Posted on 04/26/2008 2:06:05 PM PDT by phatus maximus
Emily Derke looked surprised when she was asked why she was attending church on Earth Day. In her mind, the question was not "why" but "why not?"
"I see Earth Day as a spiritual thing," said Derke, who drove from her home in Coon Rapids to St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Minneapolis for an interfaith celebration. "God made the Earth, and now it's up to us to protect it. Everybody here [at the service] is here for the same purpose. It's all about the Earth."
Indeed, the faith community has become one of the major players in environmental issues. Coming from the standpoint of morals, religious groups are able to address green issues from a different perspective than the political or socioeconomic juggernaut.
The religious world "brings a sense of responsibility" to the ecological debate, said Ricky Nolan of Minneapolis, who also attended the service.
It's a movement that is growing by leaps and bounds that transcend denominational distinctions. Protecting the environment "truly has become a bridge issue," said the Rev. Mark Peterson, executive director of the Lutheran Coalition for Public Policy. "There might be minor differences of opinion over details, but everyone agrees on the main issues."
For proof of that unity, one need look no farther than the St. Mark's service, which included prayers by Christians, Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists and American Indians. (A rabbi had to cancel because of a death in the family.)
"The act of faith for this age is to love the whole Earth," said the keynote speaker, the Rev. Peg Chemberlin, executive director of the Minnesota Council of Churches and president-elect of the National Council of Churches.
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
It's one thing to do things better so our world is cleaner and easier to live in enviromentally, it's another to take it to being "All about the Earth" while attending a service in the house of the Lord, as the one pastor said...
It's a fad. The Television-deluded generation worships thought-fads. A new type of "thought-bubble." Faster cycle and greater amplitude than mass-delusions of history, but same phenomena.
How long, O Lord, how long?
I, too, ask that question every day!
The continue to worship their false gods.
God made the earth and gave us dominion over it. We need to act responsibly, yes.
Is it even about God in The Episcopal Church anymore?
We need to act responsibly, yes, but as this article shows, the hype about “Earth Day” and “going green” is taking on distinctly religious overtones. I wish that all of these bubbleheads who are so concerned about “saving the planet” were even half as concerned about protecting human life. But, of course, that isn’t nearly so P.C. or even environmentally responsible since, in the opinion of the eco-warriors, people are pollution. And really, that is what is wrong with all of this environmental propaganda, it is anti-human. And it is becoming increasingly pantheistic as well.
That’s Waioli Huiia Church on Kauai.
It’s a way to draw people into church without having to do those uncomfortable things like make people feel guilty about their cheating, gambling, immorality, abortions, recreational drugs and $500 purses. So long as you recycle, you are considered “righteous” and “virtuous”.
As you say, cheap grace.
Forgot I’m not paid by the word here. Your expression is much more concise.
Sure doesn't seem like it.
Thanks to rabscuttle385 for the ping.
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams.
FReepmail Huber or sionnsar if you want on or off this moderately high-volume ping list (sometimes 3-9 pings/day).
This list is pinged by Huber and sionnsar.
Resource for Traditional Anglicans: http://trad-anglican.faithweb.com
Humor: The Anglican Blue
Speak the truth in love. Eph 4:15
Cliches do come in handy.
As Jesus said - you can only get to the father through him and the Episcopal church threw jesus under the bus in 1979 or thereabouts.See http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2005601/posts?page=4
Is this analagous to asking why someone would be attending church on Lenin's or Mao's birthday?
Sadly, no.
FR never ceases to amaze me; you can ask just about any question and WHAMMO! the answer will pop up.
I’d just seen the picture of this pretty little (and very green) church, and said to myself, “Wow, that’s pretty. I wonder where it is.”
Before I even finished the thought, there you were to tell me where it was!
How cool is that?
Regards,
PS: Is this your church? If so, you are very lucky.
No, I just recognized the building. I go to First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu at Koolau. We actually meet in a golf club that we bought and converted to a church (golfers still use the property otherwise) because we outgrew our old church. http://fpchawaii.org/
Grace, The Episcopal church lost it years ago.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.