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my thought, exactly. About 5 minutes into the "debate," I went and got myself some popcorn.

I think perhaps I may understand your opinion. However, I disagree with it. It boils down to differing definitions, as is usually the case. You appear to have defined the concepts of "human" and "soul" and "murder" differently than I have. It might take many, many posts before you could understand my positions on these matters, not because they are difficult to explain, but they are difficult to understand when one is already predisposed to not understand them owing to already having a much different understanding. In short, however, here is the essence of my belief. 1) Humanity is a consistent chain going all the way back to Adam. A zygote is human. A fetus is human. A human corpse is still…did you notice that adjective? 2) The soul is separate from the body. A human body can possess a soul. It can lose its soul. Satan tries to steal the soul: is he trying to steal the human body too? 3) "Murder" is not the same as "kill" in the Bible. This is the most difficult for most people to grasp. Murder is carefully defined, however, in the Bible, and does NOT include such acts as the lawful stoning of a properly convicted murderer by the people at the mouth of at least two or three witnesses, the killing of an enemy as an act of war, or the accidental killing of a person for any reason other than criminal negligence (such as not keeping one's known-to-be-dangerous bull confined and it kills someone). In other words, not all cases of a human killing a human properly fit the definition of murder. 4) Abortion, as we know it today, is not addressed clearly in Scripture. Therefore, it behooves us to be the more cautious about pressing our private views/opinions about it upon others and requiring that they conform to them. In keeping with all of these points, I am "anti-legislation" on the matter--"pro-choice" if you wish, albeit I do not have the liberal mindset of promoting abortions for any whimsical reason one might have, e.g. birth control. While I may feel strongly that it is wrong to have such an abortion, I feel even more strongly that my conscience should be no measure of another's liberty on the issue. As pertains to the title of this thread, I am neither an "abortionist" nor do I deny the humanity of the pre-born. Blessings, Green Cochoa.

mid 19th century... probably beginning in the 1840s.. (I'm an "old soul".. )

I see the answer as very much a mixed bag. As has already been suggested, some things worse some things better. But that is more of a myopic perspective. On balance, I am inclined more toward the view that overall things are improving, better than they ever were in the past. For me the simple question is, if I could irreversibly switch places to a different time in earth's history would I be willing to do so? The answer is no. Time travel to visit of course would be fun and educational. But to be stuck in another time to live out the rest of my life, I don't think so. The reason is simple. I would likely die in a few years without the advantages of modern medicine that we all take for granted. Life would be much harder. Risks much greater. Solutions to fundamental problems of life far fewer and far less certain. Survival, opportunities for success far less certain. Life is better now.

There are many things that are better. These have been enumerated by others. The oceans are definitely worse because of what we have dumped in them. Air quality is better in LA & worse in Beijing. What the Bible says though is that "evil men & impostors will wax worse & worse." 2 Ti 2:13. So I believe it is the spiritual condition of the unregenerate that continues to get worse as we near the end of time.

Occasionally I will refer to a chapter or text in the book Hezikiah. Well It sounds like a book!

Green has it right.

In my short Lifetime there has been a number of times when the End of the World is coming upon us. When JFK was elected. When the free love and drug culture was happening of the 60's was blossoming (Woodstock,Kent State, Men with Long Hair etc) When Jimmy Carter was elected as POTUS (being a born again Christian and blah blah ) When Pope John Paul 1st died. When Pope John Paul 2nd came on. When 1988 was looming (Hal Lindesy ..The Late Great Planet Earth prediction) Various theories from the Jubilee Calender (1996?) to Harold Camping twice setting dates Y2K Mayan Calendar 2012 . and Now ................................................. Every Single time the Pope visited us I would hear about it. Almost like panic and guilting others for not Jumping on the Bandwagon. It seemed like there was new Books and Tapes and CD's every time Being made and distributed in our Churches. .................................... http://www.usccb.org/about/leadership/holy-see/francis/papal-visit-2015/history-papal-visits-to-united-states.cfm .......................... Amen He is coming and Soon but This is not what it supposed to look like before it Happens. ..its a little something called JOY! i put up something directly related to this awhile back http://clubadventist.com/forums/topic/63010-cant-get-saved-thru-our-lizard-brain/