On God and the Environment

Okay, I do think that what TMac should be given serious consideration and not a LOL.

In answer to him though I would also add that it goes further. I believe (and I really mean no disrespect to those with different views) that God is transcendent and the power of God (gender neutral and beyond normal linguistic definitions)reaches us. The power that started it all is a conscious power. But, keep in mind that the world is a creation. It is not ours to destroy, but the preservation of ourselves is far more important. BTW, I believe in science and the Book of Genesis. The former tells us how (and it's truly amazing) the other tells us why (and it is even more amazing).

Hi Craig. The LOL was about something else mate. T-Mac continued this thread from one of mine and for some strange reason thinks God will still accept him even if he does not do all he can to save Gods creation. But no I agree. Culebra AKA Crafty (helloa crafty, what with the name change bro?) hijacked the thread and my trail of thought I'll read it again

Just read what your saying though and I agree with what your saying

T-Mac. All well and good if the so called people of God 'The Zionists' weren't willing to destroy it all in order to achieve their Goal......reclaim the promised land and have Jerusalem as their capital. No amount of zzzzz's will defeat the Z

Meditation helps you unlock the things you already know. If you call of the other energies/frequencies be-careful. Alot of life is suffering or under pressure. T

Srry if ya'll think the joke about the ponies was a bit harsh,,,,a mate has gone missing at the coast while we had them storms (UK). I'm a bit on edge.

GOTT MIT UNS!

@ Nix - yes, this is a thread that I pulled off of another one so that the focus could stay. I also think that the idea of Goals are tied into nature, our peace, our connection to ourselves is a reflection of our connection to nature. Nature is a prime conduit to achieving self actualization as well as peace. Combining this idea with religiosity means that we must, as @CraigW states, take both into consideration and be ok with both. I believe that he is saying, as I have similarly stated that it is possible to believe in the divine without excluding natural fact. @nix -I'm not defending the actions of organized religion, rather pointing to the facts that there is a need for an awakening to our religious friends for the need to protect the earth because of religious and spiritual and meditative reasons, not only because it is the right things to do for our kids.

@craig: I like how you put that, the reconciliation of science and creation; I have degrees in biology, microbiology, and a near degree in zoology, and the more I learn about the workings of life in its infinite forms and its commonalities on a microscopic level, the more amazing it seems. Personally, it has strengthened my belief in a Creator, and also the processes that lead to the myriad interdependencies and adaptabilities of living things.
As a side note, remember that the same guys who inscribed "Gott mit Uns" on their belt buckles were the same good-time charlies who inscribed "Arbeit Macht Frei" over the gates of Auschwitz...

No-one is answering what they think on the first question: does God order his followers to protect the environment or allow us to use it however we see fit?

Sorry nix, thought you were downplaying a valid argument. Interesting talk this is.

Maclean, I was just watching a cool video talking about the origins of the universe with current working views of the pull of dark matter and the thrust of dark energy. I really think this was the action described in the opening of Genesis. OF course Genesis is simply the version that ancient people could understand.

As for organized realigion...must admit that I'm a fairly stodgy Anglican myself...but part of the very creed we profess is that we "believe in all things visible and invisible" including dark matter, angels and two headed kittens.

Nix, to answer your question directly. Earth is but a creation and it may or may not survive. In fact, we know that there is a time limit of somewhere around 5 billion years for higher life-forms. Short of that, there is a very good chance of natural disaster (asteroids, alien invasion) to end the world well before that time. And of course there is the present dangers related to the carbon cycle and shiny products. If we take a biblical view, these things must be kept in mind...but it should also be stated that we are supposed to realize that all that exists is God's and we must recognize that we are just using it.

The current spirit of the age is very much about private ownership and materialism, but in earlier contexts this paradigm simply did not exist. The ancient writers of the Bible probably could never imagine a situation such as ours today. But if we do believe that we are to govern the world and establish the kingdom

I just wonder why a snake has to be so CRAFTY need i say more.......?

without going much in depth on earlier posts i will post off my beliefs. As i am a Odinist i believe in many Gods, none of which can tell me that i must protect any person or thing. As for you people of the book: your God entrusted you with this world to watch over it so therefore your expected to take care of yourselves within reason not to be materialistic but simple necessities. as for the more the science people one should watch over nature/ the world as you would your home of course like serpent says it science leads to greed well that is human nature as a mammal therefore its not really science but allowing ones self to become what he was designed to be. your desert religion only cares for the weak these days because it has no power. in the churches true form at the height of its power along with those of the caliph each of the desert religions would expand as far as possible before collapse then turning into a pacifist once it could no longer contro

I didn't think you needed to say anything at all?

Hmm, interesting hypothesis... the church expands when it has the power and becomes pacifist when it doesn't. There's a lot of truth in that. But, to me it doesn't really matter. The desert religions are full of examples where humans have fallen far short. It's in the book itself, so it's not exactly shocking that it's true. See what I did there?

@craig: doesn't the Creed say ".I believe in..the Creator of all things visible and invisible"? I could be wrong, it has been awhile since I recited the creed, and I am rusty.
@all: One thing I think we may all agree on is the Big Bang, altho for different reasons. At the words, "Let there be light!", THAT was the Big Bang--the beginning of this universe. At any rate, that event marks the start of everything, right?

I am greatly complimented that you should think I am the great, one and only, Crafty of old lore.

;p

Oh so you just like to copy his country names? Albert Square is too small to be the original one?

One and only yes....great? lol

maclean I'm not sure about the big bang being the beginning of the universe? who's to say the universe was not already there before the big bang?

The big bang is generally considered to be a rapid expansion not the beginning of the universe as there was material before the Big Bang. The Big Bang concept was created by a catholic priest to allow for the concept of the uncaused cause the thing that came before which if ones delves deeper into this concept would come up with an intellectual force that caused it thus you have your God.

@Nix- I think if you are Christian then the bible entrusts you to care and tend all God's creatures. I also believe that if you are Hindu or Buddhist then doing no harm is at the heart of your mandate. So in my opinion I would have to say that the "creators" did instruct their followers to protect the earth. There might not have been much understanding in the olden days regarding this topic however due to the multitude of wilderness.
Preservation is more of a 20th century and for that mater American construct as we invented the "National Park system" with the idea that democratic societies should have access to wilderness and nature. We were sickened by the commercialization of Niagra Falls where every overlook was bought and managed and with the east coast expanding ever quicker into the west, people began feeling the need to keep places wild.
But along those lines it is present to us the need to keep places that

no worries people. judgement day is just around the corner. each shall be judged by his/her deeds. so it is written, so it shall be. everything you speak of is written down and i guess you could say has come to pass. i also wanted to comment on a post about greed or the love of money. never worship money. respect it because it provides but never hold it dear to heart.

Maclean, yes essentially that. All things visible and invisible created of an eternal God.

Pale Rider, that would be true...regarding judgement based on deeds save for the doctrine of redemption.

Pale Rider - one of the four horsemen?
Pale = Death
Red = War
Black = Famine
White = Conqueror

i see no reason money is evil it doesnt matter how you feel about it, its how you use it

MONEY = EVIL

Cleanse yourself and send it to my paypal account!

Lol.

i just can't wait for the dead to walk the earth. already got a pimp hat for the special event. that should be happening in near future being that they've begun human trials on regeneration of dead cell tissue. with that in mind, anyone else watch the walking dead.