No, but you should have more of an open mind due to the consequences of your decisions. God gives us faith. He has provided everything we need to have strong faith. God has spelled it out for us in His word..The Bible. I do not require anything else to prove that I am right. Actually, it's the other way around. As a young teen, when I was first saved, I witnessed to my parents, and they have since became strong Christians also. My parents were indeed raised in Christian homes, but had gotten away from the Church years before. Unfortunately, we've lost a lot of our influence. Sure, politicians still give our ideals lip service, but in the end we're just fodder. We can no longer depend on our government, which was founded on Christian principals, to represent us. We must strengthen the church's influence on our communities.
I need to have more of an open mind? Salty, I'm very open-minded, it is you who lacks the ability to see anyone's stance but your own. The bible was written by men, and has since been translated many times. You have no proof, just faith. So you felt like you needed something to save you, I presume. There are many things you could've reached for, but you chose the religion you were most familiar with, correct? It is a good thing that you've lost your influence, atleast in theory. Politicians shouldn't adhere to fundamentalist. It isn't good for society. As long as you don't strengthen the church's influence over the influence of reason, I think that is a good thing. I'm glad that there are churches out there for helping the disabled, the poor etc.
Anyway, we're getting off topic (as we always do whenever religion is involved)... What do ya'll think about the parallels between religion & environmentalism?
It's simply idolatry. People are turning their backs on God, and replacing Him with environmental issues. I don't believe environmentalism to be a religion..but more like something that replaces it. Lot's of things can fill a void in someones life,..sex, drugs, wacky left wing agendas,...but they should not be defined as religion.
That is one thing I don't like about this argument. He makes it seem like all environmentalist are atheist, which is not the case. It may be a majority, I'm not sure, but I don't think atheism is the "culprit" here. This is an issue which anybody, religious or not, can be fanatical about. Also, many atheist (and god-believing, non religious folks) don't feel a need to fill a void in their life. It is possible to be perfectly happy without relying on a crutch.
As a life long resident of north Louisiana, I've spent my entire life enjoying nature. I love the natural wetlands, the trees, the animal life, and of course I want to see these things preserved for my children, and my children's children. However, I'm a long ways from torching Hummers, heck I'm seriously thinking about buying one (maybe two. The wife would look cute in a little H3). Some people have filled some void in their life's with environmentalism. For whatever reason, that is how they identify themselves. Other, I believe, truly are just interested in conservatism. There is nothing wrong with that. You are wrong to call the Church a crutch. The Church is a tool. It's purpose is divine. I don't buy into the "God fearing, non religious folk" statement. Believing in God is not enough...you must serve Him. Satan fears God, that does not make him righteous. And, no...you can not be "perfectly" happy without God. Those that say so don't really know what happiness is.
I agree with conservatism, as long as it is not taken to far. Environmentalism is taking conservatism wayyy to far. Many people use the church as a crutch. When in a tough situation, they turn to religion because they cannot handle a situation on their own. That is a crutch. The "god believing, non-religious folk" comment was the point - there's really no difference between them & atheist except that atheist chose to think instead of just going with the flow. My religious friends are no happier than I.
The Church, and God, are there to help. One of the beauties of the being a Christian is not ever having to face adversity alone. One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonging to him, and the other to the LORD. When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life. This really bothered him and he questioned the LORD about it: "LORD, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me." The LORD replied: "My son, my precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you." written by Mary Stevenson http://www.llerrah.com/footprints.htm In my life, there have been many trials, and there are certianly long distances over my path where there was only one set of footprints.
