Spiritually speaking in the U.S.A. or your own country which poverty do you think is greater and more damaging

I am from Bangladesh where 40% of the population live under the poverty line(48% now thanks to the global food crisis). For an outsider, Bangladesh can be the perfect example of living hell, with almost 150 million people living in an area of 147,570 square Kilometers. People of Bangladesh has to deal with deadly floods each year. And cyclones hit our country frequently. But what amazes me is the spirit of my countrymen. It seems Bangladeshis never give up. I worked in a slum in Dhaka, to encourage the slum dwellers to send their children to school. What I learned from that experience had changed my outlook entirely. Despite the unbelievable poverty, they seemed happy. They were eager to send their children to school. They were all hard working. They cared for each other. They were working to change their financial situation, and they wanted a better future for their children. Seeing this really made me wonder about what makes human beings happy. I'm not saying being poor makes you happy. These slums are not suitable for any human beings to live in. But, that didn't make these people from fighting and living their lives. They may be are poor financially, but they weren't poor in spirit. Poverty didn't make them lose their spirit. That's why I am very hopeful about the future of my country, even though now-a-days it seems so hopeless. I know the spirit of the people, and I know that poverty can not stop them. So to me, poverty of spirit, is most definitely worse than financial poverty.

I do think poverty of spirit is a far greater problem in America! Even most of the very poor here get to eat and have a roof over their heads most of the time. This makes them very rich compared to many folks in the rest of the world. However, I think we are spiritually destitute in this country. We have forgotten the One who made this country great! Many Americans have turned their backs on the Most High and bought into secularism. This will be the downfall of America yet!

Spiritual poverty brings a host of problems that we have not seen as a nation until now. Families that are torn apart by divorce, children that are raised by only one parent, lack of values in society today, increase in violence, lack of respect for authority, etc. These things are only getting worse. The lack of love is one of things that would be a sign for our time! There is a cure for financial poverty. Spiritual poverty is a lot harder to cure!

I do not know how spiritual poverty is defined by all here. To me it is a lack of love and values which would render a person "spiritually poor".

May the Lord bless you!

Financial poverty seems to be increasing in the US these days, and it can lead some people to certain vices related to these circumstances (such as being ungrateful and being angry with God); this can be damaging, although it does not have to be. However, poverty of spirit can only reap benefits in the soul; in fact, it is what Jesus requires of us. No matter how poor of spirit you are, it will never harm you. Sad to say, poverty of spirit is very hard to come by, especially in the U.S.

Debra, In my opinion, poverty of spirit is the most damaging. I also believe financial poverty is damaging to the spirit. Hard to feel spiritual when you are unemployed, downtrodden and hungry. However, if you are strong spiritually and have hope, I feel you may have a better chance to work your way out of financial poverty.

My soul weeps for the poverty stricken people of the world. Especially children and the elderly. It is criminal that in a world with such rich resources the wealth is distributed so unevenly.

((((Debra))))

Definitely spiritual poverty.

Paradoxically financial poverty breeds spiritual strength. I'm not advocating living in poverty but overcoming hardship is the key to achieving personal growth.

The poverty of compassion for our fellow man is the problem.

It derives from poverty of spirit and leads to financial poverty.

Allhthough there are some large singers alive on the instant ... i extremely love any of the singers from the 30's to the late 50's. i've got have been given self theory that they had the purest voices that have been very mesmerizing. they did no longer have the help of technical kit or acoustical sound studios they have on the instant to make their voices suitable ... they only had what nature gave them ... lungs and vocal chords ...

I think that the spiritual poverty of feeling, being unloved is worse than material poverty. With material poverty, if you have family or friends, at least you have love.

Blessings and hugs Debra

I believe people who do not see their worth or see that they have purpose in life are poverty stricken, so the poverty of spirit. However, God wants us all to have unlimited abundance and to spread it around, so the solution to financial poverty will help the poverty of spirit......