have stopped a downward spiral of physical and emotional damage.

*My views on abortion: There's no way I can make a judgment call on cases with rape victims or where either the mother or the child will live. But abortion should not be another form of contraception! I think that the women who use it as such have already made their choice- to have unprotected sex. And this is besides that fact that most women who have abortions don't get the necessary physical and mental treatment they require.


I think that's about it- you can have the soapbox back now. KT, be careful what you ask for! And of course, feel free to comment.