Um... Where did I ever say none of this stuff existed until America? Nowhere.
I never said or insinuated you did. I was referring to texts written
thousands of years ago. Has nothing to do with whether one is Christian or Jewish. It's an ancient text that gives
evidence that
alcoholism existed thousands of years ago. My point was not against you but agreeing with you, and challenging post #1's insinuation that substance addiction is a unique thing only found in either the USA or "First World Nations."
I'm saying substance addiction was something even ancient man dealt with.
Also, not interested in your Jesus-spiel about people harmlessly having good relationships is some horrible thing.
Again,
you inferred something
I did not imply.
I said the Bible lumps drunkards (alcoholics), sodomites (homosexuals), and adulterers
together as not inheriting the Kingdom of God. Again, pointing out substance addiction was known among the ancient authors of the Bible.
There is a high rate of HIV among ethnic Black-American males that have sex with other males--in the City of Milwaukee that is. About roughly 40% of them are statistically said to have HIV. For say... crack cocaine smoking males that don't have have sex with males their rates of HIV might be more or less close to that of non-drug addicted, heterosexual, Black-American males.
IV heroin use and male homosexuality both greatly increase the odds of one getting HIV. So, from an epidemiological aspect neither are mere "childish fun that are completely harmless." I've run into some Americans who think crack cocaine smoking is "harmless" because as they say, "It's not what you do but how you do it." A very common phrase on the streets. Many things have risks... but some more so than others.
Human relationships and failures are obviously complex. But you don't sound interested in that sort of answer.
No, I'm aware of their complexity. And I find nothing at this time to disagree with professor Jordan Peterson about "complexity" overcoming individual people at times.
That was in fact my point about adultery. That people are not happy. Or if some prefer, they don't have "joy." In those relationships that disintegrate at least.
That said... as complex as life is one has to try to simplify some aspects of it or they will become overwhelmed by it. So, for example, one might try to recall their wedding vows in certain times of difficulties. One might make a habit of leaving their problems from the stress of the work day at the door of the car as they exist it, before they walk into the house to their wife and children. Whatever, I'm saying one has to try and come up with ways of simplifying things for the sake of practicality in life. For some people the odds of that happening may be slim to none given the weight of things in life falling on them or burdening them.
He speaks (in the video below) about
drug use being one potential outcome of individuals becoming overwhelmed by the
complexities in their lives.
I have no damn idea what you're on about. What I said is not some sort of secret or anything. I didn't need anyone else to tell me that. I just have working eyes.
Again, I was agreeing with you. I was making a point that Fr. Groscehel (who was financially responsible for some single mothers, female drug addicts, and male addicts) had in the past made a point that although life today in the USA has brought more ease for some, it has also caused greater isolation for many. He was an old man making this observation. He worked among the poor in New York City. He was not "high on his horse."
Albeit, I think Fr. Grosechel (he's passed away now) had a point about the
ease of life (if it gets that way) potentially being a trap or bad thing per se. Joe Rogan a very secular and non-religious person has said something similar to that too.
Then again one could easily argue there is nothing easy at all about the lives of these crack addicted Brazilians in Rio:
Cracklands: Rio's deadly secret
USA TODAY Sports
Published on Jul 19, 2016
A mile from the site of the Rio Olympics opening ceremony hides a drug-riddled apocalypse. USA TODAY Sports' Martin Rogers reports on the Cracklands of Rio de Janeiro.