<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for A guest essay]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by ac5p http://www.grist.org/article/a-little-hope-for-a-change-the-promises-of-religious-environmentalism/ Thu, 24 May 2007 23:24:23 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/a-little-hope-for-a-change-the-promises-of-religious-environmentalism/1 a moral issue

Respecting and nurturing Earth - upon whom we all depend, is a moral issue that religious leaders should be championing.  The environment is something that secular social liberals seem to care about deeply as well.  If both groups could rally around these issues instead of arguing bitterly about abortion and homosexuality, think of what could be accomplished politically.

]]> a moral issue

Respecting and nurturing Earth - upon whom we all depend, is a moral issue that religious leaders should be championing.  The environment is something that secular social liberals seem to care about deeply as well.  If both groups could rally around these issues instead of arguing bitterly about abortion and homosexuality, think of what could be accomplished politically.

]]> Comment #2 by jjwfmme http://www.grist.org/article/a-little-hope-for-a-change-the-promises-of-religious-environmentalism/ Fri, 25 May 2007 00:01:35 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/a-little-hope-for-a-change-the-promises-of-religious-environmentalism/2 One of my favorite essays on the environment...

Is by Thomas Merton, a Catholic monk:

http://www.behappyandfree.com/index.php?option=com_conten ...

]]> One of my favorite essays on the environment...

Is by Thomas Merton, a Catholic monk:

http://www.behappyandfree.com/index.php?option=com_conten ...

]]> Comment #3 by Stentor http://www.grist.org/article/a-little-hope-for-a-change-the-promises-of-religious-environmentalism/ Fri, 25 May 2007 04:33:02 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/a-little-hope-for-a-change-the-promises-of-religious-environmentalism/3 Secular Enviros Using Religious Language

Religions also offer a spirited alternative to the way secular environmentalists sound when they rail at out-of-control consumerism. Instead of coming off like shrill spoilsports religious people can appeal to the simple (and comparatively non-polluting) pleasures of religious community as alternatives.

This depends on the audience. For one significant sector of the population, it's religion that always sounds like "shrill spoilsports" and secular environmentalism that offers a vision of the "simple pleasures of community."

Also, it's important that people promoting a religious environmentalist message are sincere believers, not non-believers who have adopted religion as a PR strategy. If secular people start trying to talk in religious language and lecture religious people about what Jesus or Buddha really wants them to do, their fakeness and theological/cultural ignorance will be obvious.

]]> Secular Enviros Using Religious Language

Religions also offer a spirited alternative to the way secular environmentalists sound when they rail at out-of-control consumerism. Instead of coming off like shrill spoilsports religious people can appeal to the simple (and comparatively non-polluting) pleasures of religious community as alternatives.

This depends on the audience. For one significant sector of the population, it's religion that always sounds like "shrill spoilsports" and secular environmentalism that offers a vision of the "simple pleasures of community."

Also, it's important that people promoting a religious environmentalist message are sincere believers, not non-believers who have adopted religion as a PR strategy. If secular people start trying to talk in religious language and lecture religious people about what Jesus or Buddha really wants them to do, their fakeness and theological/cultural ignorance will be obvious.

]]> Comment #4 by caniscandida http://www.grist.org/article/a-little-hope-for-a-change-the-promises-of-religious-environmentalism/ Fri, 25 May 2007 05:36:06 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/a-little-hope-for-a-change-the-promises-of-religious-environmentalism/4 Merton; Berry; "shrill"

Thanks, JJW, for posting the link to "The Rain and the Rhinoceros."  I am a huge fan of Thomas Merton, but I did not know this essay till a friend, like me a Catholic and indeed a co-parishioner, sent it to me.  She sent it to me twice in fact, not remembering the first time, but she correctly understood that I would appreciate it.  Merton captures that hesychia, that inspired and lively and wise tranquility, which is I think what Roger Gottlieb means by "Sabbath rest," and which is what

But I am afraid I share the disappointment, not to say cynicism, of another great and influential Catholic, Thomas Berry.  Gottlieb's optimism is good, but we have to ask why there has not been anything like a widespread environmental movement among religious groups till now.  I cannot speak for Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims, but certainly we Christians ought to have been fierce environmentalists from the beginning, and not just joining the movement at this late point in time.

Stentor, I know what you are saying, and I do not know what Gottlieb is referring to.  Certainly many Christian churches, which perhaps can be stereotypically called "evangelical," including the megachurches of course, are fully equipped with sound and video technology, like the stages of rock concerts, and movie theaters.  And typically the worship services pull out all the stops, as it were.  So there is nothing especially simple or quiet about that kind of religiosity.  Indeed, it seems entirely derivative from popular secular culture.

Chickens are our cousins! So are other sensitive animals! Enough is enough! No more factory farms!

]]> Merton; Berry; "shrill"

Thanks, JJW, for posting the link to "The Rain and the Rhinoceros."  I am a huge fan of Thomas Merton, but I did not know this essay till a friend, like me a Catholic and indeed a co-parishioner, sent it to me.  She sent it to me twice in fact, not remembering the first time, but she correctly understood that I would appreciate it.  Merton captures that hesychia, that inspired and lively and wise tranquility, which is I think what Roger Gottlieb means by "Sabbath rest," and which is what

But I am afraid I share the disappointment, not to say cynicism, of another great and influential Catholic, Thomas Berry.  Gottlieb's optimism is good, but we have to ask why there has not been anything like a widespread environmental movement among religious groups till now.  I cannot speak for Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims, but certainly we Christians ought to have been fierce environmentalists from the beginning, and not just joining the movement at this late point in time.

Stentor, I know what you are saying, and I do not know what Gottlieb is referring to.  Certainly many Christian churches, which perhaps can be stereotypically called "evangelical," including the megachurches of course, are fully equipped with sound and video technology, like the stages of rock concerts, and movie theaters.  And typically the worship services pull out all the stops, as it were.  So there is nothing especially simple or quiet about that kind of religiosity.  Indeed, it seems entirely derivative from popular secular culture.

Chickens are our cousins! So are other sensitive animals! Enough is enough! No more factory farms!

]]> Comment #5 by sushil http://www.grist.org/article/a-little-hope-for-a-change-the-promises-of-religious-environmentalism/ Fri, 25 May 2007 14:41:29 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/a-little-hope-for-a-change-the-promises-of-religious-environmentalism/5 The link between Mind and Social / Environmental-I

David Roberts,

You have posted the views of Roger Gottlieb on "Religious Environmentalism", Consumerism, Culture and Spirituality. In this context I want to post a part from my article which examines the impact of Speed, Overstimulation, Consumerism and Industrialization on our Minds and Environment. Please read.

The link between Mind and Social / Environmental-Issues.

The fast-paced, consumerist lifestyle of Industrial Society is causing exponential rise in psychological problems besides destroying the environment. All issues are interlinked. Our Minds cannot be peaceful when attention-spans are down to nanoseconds, microseconds and milliseconds. Our Minds cannot be peaceful if we destroy Nature.

Industrial Society Destroys Mind and Environment.

Subject : In a fast society slow emotions become extinct.
Subject : A thinking mind cannot feel.
Subject : Scientific/ Industrial/ Financial thinking destroys the planet.
Subject : Environment can never be saved as long as cities exist.

Emotion is what we experience during gaps in our thinking.

If there are no gaps there is no emotion.

Today people are thinking all the time and are mistaking thought (words/ language) for emotion.

When society switches-over from physical work (agriculture) to mental work (scientific/ industrial/ financial/ fast visuals/ fast words ) the speed of thinking keeps on accelerating and the gaps between thinking go on decreasing.

There comes a time when there are almost no gaps.

People become incapable of experiencing/ tolerating gaps.

Emotion ends.

Man becomes machine.

A society that speeds up mentally experiences every mental slowing-down as Depression / Anxiety.

A ( travelling )society that speeds up physically experiences every physical slowing-down as Depression / Anxiety.

A society that entertains itself daily experiences every non-entertaining moment as Depression / Anxiety.

Fast visuals/ words make slow emotions extinct.

Scientific/ Industrial/ Financial thinking destroys emotional circuits.

A fast (large) society cannot feel pain / remorse / empathy.

A fast (large) society will always be cruel to Animals/ Trees/ Air/ Water/ Land and to Itself.

To read the complete article please follow any of these links :

PlanetSave

FreeInfosociety

ePhilosopher

Corrupt

sushil_yadav




]]> The link between Mind and Social / Environmental-I

David Roberts,

You have posted the views of Roger Gottlieb on "Religious Environmentalism", Consumerism, Culture and Spirituality. In this context I want to post a part from my article which examines the impact of Speed, Overstimulation, Consumerism and Industrialization on our Minds and Environment. Please read.

The link between Mind and Social / Environmental-Issues.

The fast-paced, consumerist lifestyle of Industrial Society is causing exponential rise in psychological problems besides destroying the environment. All issues are interlinked. Our Minds cannot be peaceful when attention-spans are down to nanoseconds, microseconds and milliseconds. Our Minds cannot be peaceful if we destroy Nature.

Industrial Society Destroys Mind and Environment.

Subject : In a fast society slow emotions become extinct.
Subject : A thinking mind cannot feel.
Subject : Scientific/ Industrial/ Financial thinking destroys the planet.
Subject : Environment can never be saved as long as cities exist.

Emotion is what we experience during gaps in our thinking.

If there are no gaps there is no emotion.

Today people are thinking all the time and are mistaking thought (words/ language) for emotion.

When society switches-over from physical work (agriculture) to mental work (scientific/ industrial/ financial/ fast visuals/ fast words ) the speed of thinking keeps on accelerating and the gaps between thinking go on decreasing.

There comes a time when there are almost no gaps.

People become incapable of experiencing/ tolerating gaps.

Emotion ends.

Man becomes machine.

A society that speeds up mentally experiences every mental slowing-down as Depression / Anxiety.

A ( travelling )society that speeds up physically experiences every physical slowing-down as Depression / Anxiety.

A society that entertains itself daily experiences every non-entertaining moment as Depression / Anxiety.

Fast visuals/ words make slow emotions extinct.

Scientific/ Industrial/ Financial thinking destroys emotional circuits.

A fast (large) society cannot feel pain / remorse / empathy.

A fast (large) society will always be cruel to Animals/ Trees/ Air/ Water/ Land and to Itself.

To read the complete article please follow any of these links :

PlanetSave

FreeInfosociety

ePhilosopher

Corrupt

sushil_yadav




]]> Comment #6 by Douginbonn http://www.grist.org/article/a-little-hope-for-a-change-the-promises-of-religious-environmentalism/ Mon, 28 May 2007 06:39:04 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/a-little-hope-for-a-change-the-promises-of-religious-environmentalism/6 Evangelicals and the Environment

I agree with the above posts that Christians have been pathetically slow to recognize the moral imperatives of caring for the environment. Still, there is lots of good news, especially among the evangelical churches in America, arguably among the most powerful in terms of influencing public policy. Young evangelicals, especially, are more and more committed to the environment.

The National Association of Evangelicals has taken a strong environmental stand and many individual churches are also recognizing that "loving your neighbor" includes the whole of the planet, and speaking out against our culture of mindless consumerism- (for a great example, see Matthew Sleeth's book Serve God, Save the Planet.)

Many groups are doing great work- (Floresta is my personal fave in terms of a holistic approach to third world development and environmental education from a Christian world view. http://www.floresta.org...)

For those of you who have stereotyped Christians as negligent or worse in terms of the environment, I encourage you to see us as people with whom to make common cause in caring for the planet- I am sorry we have been, for the most part, so slow to start doing our part...Doug

]]> Evangelicals and the Environment

I agree with the above posts that Christians have been pathetically slow to recognize the moral imperatives of caring for the environment. Still, there is lots of good news, especially among the evangelical churches in America, arguably among the most powerful in terms of influencing public policy. Young evangelicals, especially, are more and more committed to the environment.

The National Association of Evangelicals has taken a strong environmental stand and many individual churches are also recognizing that "loving your neighbor" includes the whole of the planet, and speaking out against our culture of mindless consumerism- (for a great example, see Matthew Sleeth's book Serve God, Save the Planet.)

Many groups are doing great work- (Floresta is my personal fave in terms of a holistic approach to third world development and environmental education from a Christian world view. http://www.floresta.org...)

For those of you who have stereotyped Christians as negligent or worse in terms of the environment, I encourage you to see us as people with whom to make common cause in caring for the planet- I am sorry we have been, for the most part, so slow to start doing our part...Doug

]]> Comment #7 by Douginbonn http://www.grist.org/article/a-little-hope-for-a-change-the-promises-of-religious-environmentalism/ Mon, 28 May 2007 06:39:48 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/a-little-hope-for-a-change-the-promises-of-religious-environmentalism/7 Evangelicals and the Environment

I agree with the above posts that Christians have been pathetically slow to recognize the moral imperatives of caring for the environment. Still, there is lots of good news, especially among the evangelical churches in America, arguably among the most powerful in terms of influencing public policy. Young evangelicals, especially, are more and more committed to the environment.

The National Association of Evangelicals has taken a strong environmental stand and many individual churches are also recognizing that "loving your neighbor" includes the whole of the planet, and speaking out against our culture of mindless consumerism- (for a great example, see Matthew Sleeth's book Serve God, Save the Planet.)

Many groups are doing great work- (Floresta is my personal fave in terms of a holistic approach to third world development and environmental education from a Christian world view. http://www.floresta.org...)

For those of you who have stereotyped Christians as negligent or worse in terms of the environment, I encourage you to see us as people with whom to make common cause in caring for the planet- I am sorry we have been, for the most part, so slow to start doing our part...Doug

]]> Evangelicals and the Environment

I agree with the above posts that Christians have been pathetically slow to recognize the moral imperatives of caring for the environment. Still, there is lots of good news, especially among the evangelical churches in America, arguably among the most powerful in terms of influencing public policy. Young evangelicals, especially, are more and more committed to the environment.

The National Association of Evangelicals has taken a strong environmental stand and many individual churches are also recognizing that "loving your neighbor" includes the whole of the planet, and speaking out against our culture of mindless consumerism- (for a great example, see Matthew Sleeth's book Serve God, Save the Planet.)

Many groups are doing great work- (Floresta is my personal fave in terms of a holistic approach to third world development and environmental education from a Christian world view. http://www.floresta.org...)

For those of you who have stereotyped Christians as negligent or worse in terms of the environment, I encourage you to see us as people with whom to make common cause in caring for the planet- I am sorry we have been, for the most part, so slow to start doing our part...Doug

]]>