What is Poverty? Part 1

May 1, 2008 - 12:25pm

A new friend sent me this video. It's a friend of his in Brazil chipping in his definition of poverty. In the coming weeks I'll be posting a series of video clips on the subject of poverty in order to provoke discussion.

Watch the video and share your thoughts:

(If you don't see the embedded video below you can click here to view it.)


Julie w
says...

While it is true that lack

While it is true that lack of money and housing are one definition of poverty (especially in a society where you need money to trade for food, clothing, housing and other needs. And ESPECIALLY when one wants to be independant of help so they are not "beholden" to anyone. It's a VERY humbling experience), I've always believed that a lack of family is another form. As is lack of friends, as well as lack of education (schooling is VERY important but one should at very least constantly be educating theirselves by reading and/or surrounding themselves with people who they can learn from).

However, even when one has much money, family, friends and education, one can still be spiritually impoverished because of either lack of faith, trust and reliability on God OR just absolutely not knowing God at all.

Julie

Jason Coker
says...

You bring up a good point

You bring up a good point Julie. The heart of the gospel is the pronouncement that God has reconciled the breech between himself and us. From the Christian perspective, all forms of poverty - including the material - are the logical result of this (original) impoverishment.

That's why true faith involves an embrace of poverty. You cannot be filled if you aren't first empty. Thomas Merton once said the essence of faith is the beggars bowl.

Regards,
Jason Coker
Twoshirts.org Team

Julie w
says...

"You cannot be filled if you

"You cannot be filled if you aren't first empty. Thomas Merton once said the essence of faith is the beggars bowl."

Very true and excelent points. Unfortunately - and at times even for my own self - it's during those empty times when we sometimes turn to and rely on faith as "the last resort".

Julie