Yep... according to our Marxist and Socialist 'brethren'.... Utopia is possible!

All we need is sufficient education, and (if you believe the Melbourne Socialist Alternative bod) enough "control" over all the affairs of the population...annnnd...*VOILA*... we are in the Millenium....or..perhaps not.

The problem with Communism is that it always boils down to individual wills...and this is most manifest in the story of an attempt by some Fabians to create just such a utopia in the USA.

READ ON.....and weep. -if you believe that 'socialism' will deliver utopia or even something vaquely resembling it)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Harmony,_Indiana

Robert Owen...a Welsh utopian thinker and social reformer.....

Questions: Does anyone seriously think that any kind of human political 'utopia' can be realized through laws and rules?

The group which vacated the land occupied by the owenites was owned by the original 'Harmony Society' which was modelled on the early Church as described in Acts 2:42 to end of chapter.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+2&version=NIV

It did actually 'fail'...but the reasons for the failure are not exactly damning to the idea of a Christian community being successful.
Reasons for the failure are found in this article.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmony_Society#Rise_and_fall_of_Harmony_Society

My point is, that a Christ based community will succeed and thrive, whereas a secular one will not. (argue with me by all means :)

BATTERED BY ECONOMIC DOWNTURN, BUT ALIVE
Not that it is clear from this story, but Wilmington Ohio is emerging as just such a Christian society.....
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/01/22/60minutes/main4747832.shtml

ALGOREisRICH,:>> My point is, that a Christ based community will succeed and thrive, whereas a secular one will not. (argue with me by all means.)<<

I agree with you Al, since the decline of Christianity in the first world a generation ago social issues have abounded.

The jails are full; the classrooms are a mix of single parent, melded parent, or students with no parental guidance. The moral fabric that bound the community and stopped us preying on each other for fear of a power greater than that of those who come from a womb has gone. We are "god" and the Fabians agenda of social reformation via Political Correctness has done to the first world what sticks, arrows, and missiles could not do, divide us and conquer us, with our compliance.

Apart from being another opportunity for your own idiosyncratic version of Christian boosterism, I'm not sure what to make of this topic, Boaz.

"Utopia...is within our reach?"

Of course it isn't. One key reason for my certainty in saying this is that a "utopian" life has come to mean drastically different things to different people.

So, with that out of the way, what do we have?

A couple of references to the work of a Christian preacher called George Rapp, who tried to build successive communities based on his religious views.

That didn't work.

From which you allow yourself to deduce that:

>>a Christ based community will succeed and thrive, whereas a secular one will not<<

Given that Rapp's "Harmonites" believed in the second coming of Christ, and that none of his experiments was successful, the information to support this view would appear to be omitted from your post, Boaz.

But I'm still puzzled by the overall choice of topic, Boaz.

Are you a Utopian? Do you believe that a utopian community is a possibility? Will the government bail out Wilmington Ohio? Are DHL in league with the devil...?

I can't wait for the next exciting installment of this mystery play.

SOG...you agree ? :) I'm warmed and stunned at the same time.

But for your encouragement..... oooooh YES.... there is plenty to be encouraged about.

Wilmington Ohio..in case you've missed the various places I've made mention about this place... here is a recap.

POPULATION 12,000
EMPLOYMENT (2008) approx 6000 at DHL (the figure being bandied around is 8000, but I'm pruning it a bit because of some DHL workers from surrounding towns)

2009 DHL closes shop...... 8000 people (mostly from Wilmington) are out of a job.

The spiritual transformation of Wilmington is something to behold.
It's starting to sound like the 2nd evangelical awakening with people like Sugar Tree Ministries. over 30 churches are supporting it, and Ray the leader goes into the pantry each morning.. puts his hand on the shelves and prays.."Lord.. give us our daily bread".
This is remeniscent of George Muller the great carer and educator of Orphans.

It is said of him:

//Although he never asked any person (other than God) for anything, Müller asked those who did support his work to give a name and address in order that a receipt might be given. The receipts were printed with a request that the receipt be kept until the next annual report was issued, in order that the donor might confirm the amount reported with the amount given.//

If you want to be blessed :) read the whole article.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_M%C3%BCller

Since a 60minutes program which outlined the dramatic economic hit for the small town, and the rise of such ministries as Sugar Tree, the Rachel Ray (cooking) program did a story on it, and provided a new kitchen! As the story spreads.. so lives and communities are transformed. And NO one is mentioning 'entitlements' :)

Something wonderful is happening in the USA... something most people won't see in the mainstream media.

Only God can change the self centered obsession of secularism and consumerism.

Dear Al,

"Something wonderful is happening in the USA...something most people won't see in the mainstream media."

The other night as I was skidding toward CNN to find some info on the Korean skirmish (which, at that time had been breaking news for a while) I stopped momentarily on Fox News. They weren't covering the breaking news but were doing a nice promotion about Sarah Palin and something to do with a version of Dancing with the Stars. I admit it's less depressing than Korean hostilities, but to me it was further confirmation that this non-mainstream media organisation is not about "news" at all - only the promotion of "their" side of politics.