GOOD Magazine: Skid Row Part 4: God

[mjordan1998]

I'm not religious or spiritual at all and never will be, but in a way it's kind of like thank goodness for the christian services cause I don't think athiests would step up like this. That's purely an assumption though without research to back it up

[Colloquium2011]

Don't look down on anybody, unless you're on top of a ladder.

[Colloquium2011]

Don't look down on anybody, unless you're on top of a ladder.

[Colloquium2011]

Watch 'Homeless Christ' for end times preparations.

[foundintranslation3]

Living on the streets of LA made me turn to Jesus for answers and like these other people are saying jesus can and will make a change in your life so you dont have to live like a wretched soul.i have seen miracles real supernatural miracles that the belief in jesus brings.i was walking with two other homeless and one offered the other a female a pocket bible she turned it down and i took it and it stayed in my bag for months but i kept it then one day i opened it and the miracles started

[sexycush1]

This is horrible that people are living like this shame on america BABYLON

[foundintranslation3]

bless his heart he is doing real work good christian work and i can tell you about the miracles i have seen being homeless in LA and having a pocket bible that works

[dansprattuk]

Hit em with religion when they're at their lowest, that's disgusting.

[trubornagain]

2 COR 4 3,4 But if our gospel be hid, its hid to them that are lost, in whom the god of this world satan hath blinded the minds of them which believe not lest the light of the glorious gospel of CHRIST who is the image of GOD should shine onto them

[johnny2rios]

does pastor ron believe in gay marriage?

[HELPTHEHOMELESS32]

pay a crackhead and take them away from the streets and pay them to promote your religion. brilliant. so sick of these hipstermentaries. fucking bullshit. these crackheads should all be recycled into nature or fed to hogs or something.

[HELPTHEHOMELESS32]

its an illusion to get more support for their religion. ILLUSIONS

[HELPTHEHOMELESS32]

it's not GOD it's fucking christians giving crackheads money and letting them live off them, just like the government... they do the same thing giving the weak ones social security. let them fucking die.

[HELPTHEHOMELESS32]

fuck the human spirit, fuck human beings. we need to evolve and let the slave races sit at the bottom and die.

[travelmadman]

Whatever the motivation, Christian or not, something drives the human spirit to hlep another. For me, faith drives that and these people, it'snot the only motivation of course, but it's a strong motivation for many. At its core the Christian message is about love in action, thats what Jesus embodied, but the call is the same for us, how can we "love in action" ... see, talk to and help the invisible people.

[tryss]

4:05 almost turned me into a christian lol

[xx35j2]

the black guy looks like Marin Luther King

[boogiechillen123]

For the Christian bashers: where's your Atheism mission that feeds and houses total strangers? Where's your Atheist caretakers trying to help people that nobody wants to see let alone help? You can sit on the sideline throwing insults at Christians but if you took all the Christians out of skid row you'd be taking the only positive influence there. All the sparkling movie stars and industry people in Los Angeles aren't lifting a leg to help this situation. And most of them are Atheists.

[sticksquash]

There's plenty, a lot of these houses are part of Atheist organizations. There's plenty. You're pulling lots of claims out of your ass. Christianity doesn't help anymore as much as atheism does.

I see Atheism as self-confidence, it opens up yourself to freedom.

And once again, there are no demographics to say that most of the area's people are atheists.

Asshole.

[Simon839]

@boogiechillen123 You have a point; there aren't any atheist organizations helping out on Skid Row per se, but there are those who would argue that without organized religion, there would be fewer people on Skid Row to begin with, since people wouldn't be told to accept their current wretched situation and wait for the afterlife. Without religion, maybe more human beings would fight for fairness, social justice, and equality in the here and now instead of patiently waiting for the hereafter.

[boogiechillen123]

That sounds good in theory, but the reality is that these people are going to exist no matter what, and in an atheistic society the strong discard the weak, the whole survival of the fittest thing. Religion, and specifically Christianity is the only element of society that commands its followers to help these people. An atheist might feel compassion for these people but are they going to brave the streets in order to feed and look after hardcore drug addicts? Obviously not.

[Simon839]

I'm an atheist who left my job (as an inner-city schoolteacher) to volunteer with the Peace Corps in West Africa (Cote d'Ivoire). There are plenty of atheists who do good works, but we don't have any banner identifying us as atheists when we do good things for the world, so in your (and others') eyes we're invisible. Not true. There are plenty of agnostics and atheists who take personal risks to help others.

[boogiechillen123]

I applaud you for the work you do, its great that you help people less fortunate than we are. As a Christian I don't judge you in the least for having your own ideas on religion, the fact that you help impoverished people counts for more. I was speaking more in general terms because it generally happens that in American inner-cities the only people helping are Christians. I realize that atheists are not all the same just as Christians aren't.

[pelucas716]

waw. i cant believe the religious propaganda this shit turned into. all i see here is alot of good people doing the wrong things to help other good people. its sad, maybe they ll be able to help in the short term. but the damage that is really being done will turn irreversible. if not that it already is.

[johnny2rios]

hey orlando,

i would like to offer my services.

contact me. and why no jewish services?

[glenncookiowa1979]

I agree with you that people see God much more clearly when there is nothing else. I have mental health issues, perhaps Jesus is trying to remind me, that He is in control and full of TRUE Love!!

[DADEISM]

sheeple. all of them

[albers]

What's the name of the song in the end? Good job

[Socksee]

It's Snatam Kaur's "Gobinda Gobinda Hari Hari" from her "Prem" CD.

She has such a beautiful voice.

[noneofyob1zz]

One more thing I must add

GOD stands for LOVE, JOY, PEACE, LONG SUFFERING, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS & SELF CONTROL. What is wrong with that? absolutely nothing, K then, so, becoming a believer or trying 2 b CHRIST like is a good thing, right? YES, it sure is.

But, the wicked 1 has ever 1 fooled thinking that GOD'S ways R cruel.

Yes, he has many thinking we all R bigots, hypocrites, haters& manipulators. That is what we must indoor 2 demonstrate true LOVE toward our LORD& more

[noneofyob1zz]

IF I were to generalize certain groups, then I would be hating all the caucasians for killing most of my people. IF I were to set my eyes on there actions, as a group, then my heart would b fill with so much hate towards them that I would only b harming my self with bitterness; which i did once prior of becoming a believer. But now, thank GOD because he has set me free. Now I try to C the good in people as an individual, and no longer their wicked ways in general. Even my enemies I try to love.

[foxoftrot]

I'm an atheist but I believe the idea of God isn't a bad one.

If these people find some good in it then its worth it.

[darthsun666]

i do not believe in god! i believe that if you want something to change then you change it! no magical forces at all, and if religion is so big there espeacially christianity why then are there so many probelms still? maybe its because religion doesnt make a person better.what makes a person better is when he can humble himself and then be able to change. god has nothing to do with it but rather people telling people that they can do better. encouragement

[JessicaLDS3165]

In some awful, strange, paradoxical way, atheists tend to take religion more seriously than the practitioners. Jonathon Miller

"To be an atheist requires an indefinitely greater measure of faith than to recieve all the great truths which atheism would deny."

Joseph Addison

"Nobody talks so constantly about God as those who insist that there is no God." Heywood Broun ~

An atheist is a man who believes himself an accident.

~ Francis Thompson

[darthsun666]

i do not take religion more seriouslly in fact believe what you want as long as it doesnt harm others, and its bullshit to believe that life is an accident , its called sperm fertalizes the egg, 40 weeks later a child! an action had to create that child so in a sense no i do not believe we are accidents! homesless people dont need god! they need encouragement more programs, and no i am not against god i cant be against what doesnt exist

[darthsun666]

also i think it takes more faith to believe in the bible! world created in six days, world wide floods, old senior gathering every animal in the ark. a tower that caused confusion. i take it seriousally because the actions of one man can affect the lives of thousands. peoples believes in god has caused damnage over the years.

[skankiteasy]

god has all to do with it and he does exist... you're wrong. any deal takes equal participation on both sides, therefore god's not going to take care of all your problems for you, you must take responsibility for you life and actions. just thought i'd let you know that. ps: to your other comment, you've just taken stories out of the bible and placed them out of context which could make anything seem negative if you do that.

[darthsun666]

so i assume you have seen him right? and no god doesnt need to to take care of all problems, just the ones that lead people to more trouble like holy wars. and its not negetive to plagarize works from other religions, it would have been more easier to believe if the stories were a bit more realistic and if the supernatural wasnt taken from the religions of that area

[skankiteasy]

and no, sadly i haven't met him but you shouldn't "assume" things because it makes you look ignorant which i'm sure isn't a new thing for you. and i never said you plagiarized anything! what i said was that you've taken a part of a story from the bible which cannot stand alone meaning you can't understand the story if you just tell people a part of it, you need the entire story otherwise your information is biassed, further adding to the fact that you are a dumbass. (:

[darthsun666]

i guess you belive in calling people stupid and that is okay. since god does exist i am sure because of your great mind you can prove it, from a non emotional point of view. here is one, and u can explain better. lot lives in like sodom with his wife, two daughters , servants, etc. god plans on destroying sodom, and like three nearby cities for the wikednes. now abraham who is lots cousin is worried, and asks god if he would destroy the cities if there was a certain ammount of wise people

[darthsun666]

you can go screw yourself for calling me a dumbass. i do read the entire story, and i hope you can tell me how lot was righteous, a man willing to give up his daughters to a bunch of rapers. and then he ends up having sex with his own daughters in which one gives birth to the father of the moabitess and the other givess birth to some other enemy of isreal. after all you want the whole story, okay i will give you that.

[darthsun666]

genesis 19 30-38. read it, that is about what lots daughter did to him. god allowed for this occur because lot tried to give his daughters away to a bunch of rapers, so he got raped, making him live in shame, which i am sure he did

[darthsun666]

when lot's wife looked back, she then was turned to salt cause she was told not to look back, why did she look back? as lot and his two daughters ran off they ended up on some mountain, the two girls assumed that they were the last three left, and they needed to create new offspring, so why didnt god say, "there are otrher men, go to them, and i shall bless you with children!"? instead the two girls get their father drunk probably raping for several days, and god allows them to get pregant.

[skankiteasy]

okay, basically i have the right to call you a dumbass because you just proved my point that you are one. (: haha you just took a biblical story and placed it out of context, and added your own assumptions, because i'm sure you were there when "the two girls get their father drunk probably raping for several days" haha and that's in your own dumbass words. and anyways, you believe yourself a mistake, and i believe you are too. (:

[darthsun666]

of course you have a right you fucking douche bag, its called the first amendment ass! and no its not in my own words, it is in the bible. they did get their father and laid with him. and why would a so called christian even fucking assume that i am a mistake? yea you may think your christ like, and smart but really your just a douche! =D !

[skankiteasy]

you believe it yourself you fucking bastard! you believe you're mistake! any fucking atheist out there, believes that he or she is a mistake! if you don't believe that a higher being created you for a purpose, you believe yourself a mistake! you think a "big bang" was on purpose? that theory is that everything was created by mistake, therefore your dumbass believes you're a mistake and btw your smileys are ugly and take up to much space you hater! mine look way better! lmaooo!

[darthsun666]

First off i know i am not a mistake. first off two people had to have sex to create another human. every time sperm is ejaculated into a woman, there is a chance of it reaching the egg, and nine monthes later a child is born.thus no i am not mistake you ass! And what makes you think your not? because some dude in church says that man was originally a pile of dirt formed? and u dont have to smile when you inssult people.

[darthsun666]

and how am i a hater? because i say i do not believe in your god? I do not hate you, why would i? your entitled to an opinion, just as much as I am. All I want to know is why i should belive that the bible is right, and that god exist. And since you know so much about the bible i figure you might be able to help, but nope, all youve done is called me a dumb ass and hater.

[skankiteasy]

i called you a hater because you seem to hate on organized religion, mainly for the fact that you have no faith... which is extremely insulting to believers like myself and many others. maybe you should take your own advice and not be so closed minded. and of anybody in this argument, you don't seem that happy.

[darthsun666]

no i hate organize religion for the hell it has causeed on people. i do not hate the individual itself. that does not bother me. i am not closed minded, some people who have certain faiths are good people. i make friends with christians, jews, hindus, all sorts of people, and i may not agree and they understand that. and i dont seem happy because lately people have been screwing me over and its been getting me agitated nothing to do with religion sorry if you thought i am directing it towards u

[skankiteasy]

and second of all DO NOT educate me on my rights, because i know them. by saying i have the right to curse your name, i meant by the way you are acting, it wouldn't be "wrong" to call you a dumb ass. there are multiple meanings to words, so don't everything literally and go educate your dumb ass! hahahahahaha!

[darthsun666]

Since your so smart like you claim, prove that god exist to me, and then explain why i should be part of a belief system who discriminates and belittles peoples believes.

[skankiteasy]

christianity doesn't belittle people. and i just expanded upon your own beliefs. sure your parents "may" have planned you. (-________-) but, what your belief insinuates is that the entire human race, actually all of life is a mistake! and i surely can't make you believe god exists, that's on you to find god, and allow him into your life. this life is full of more than what meets the eye. i'm sure you believe in aliens, but i doubt you've ever seen one.

[darthsun666]

i dont know whether there is aliens or not. i know god said we are made of dust, and to me that sounds far fetched, and the idea of a woman being made of rib meat, is just as bad.

[joeyjupiter77]

there is a place like this in phoenix az,its called the zone.

[opalfruities]

does anyone know the song at the very beginning with the GOOD title????

[wesjoe311]

NO!!! Stop asking. Nobody knows already.

[platinum1987]

I dont understand these people, mainly because i can solve my own problems myself, i dont need any god or jesus nonsense to give me motivation

[gonghayfat]

Wow platinum1987...you deserve a medal. I would bet on my life that you're too pussy to spend even a single night on skid row. Live there for a few years and then I'll believe that you can solve problems yourself.

[jhlooiyt]

Don't be too conceit about your ability. No matter what, you are just a mortal being and not omnipotent or invincible. God despise the arrogant. Mercy on you.

[jackinla8]

blessings+burritos=smelLA

[Sicknose]

Lol. Funny how people believe god is a solution to a problem built by one nation, under god.

Somehow we're gonna save the world with the same religion that's controlled it for 2000 years and led to this state in the first place.

Done watching this.

[daveszen]

the people who believe in god are basically the only ones doing something about it.

[skankiteasy]

i couldn't agree with you more, i've never seen atheists organize programs or shelters to help the homeless.

[darthsun666]

i lived in one, and i did try volunteering, but guess what?they rejected me, cause i wasnt part of a church. thats right! how am i to help out if i get rejected for not believing in their system? so dont put every athesist in the same category. and at least when we do it, we dont try to get approval from an invisible being

[daveszen]

If that was there reason for rejecting you. I just want to apologize in behalf of that church. It is not just there job to serve but to try to build up leaders in the community in which they are working in so that they may have that blessing to serve.

[noneofyob1zz]

HI, Just finish reading some of your comments in this channel & let me tell you, not all so call "Christians" are alike. Just like I'm sure that not all atheist are alike. For every organizational, you got your good & bad apples.This is true with Christians, Jews, Islamic, Muslim, & Atheist, With that being said, u r welcome to volunteer on Skid row feeding, clothing& encouraging the the people of skid row. Yes, this is what I do with with my time & we wont reject you because of who u r. Promise

[darthsun666]

k, right now i am trying to get off of my feet. yea some people did some stupid things and it has affected me. but soon though

[noneofyob1zz]

And if you r ever interested in knowing the truth about the SCRIPTURES, come by and I'll be glad to have a respectable discussion with you, because it seems like you are very familiar with the WORD, but, misunderstand some things. We can clarify them for you.

Listen, I'm sure u r a good person who doubts GOD'S existence, I completely understand that. It took me many years to truly belief in HIM. I cannot judge you because of what or what don't believe in; that is some thing between you and GOD.

[darthsun666]

the scriptures can be intrepreted as good or bad, and it does contain some worldly wisdom, but people distort it, or say god wants bush to go to war, no he doesnt!

[noneofyob1zz]

You're right. Many people use the name of the LORD in vane. They come in the name of GOD to actually justify their wicked ways. In the HOLY SCRIPTURES, they are refer to 'sheep in wolfs clothing', who only come to sabotage the true faith. it is inevitable for more to come because The prophecies most be fulfill.

So, what is recommended is to set our eyes on GOD, who is truly the only perfect & righteous one, and our path to righteousness will be alright, and well aliened with GOD.

[noneofyob1zz]

Once again, the truth is at hand, it's there and when you obtain it, you'll say it was the best thing that has ever happen. This, I'm sure. So, plz come by & find out for your self. If u do not eccept it, we will not force it, & we will not call you names nor judge u (that is not a true believer's way)but you can still help any way you can.

We are at the corner of St Julian and 7th, downtown L.A/Skid Row. SET FREE is the name of the facility & we r open 7 day week 7-7pm

GOD BLESS YOU & LOVES U

[darthsun666]

i do not hate the idea of god, just what people have done in his name. ive been to the churches of skidrow when i lived there, remember when i was younger i did believe.but i saw corruption in a place that should open its arms up. i am not saying the individual is bad.

[dusty091383]

God is the only solution and people who think like you is the very problem-Get a clean nose and you might see. tabitha

[Sicknose]

lololol

[Sicknose]

What i really feel is that solutions require the numbers to be in place. Desolate countries can have good morals, but poor use of resources prevent them from getting anywhere. What I hope is that some real hard science, some math, will help us shore up the numbers to make things right. And from what i've seen, religion does not address the numbers. In fact, religion tends to IGNORE the numbers. I simply feel that religion is a step backwards. What do you think?

[stottsj]

Religion is ridiculous, but a relationship with Christ is amazing! Christ wants us to unite and not be selfish. When we care about more people than ourselves, treating people as if they were our own family things would be a lot better. But thats a perfect world, if we all had a great relationship with Christ, then we would all understand the same morals and it would be easier to unite! that isn't a perfect world, that is possibility.

[merkederk23]

So how are you helping the situation by talking shit?

[backtobasicsman]

love shall set you free...

[Efferts]

Wow, I saw an asian chick (4:21). Likely a tourist.

[swatus]

Nah....She just is working as a volunteer there...

[SolMaster]

Even though I personally don't follow Christianity, I can agree that a belief in any religion can give someone the hope to develop long term goals in a life like that. I don't claim to have any idea what it's like to live like that, but I can imagine that most of those homeless men and women are just thinking about how they're going to get through the day; they aren't making long term goals. Any kind of religion can get people set on getting themselves in order so they can have better lives.

[Efferts]

I, too, don't oblige religion, but I've a beef. I agree that it can deliver security, but I wish those devout wouldn't push their education onto others.

I've visited many countries in my tour of duty & among the ethnicities & spiritual backgrounds witnessed I've never met anyone more forceful & less tolerable than a Christian.

[herrgrinch]

I really want to like what GOODmagazine is doing here, but these blatant religious overtones makes it seem like a crusade.

[Efferts]

Don't get dizzy. It's not the religion, it's its people.

[ya19375]

lol he was on drugs, THEN he started talking to god xD thats what it takes.

[jakewayd]

Wait, what's the problem? They have good relationships with God, they go to heaven for eternity after they die. What are they whining about?

[cdechols]

GrowlinWIllie,

If after seeing that is all you have to say, U are CRAZY which probably grows from a mixture of prejudice, ignorance and heartlessness. If you have children I'd love to see if you carry your philosophy out fully with them.

[GrowlinWillie]

If believing in an imaginary being helps people live like normal people, more power to them. It would be better if they believed in themselves.  These people have too much time on their hands. People who have to work 70 hours to survive don't have time to become so neurotic.

[taco0901]

they have been reinventing 'plans' for decades. skid row is still here

that says it all righ there

[kobra420]

With the even half of the money spent on the war in Iraq, homelessness could have been eradicated. Social housing, education programs, law enforcement. As the intro to this documentary says "a society is judged by how it treats its most vulnerable and needy"

[american37]

I lived on skid row in Los Angeles for about six months in 1962. I was 22 years old and had a cheap little room. At that time skid row was only about 10 or twelve square blocks, mostly men, no children, and few women. No one was allowed to sleep on the street; if they had no other place they had to check into a mission for the night or go to jail for vagrancy. And the only drug in evidence was rotgut wine. It really wasn't that bad or all that dangerous. What happened to this country?

[cramsa]

Crack... and the welfare state culture of being payed to become a bum.

[kobra420]

It's a sad sad state of affairs. The richest country in the world can't care for it's most needy, nor is there any real effort from the majority to do something tangible other than voice a few words of sorrow.

[AlphacutEnVA]

wow! this makes me cry! we take so much for granted

[billybluesrock]

5*****

[maytch122]

I work with the homeless in Seattle. This series brings me so much joy.

[srp1462]

i thought it was "sleepless in seattle"

[Divi4Jesus]

Very well vid, they people live radical 4 Jesus!

[n3vr0n4]

There is no greater God than Jehovah. It's just amazing how He saves and transforms people. Brings me to tears...

[chocoff]

awesome videos, very well produced

[GreenGestalt]

I'm impressed, Christians who aren't boy groping, senior citizen robbing hypocrites. He was homeless and they took him in, naked and they clothed him, hungry and they fed him. These Christians wouldn't pick a fight with the Prophet Isa (Jesus) if they met him!

[atreyulvr666]

wow! when i saw these posted on myspace i automatically clicked on them. and i started watching them this morning. and as soon as i got home i finished the vids. very educational. i live 20 mins from all this. its terrible to see this lifestlye. thanks for posting these videos. people need to see this!

[Davidow1]

Nice to actually see something with quality on youtube!

I want more like this!

[ireagan]

Wow. Excellent production. How can we get more people to see this series?

[FujiGoose]

Great series, Good. I hadn't really paid any attention to skid row before.