I just read your vision and it made me think of this…. Well first I enjoyed the line that said; “The Industrial Revolution has brought about an Information Revolution that has changed the way we think, learn, and act.”

Individual vs. community/ persuit of personal wealth vs. community. Community, Communion, /-Communism?

The United States the main force protecting capitalism. I mean our military spends more on its military than the rest of the world combined and is arguably better than and more powerful than the rests of the worlds combined.

However I would find it hard to believe that Jesus had a capitalistic spirit. He says in matthew; “you cannot serve two gods – god and mamanth.” /Mamanth being the God of money.

Thou shall not covet. (Covet = want) We live in a society that thrives on creating wants and desires in the name of a materialistic consumption based society and economy. Which has lead us to being very superficial people living in a very superficial society. During the industrial revolution we saw a decrease in people reading non-fiction, and a rise in reading fiction. People would rather live in a fictitious society that includes Santa and the Easter Bunny than being in touch with reality, and God, which might include compassion and suffering and feeding the poor.

How many problems are created by coveting? Addictions are really covetting to the 9th degree. How many problems would be solved if you could just take aways peoples desire to want – the opposite there of probably would be being somewhat complacent and appreciative with what you have. Imagine if all someone had to eat today was bread – how thankful would they be? How many people eat surf and turf without being thankful?

TV commercials all they do is make you want, and want and want, that is their aim.

Thou shall not worry about what they eat or what they wear- because it will be provided. In the history of time you could tell ones social status based on what they ate or what they wore. A present time translation I think would include things such as thou shall not worry about what they drive.

If you stopped wanting and stopped worrying – one would have freedom from choice, instead of freedom of choice. When not so consumed by wants and desires then one would probably be more concerned with others and community….

- Good Luck in and with Chicago

I like what you just said – but I do not know if that was exactly what I was trying to say. I do not know exactly what I was trying to say in the first place – just an idea that I’m trying to explore really… I just think that it is weird that all of these beyond great men were murdered, and a lot of times it was by the state. A good book idea I think would be called enemy of the state, and it would be about the execution of such men.

The irony is that were I see Jesus and Christianity as being ultra liberal and anti-establishment, it has become ultra conservative and pro-establishment. It makes it hard to go to church, because I see a lot of ignorance.

It seems to me for a lot of people church has just become another way of saying; “I am better than you.” Obviously that is not the message that Jesus was trying to send.

John 15:20 Jesus cautioned his disciples, “Remember the word I said unto you, the servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you.

The mass of people are usually wrong when it comes to morality, and certain, few individuals are usually correct. Since the immoral mass of people (the state) is more powerful than moral individuals, the mass of people win. This by the way is one great flaw with Democracy. However the alternative would be to leave the government in the hands of a few corrupt men, who would exploit the people for their own gain.

This is in reference of the corruption of the many- “whoever opposes a great number and tries to prevent unjust and illegal behaviors shall not survive for long.” “We teach that injustices are justified”

“Socrates has become convinced that most people will learn false moral beliefs from their parents, will retain those errors throughout their lives, and will teach them to their children. That is what the means when he says that “the many will corrupt the young.”

Socrates thought that politics was a waste of time-instead people should work on being virtuous. He believes that moral questioning was essential for a well lived life.

“Do not be angry at me for telling the truth” –Socrates

I understand it and I accept it, but I do not think that it is fair. On a smaller scale during student teaching and my last job as a full time sub position I had problems with a certain few. There should have been no problem because I was just trying to do my job as well and as morally as possible. This included being humble and not having a big ego, trying to teach truth and the importance of seeking truth (over security) and being very loving, compassionate, and respectful towards the students and fellow staff. (Because you also teach based on how you teach.)

In my last two situations this conduct has caused me problems. It is just ironic that being the good guy has brought about my job insecurities. The day I got fired from my last job an older conservative history teacher goes to me; “I try not to take my job too seriously.” He was behind it as well as the teacher’s aids. When getting fired the principle said the aids and a few of the teachers were complaining about me. Envy is like jelousy, but instead you destroy what you cannot have – or maybe be. It is reverse discrimination really.

So anyhow, thanks for helping me to explore the idea further.