Talulah

I don't know if this belongs in this forum or not but I will give it a shot.

Some here know that I was a theist until about March. I floundered around a bit before finally casting off the religion that I had had doubts about for several years.

Previously, I never gave any thought to things like the ozone, the environment or any number of things like that. I scoffed when I heard talk of meteors hitting the earth and destroying it or the sun going out. I never gave a minutes consideration to the idea that the earth would be destroyed in any other way they when God wanted it and the way the Bible described it.

To be sure, this brought a whole other set of worries, because in my mind, I was destined for hell. But at least I KNEW that the unimaginable wouldn't happen. I knew either I would die, naturally, by accident or some other misfortune, or that God would end the world with fire and brimstone. I had a chance though. I was betting on the mercy of God to grant me a full life, and to repent in the end of all those things my nature couldn't let me give up.

In this very selish way of viewing things, there is no room, in my opinion, for worries about the environment or some great space calamity. I honestly didn't care what I left behind because I would either be in hell and too preoccupied with my own misery to care, or in heaven too preoccupied with my own rapture to care. Besides, God would provide for the world until he decided to nuke it, right?

At this point, these things are beginning to dawn on me. Things that I took for granted because 'God takes care of that until the end of the world' are not so sure in my mind anymore. I realise we have to worry about what we leave behind for the generations to come after us.

Thanks to all who made it through my muddled ramblings.

parkdalian

I've thought about that aspect of death too, taking comfort in that the world will hopefully live on to a better future, but worrying about the Earth's worsening problems. We have both a need and an obligation to think about bigger issues, and when we confront our own mortality, we realize that all we truly have is nature and the rest of humanity.

Not muddled or rambling at all and actually nicely expressed. The best I can do to follow up is a quote from Canada's most famous scientist and environmentalist, David Suzuki.

[ July 21, 2002: Message edited by: parkdalian ]</p>

HelenM

I think it's a shame that Christians assume God will fix what they mess up, when it comes to what we leave behind for future generations.

Either that or their eschatology results in complacency, so it seems, since 'the world is going to get worse and worse anyway, until God wraps things up'.

I wish they would take their responsibility as seriously as you evidently do now, Talulah

love
Helen

Mad Kally

That's exactly what my mother's attitude is, only worse. She even scoffed on September 11. She cares only about giving money to televangelists and to her church to build a new 20 million dollar sanctuary. She snickers when I talk about giving money to Childreach.org (non-religious) or the Diabled American Veterans. (DAV) She has NEVER showed any concern about what is going on in the real world. She is just waiting to die and get her big reward at the great gig in the sky.

It's disturbing to say the least..

Talulah

Quote:

We have both a need and an obligation to think about bigger issues, and when we confront our own mortality, we realize that all we truly have is nature and the rest of humanity.

parkdalian, This is something that is just dawning on me. I am appalled by the fact that this never occurred to me before.

I think that Xtains walk around in a self-absorbtion (please excuse the blanket statements) that makes it difficult from them to see outside of their God-box.

Quote:

Either that or their eschatology results in complacency, so it seems, since 'the world is going to get worse and worse anyway, until God wraps things up'.

Exactly Helen. I am not sure I am a humanitarian though, but maybe I am getting there. In truth, maybe I am self-absorbed with my own previous self-absorbtion.

Kally,
...and it is disturbing to me to realise that it was Xtain doctrine itself that led to my egocentric view of the world. After all, didn't God put us here to use what he provided and be master of the earth and the animals. Isn't he going to take the faithful away to a better place in the end?

Truly, why should Xtains care?

Sometimes I am really disgusted.

[ July 21, 2002: Message edited by: Talulah ]</p>

Koiyotnik

This has to be one of the most frightening, and most inspiring, things I have ever read. I just wish more people could realise this. Maybe the world would be a little bit better if they understood.

Also, parkdalian, David Suzuki hates the area I live in and refuses to come here very often. I just thought that was interesting.

Brian63

A while back I remember reading one of Rush Limbaugh's books &lt;&lt;&lt;shiver&gt;&gt;&gt;, and specifically a chapter on environmentalism (an area of interest for me). He went through a whole series of environmental data that suggests that the Earth is much more resilient and in much better shape than the "environmentalist whackos" would have us believe.

After that section though, he followed by saying that his real attitude on environmentalism is grounded in his faith. He just can't see how God would ever let us humans destroy what He created, and so there is little reason to worry about environmental problems.

What's the smiley I'm looking for? Oh yeah, here it is: <img src="graemlins/banghead.gif" border="0" alt="[Bang Head]" />

Brian



P.S. Certainly not all believers hold the same attitude, so I don't want to mislead people into thinking that I believe that. It is only that sometimes faith can lead people to do silly things, as we all know.

Abacus

If he really believes that, then I say we all head on over to his house and take a shit in his yard. It shouldn't bother him. The Lord will clean up the mess.

I really hate it when people use faith to slip out taking responsibilty for their own actions.

HelenM

OTOH perhaps you are self-absorbed with your quest to free yourself from your previous self-absorption.

Did that put a better spin on it for you?

I am self-absorbed with my selflessness, speaking for myself (for just a moment, before I return to being selfless again).

love
Helen

[ July 21, 2002: Message edited by: HelenSL ]</p>

Mad Kally

I don't think so. I've been a nonbeliever for years. (in the closet) Even though I didn't even know another atheist, I've always noticed the self-absorbtion of fundies. My mother has been like that since she first attended a Sunday school as a child. EVERYTHING FOR JESUS! My mom is not the only one out there. Turn on <a href="http://www.tbn.org" target="_blank"> TBN. </a>