Even if there is no God, why do people allow the bad guys to get rich, powerful and important?

Question

Even if there is no God and the atheists are right, why do the bad people seem to go into power and money, and no one does anything about it. No one questions it. People praise them. rap stars, even talentless pop stars, who are just rich or pretty, people in politics, even down to the small scale.

I'm sure these people just simply work and take their power, but the "good" people just let it happen.

Even people that everyone idolizes like The Beatles, Madonna, etc, they aren't shining examples of humanity either at all, and yet people praise them like gods.

We basically devalue ourselves and say, oh Madonna, The Beatles, George Bush, these people are richer and more influential than me, and even though they may not be the best people, they're BETTER than me, and so be it, and what not.


Our world is in a huge state of, I don't even know. lol. Confused I guess.

If there WAS a God, he'd stop all of this \ If there isn't a God, shouldn't WE do SOMETHING!?!?

Answer 1

The reason celebrities get rich and idolized is that they, or their marketers, have convinced people that they have something people need. People buy their records, films, books, posters, or other souvenirs because they want to emulate them, feel like them, be them. Since that's not possible, they either buy all the stuff or they try to tear them down and humanize them by following the gossip magazines and TV shows. Even without the stars' help, competitions develop among fans over who is the greater star. Any cultural contribution the star might make is subjugated to the dictates of fame.

And if by chance a star should be come known for bringing actual intellectual content to a song, a role or some other expression of their trade, they are suddenly regarded as experts on the topic. They may actually know something more than their fans about it because they read a book or attended a lecture, but they are more likely to be listened to than the author or the lecturer because they are already stars. That can be a good thing, if it brings attention to a worthy subject. That's why movie stars "testify" before legislative bodies. But it's just as likely to make their agents nervous because it's less likely to bring in the money than pure, mindless entertainment. So even if a star has a good heart and a fairly agile mind, the industry tends to focus on revenue generation and to discourage serious thought among fans in general.

Fans don't seem to mind. That's why they're fans (short for fanatic). It's all about what they think the star is, not necessarily what s/he does. And it's not just entertainers that do this. Politicians often resort to the "cult of personality", emphasizing their "virtue" and "character" rather than any proven ability to solve problems. Religions do it too. How many Christians prefer to be cheerleaders for Jesus rather than actually try to live according to his teachings? There is an old zen proverb/koan that goes: "If you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him," meaning that it is not the man that matters but the way that he revealed.

The reason there are "stars" in virtually every field of human interest is that it serves the needs of the people around them, the investors, the organizers, the publicizers, the spin doctors and all those who stand to gain from the celebrity's celebrity. If you're looking for the true evil in the system, it's usually found there. These people's sole purpose is to keep the star-maker machinery running smoothly, so that the money and the power keep flowing their way. And when someone gets wise to them, s/he either has to be brought on board or rendered quiet, invisible or discredited, whatever it takes.

That's why managers don't like an informed fandom, electorate, congregation, etc. It makes things uncertain and chaotic. It tends to break up a nice, smooth operation. For that matter, the faithful sheep don't much enjoy chaos either. They prefer an emblem they can unite behind, even if it has been turned into a meaningless figurehead. If "meaning" is required, the handlers will generate just enough sloganry to keep the crowds calm and loyal.

So maybe WE do get something out of all this corruption too: a nice, happy world. If it turned out to be a choice (and it likely is), would you rather be happy or informed? Illusions can be great stress-reducers, even if it means the "bad guys" are getting away with something. Think about this: if there were no "stars" in the world, no one "special", what would happen to our own aspirations? Did you ever want to be a rockstar? Exactly why? The reasons the most corrupt political dictators manage to keep their power are (1) common fear of punishment for defiance, (2) armies of soldiers who are rewarded for loyalty, and (3) the understanding that if he can do it, I potentially could do it too. Apply these principles to entertainment, religion, etc., and you'll find they don't change much.

We could beat back the system. We could teach everyone the truth and get them all to agree to see everyone as equal and to value only results, not dreams. But as long as people have dreams, or a need to see themselves (or vicariously, someone) as "special", it'll start all over again. The only person you can fix is yourself.

Answer 2

You've gotta be an American! What is it with you people and the bible? Satan? barely mentioned in the book - twice, I think, once when he dresses up as a snake and again when he tries to tempt Jesus during his 40 days in the wilderness. Really, he's not what you'd call a major character in that book, is he? So he got some woman to eat a piece of fruit and offered Jesus all he could see (a big desert, sort of a, er, wilderness! I love some of the answers you've received. There are more things in Heaven and Earth than are written about in that book - and all the holy books - and most of them have caused a lot less death and repression and destruction than the Bible, Koran or Torah have. Read more history, less old tales. Did you know that more Christians were murdered in one day by a bishop in France, in the Middle ages, than the Romans ever killed during all the time they persecuted Christians?

Answer 3

The world is not confused, it is foolishly adoring these glamourous evils and does not realise that it has been charmed by the inky depths of corruption.

Like a snake being charmed by a flute, you could say...

I know one thing; the people in charge are desperate to keep playing that fu#king flute.

edit to add; people always assume that we're being lied to, or that the people who are in power simply don't care about we citizens of the world.

This is a flawed assumption.

We are the snake, but the snake does not realise where it is or what it is doing, because it has been charmed.

It doesn't matter what happens now, because if something happens to the person playing the flute, the snake will strike, because it will realise it has been charmed.

It will also strike with all the speed and ferocity that a snake can muster, because the snake isn't thinking about who or what it's striking, it's just striking the biggest and most obvious target.

Lord help us if the guy playing the flute is behind a one-way mirror.

Answer 4

The existence of God really has nothing to do with this question. Your question is partly one driven by low self esteem, and also by a concern for justice. Justice is an important human principle (very important), but don't make the mistake of thinking that life is fair, or should be. It isn't, and that's the way it is. Life is many things - grand, mysterious, fascinating, beautiful, frightening, complex, extremely diverse, terrestrial, marine, aquatic, and so on, but not fair.
Schemes to make life fair, like communism, can succeed on a small scale, where everyone knows everyone else, but not on a large scale. Communitarian societies can and do last for long periods of time - think of the Amish. They're not the most progressive people in the world, or the most educated (they take their kids out of school after the 8th grade), or the happiest, but they do cooperate with each other in a way that shows the rest of us how to do it. Getting involved with your community is communitarian. Go for it.

Answer 5

Your answer lies in James 1:9-11
"The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in
his high position. But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business."
God will reveal Himself is His perfect time. He is like a farmer waiting for the crop to be full before the great harvest. Let it be known and see that you, my friend and anyone who reads these words has been fore warned. Jesus will not be returning as a babe in a manger, rather, He will be returning as King of Kings and Lord of Lords come to rule with an scepter of iron. Eyes of fire and a great sword coming out of His mouth to cut down all who did not choose life in the Father through His Son.

Answer 6

It's not as much that bad people get rich. It's more about ambitious people getting rich. Ambition is not a bad thing, unless taken to extremes. Unfortunately, those most obsessed with it tend to be more successful at it, if not by sheer force of trying. When you get obsessed about something, you tend to tune out some of the other affects it has. So, I don't think that rich people intend to do bad, but their ambition tends to cloud their view of the rest of the world. They become out of touch.

The rest allow it because they don't have that obsession with ambition. That same apathy that allows them to live their own private lives makes them out of touch with those who strive for power, of any kind. And to a large degree, their lack of power makes them less able to oppose any wrong done. That's why corporations tend to do bad things.

For celebrities, we look up to them because they represent something we strive for, even if the rest of that person's life is less than desirable.

Answer 7

Well that is not absolute is it? In other words, do all people fail to defend what is right?

Do you stop bad people? Do you take steps to prevent from empowering bad people? For example, do you purchase artist's CDs, or pay to go see movies of artists who set a bad example?

Answer 8

Wealth follows those who invoke the rules that wealth obeys...be they "bad" or "good" people.

(And, FWIW, who is a good person anyway? Can you find one without flaw, meaness or some selling out?)

Perhaps our hatred of the rich is the only significant block to becoming rich. Who would want to become what they hate, after all?

Answer 9

Because everything Satan offers is pleasing to our flesh
and a lot of people go after it,but as a Christian we must
turn and follow God in our spirit and not follow the flesh,

Answer 10

I have no idea what that rant has to do with anything. What does having a god have to do with pop stars? There's nothing wrong with a person being famous. They are still just people.