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If, for instance, crime went down dramatically in New York City, for any other reason than a reformation and revival, wouldn’t that make the prophets of doom look silly? And if the economy was booming without anyone repenting, what did that mean?

Well, I cannot speak for the evangelicals, but the conservative Catholics I know, and radio hosts in NYC both liberal and conservative, attributed the decline in crime in NYC to 1. Giuliani replacing Dinkins and 2. Demographics. In ancient times, as today, plenty of places were debauched and prosperous at the same time (then: Corinth, Sodom and Gomorrah, Ninevah; Today: San Fran, NYC, Copenhagen).

If technology or social sciences actually made socialism work as intended, and resulted in lower unemployment and inflation and less debt and better overall health care, it would STILL be wrong because it works against the nature of man, and undermines his dignity.

We live in bigger houses, our cars need fewer repairts, we have 20 times as many channels, and we have half of the world's information at our fingertips. We are not better people. Our children are not as happy. There is more loneliness. The earth is not our final home. What has 50 years of therapy, international fame and wealth brought Woody Allen but despair? We still need a Saviour.

Totally agree with your point about the dicotamy of materialism vs moral health of a nation.

I was reminded that in ancient Israel, some of the kings of Judah (Omri for example) there was an expansion of their borders, economic prosperity, etc., yet the prophets at the time were warning Irsrael of God’s impending judgement to come - though Israel was enjoying prosperity, morally and theologically they were bankrupt and decadent beyond repair.

People laughed at and mocked the prophets at the time, yet judgement came a few years later and the nation was nearly destroyed never to recover its former glory, eventually being totally destroyed by the Romans.