Environmentalism: Religion for the Godless ... (Forgive me for I have SUV'd)

Newsbusters ^ | August 24, 2007 | Matthew Sheffield

[IrishMike]

In a time when modern science and scholarship have begun to cast doubts on traditional faith, many on the left, right, and center are increasingly abandoning traditional religion. While most such people on the center-right are content simply not to believe, many on the left continue to cling to the salvationist ethos. In the past, that impulse was satiated with communistic reveries. If religion was the opiate of the masses, socialism was the heroin of the secular leftist.

That no longer seems, at least outwardly, to be the case. With a worldwide record of abject failure, socialism lost its claim to the miraculous. Despite this, the left's desire for cosmic justice remained unfilled; it was only a matter of time before something stepped into the teleological breach.

That something is radical environmentalism. In a fantastic essay at his site Number Watch, John Brignell shows how extreme environmentalism has become a secular religion. The comparisons are striking and ought to give pause to any agnostic or atheist wary of the influence of religion on society. Even if you don't share Bridgnell's view of religion, this is an essay worth reading. Here's a small excerpt:

It is in the nature of religion to be authoritarian and proscriptive. Essential to this is the concept of sin – a transgression in thought or deed of theological principles.

Original sin in the older religions derived from one of the founts of life on earth – sex. The new religion goes even further back to the very basis of all life – carbon. Perhaps the fundamental human fear is fear of life itself. The amazing propensity of carbon to form compounds of unlimited complexity made the existence of life possible, while its dioxide is the primary foodstuff, the very start of the food chain.

[stm]

And why? Because following God’s Word is hard. Acting as Jesus would have us act is difficult and at times tests our faith and will lead to ostracization by the God-less.

Following secular environmentalism, oth, is easy. It does not require sacrifice. It does not take faith. In fact, it really does not take a lot of brains either.

But in the end, who would you rather follow, Jesus Christ or Al Gore?

[IrishMike]

But in the end, who would you rather follow, Jesus Christ or Al Gore?

......................................................

I am saddened that close to half would prefer Gore.
That’s modern politics.

[stm]

Don’t be saddened. God gave us free will. They make their choice, they suffer the consequences. It really is as simple as that.

[RC2]

“socialism lost its claim to the miraculous”? So why do we still have Hillary around? She the biggest socialist around and has fairly good support. Do the people supporting her also support socialism? I believe so.

[narby]

And why? Because following God’s Word is hard.

And living without modern conveniences like a car is easy?

Acting as Jesus would have us act is difficult and at times tests our faith and will lead to ostracization by the God-less.

And acting like a raging lefty greenpeace follower in church will get one welcomed to the fried chicken lunch?

But in the end, who would you rather follow, Jesus Christ or Al Gore?

Someone who does not follow any religion, Jesus or Al Gore, would think followers of either are a bit off.

[IrishMike]

“socialism lost its claim to the miraculous”? So why do we still have Hillary around? She the biggest socialist around and has fairly good support. Do the people supporting her also support socialism?

Socialism being liberalism, then the answer would be yes.
I agree with you.

[M203M4]

IMO, the socialism is simply now couched in different terms.

[Bob]

Following secular environmentalism, oth, is easy. It does not require sacrifice.

Actually, it does take sacrifice. The key is to be sure that it's other people who are doing the sacrificing.

[Vaquero]

My t-shirt

[Reeses]

All religions have a short list of rules such as the 10 Commandments and they all include the rule not to envy others. That is because envy is a great source of evil in the world, is the root cause of murder, theft, hate, destruction, war, flying airplanes into towers, voting Democrat. I wonder how envi-mentalism is going to handle that being that envy is the whole motivation behind it all.

[stm]

And these people will “sacrifice” until it becomes too inconvenient to do so and then it will be back to SSDD. And the limousine liberals like Gore will still continue to preach sacrifice while they drive their gas guzzlers and live in their energy hog mansions.

[phillyfanatic]

After seeing C.Amanpour’s moral equiv. show on the 3 world religions, and knowing that Ann Coulter’s book on Godless is so correct, does anyone wonder why Howard Dean and the DNC are trying to convince mush heads that Democrats are really Christian and that the voter should trust them with their moral considerations. God help us.

[Realism]

Perhaps the fundamental human fear is fear of life itself.

Pathetic.... No the fundamental human fear is DEATH. All creatures have an instinct to survive and protect their habitat.

Some just believe it's not within their control.

[the invisib1e hand]

In a time when modern science and scholarship have begun to cast doubts on traditional faith...

A classic, of the same ilk as these winners:

"It was a cold, rainy night..."

"Long ago, in a land far away...."

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Well, they make their choice, and then they try to impose their envirowhacko ethics on all of us. Therefore, it is not just they who suffer.

[joydoc]

To whom it may concern;

THE SCIENTISTS DISAGREE ABOUT ‘GLOBAL WARMING’.

IS A. GORE ABLE TO WALK ON WATER?

IF GORE DIDN’T HAVE THIS GIG WOULD ANYONE LISTEN TO HIM? IF SO WHY DIDN’T HIS SON LISTEN INSTEAD IF BEING ARRESTED FOR A DUI?

VOTE REPUBLICAN===LETS WIN==NOT OBAMA OR THE OLE GRAY MARE, CLINTON.

[IrishMike]

2008 Democratic National Convention Schedule of Events

7:00 pm ~ Opening flag burning

7:15 pm ~ Pledge of Allegiance to the U. N.

7:20 pm ~ Ted Kennedy proposes a toast

7:25 pm ~ Nonreligious prayer and worship with Jesse Jackson and Al
Sharpton

7:45 pm ~ Ceremonial tree hugging

7:55 pm ~ Ted Kennedy proposes a toast

8:00 pm ~ How I Invented the Internet - Al Gore

8:15 pm ~ Gay Wedding Planning - Barney Frank presiding

8:35 pm ~ Ted Kennedy proposes a toast

8:40 pm ~ Our Troops are War Criminals - John Kerry

9:00 pm ~ Memorial service for Saddam and his sons - Cindy Sheehan
and Susan Sarandon

10:00 pm ~ “Answering Machine Etiquette”- Alec Baldwin

11:00 pm ~ Ted Kennedy proposes a toast

11:05 pm ~ Collection for the Osama Bin Laden kidney transplant
fund - Barbra Streisand

11:15 pm ~ Free the Freedom Fighters from Guantanamo Bay — Sean Penn

11:30 pm ~ Oval Office Affairs - William Jefferson Clinton

11:45 pm ~ Ted Kennedy proposes a toast

11:50 pm ~ How George Bush Brought Down the World Trade Towers -
Howard Dean

12:15 am ~ “Truth in Broadcasting Award” - Presented to Dan Rather
by Michael Moore

12:25 am ~ Ted Kennedy proposes a toast

12:30 am ~ Satellite address by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

12:45 am ~ Nomination of Hillary Rodham Clinton by Nancy Pelosi

1:00 am ~ Ted Kennedy proposes a toast

1:05 am ~ Coronation of Hillary Rodham Clinton

1:30 am ~ Ted Kennedy proposes a toast

1:35 am ~ Bill Clinton asks Ted Kennedy to drive Hillary home

[phillyfanatic]

Thanks again for one of the best jokes around. If only moderate sane Dems would understand that.