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Today is Earth Day
- Thread starter Salty
- Start date
We typically set up an altar to Mother Earth, chant as we dance naked around a small fire in the local state park.
As freedom of religion in the US excludes human sacrifice we use a pinata (usually fashioned in the shape of Mel Brooks to bring a level of seriousness to the event).
Basically, its a traditional Baptist Earth Day ritual.
As freedom of religion in the US excludes human sacrifice we use a pinata (usually fashioned in the shape of Mel Brooks to bring a level of seriousness to the event).
Basically, its a traditional Baptist Earth Day ritual.
Ascetic X
Well-Known Member
Christians should be at the forefront of Earth Day celebrations, since we know the One who created the earth.
Churches do special things for Mothers Day and Fathers Day, but not all moms and dads have been good to their children. Some parents have even tried to stop their children from following Jesus.
But the planet Earth is our home that God gave us and we could not live without it. Ungodly individuals and corporations have defiled, polluted, geo-engineered, and exploited it, so Christians should be good stewards of our planet and be enthusiastic about honoring it.
Churches do special things for Mothers Day and Fathers Day, but not all moms and dads have been good to their children. Some parents have even tried to stop their children from following Jesus.
But the planet Earth is our home that God gave us and we could not live without it. Ungodly individuals and corporations have defiled, polluted, geo-engineered, and exploited it, so Christians should be good stewards of our planet and be enthusiastic about honoring it.
But are people honoring the Lord - or seeing Mother Earth as a god?
Ascetic X
Well-Known Member
The Christians will be celebrating the earth as a creation of God. What non-Christian’s do is beyond our control.
Unbelievers put rabbits and candy into Easter, while Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.
Unbelievers put Santa Claus and mistletoe into Christmas, while Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus.
Many Christians also put rabbits into Easter and Santa into Christmas.
Ben1445
Well-Known Member
A quick question for all the Santa Claus haters, what would you think if I told you that after a few hundred years, people would remember the good things that you did for people, but Christians, whose name is called after the Person you have been serving, will rearrange the letters in your name and call you Satan.
(The details in this scenario are not corroborated. As far as I can tell, there is no consensus on the original “Santa Claus.” But as I see it, a big deal is made out of a small matter. If anyone, legend details excluded, is such a nice person that they are accused of being another “fake” Christ, would you say that the original person did a good job? He is so much like Christ that people think he is too like Christ. And I have never heard of him claiming to be Christ, so you can’t fault him for what other people think about him.)
Just a thought. A bit of perspective. I don’t say either that the majority has the best understanding of Santa either. Just a thought that the guy himself has been dead and doesn’t seem to be worth all the trouble he gets.
Maybe this is deep enough for a new thread. I don’t know.
Happy earth day if you like.
(The details in this scenario are not corroborated. As far as I can tell, there is no consensus on the original “Santa Claus.” But as I see it, a big deal is made out of a small matter. If anyone, legend details excluded, is such a nice person that they are accused of being another “fake” Christ, would you say that the original person did a good job? He is so much like Christ that people think he is too like Christ. And I have never heard of him claiming to be Christ, so you can’t fault him for what other people think about him.)
Just a thought. A bit of perspective. I don’t say either that the majority has the best understanding of Santa either. Just a thought that the guy himself has been dead and doesn’t seem to be worth all the trouble he gets.
Maybe this is deep enough for a new thread. I don’t know.
Happy earth day if you like.
Yes, Ben, I think it is deep enough for a new thread - Please do so
Even if Christmas (if that's what we should call it) - on 25 Dec is a full 246 day away!
But if Christ was really born in Oct - should we celebrate his birthday in Dec?
But in Chronological Bible - the Bible chart (pg 49) shows that Christ was born on 1 Apr 5 BC.
(see my post on the Chronological Bible)
Ascetic X
Well-Known Member
The whole Santa Claus myth, making toys in his North Pole workshop, magical sleigh pulled by flying reindeer, coming down the chimney, etc. has obscured the celebration of the birth of Christ on December 25. It has also obscured the true story of St. Nicholas. I wish it had never appeared to fool gullible children.
So we should NEVER read any fairy tales to our kids
Ben1445
Well-Known Member
And so much obscurity around the fact that Jesus created all things for Himself.
Christmas and Earth Day appear to have the same issue. Both have the potential to celebrate something that is not based in fact. So many different stories about where the earth came from.
Is the same standard applied to both holidays?
But honestly, this has been the first year that I have remembered earth day before June.
Ascetic X
Well-Known Member
Fairy tales and myths that obscure or replace the truth of Christ’s birth and His resurrection are not edifying for kids.
Ascetic X
Well-Known Member
Earth Day was founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson and first held on April 22, 1970, to protest environmental degradation following a massive 1969 California oil spill. Inspired by student anti-war "teach-ins," it mobilized 20 million Americans, leading to landmark environmental laws to protect the environment.
Groups that had been fighting individually against oil spills, polluting factories and power plants, raw sewage, toxic dumps, pesticides, freeways, the loss of wilderness and the extinction of wildlife united on Earth Day around these shared common values. Earth Day 1970 achieved a rare political alignment, enlisting support from Republicans and Democrats, rich and poor, urban dwellers and farmers, business and labor leaders.
By the end of 1970, the first Earth Day led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of other first-of-their-kind environmental laws, including the National Environmental Education Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and the Clean Air Act. Two years later congress passed the Clean Water Act.
Ascetic X
Well-Known Member
Hundreds of years we lived without oil spills, factory smoke, chemicals dumped into rivers, toxins released into the air. The Industrial Revolution began the pollution of earth.
Is it okay for corporations and factories to pollute the air and water?
Without government regulation, they will poison us and not care.
Ben1445
Well-Known Member
We had courts before the EPA.
We still have them.
People need to present their cases with damages.
Are there unjust judges? Yes.
But one more government agency hasn’t cured anything.
They can’t actually not care what happens to their customer base or their workers.
At some point word gets around and the ambulance chasers arrive.
Government is not the answer. Government should be about stopping people who are hurting people, not stopping anyone from ever getting hurt.
I could fall down today on the sidewalk. The government should regulate softer walks or people will fall and get hurt and nobody will care.
In other words, where do you draw the line between legitimate concerns and overreach.
Depending on perception, the folks in CA affected by the fires are probably tired of too much. There are some others who are afraid there is not enough.
Right now, and on a case by case basis, the government is doing more harm by over regulating than if they did nothing.
Ascetic X
Well-Known Member
I agree that government bureaucrats can be uncaring and just implementing political agendas disguised as conservation of the environment.
But look at lead in the water in Flint, Michigan. Government may have still not corrected the problem, but water companies see no profit in replacing lead pipes with safer pipes.
Big Pharma is an example of not caring about human life. They push dangerous medications and ridicule natural remedies. Their vaccines have legal immunity from responsibility for catastrophic side effects. They do not regulate themselves.
Companies do not care about human lives or the environment. They care about profit. Government is the only entity that can force a company to be ethical. Yet government is often corrupt and power hungry. We need to pray that righteous individuals will enter government as neither socialists or mammonists, but as caretakers of health and good stewards of the environment.
Ben1445
Well-Known Member
Public utilities and pharmaceuticals are some of the most regulated industries. It doesn’t seem to help. Sometimes the illusion of a potential solution is enough to ease the conscience. In other words, it is the government’s responsibility to protect us now I have someone to blame for my problems.
If the government has to come up with a “right to try” solution for the ability to give a doctor license to treat, the government is tripping over itself.
We could do without all the government red tape.
There is nothing that will change my mind on this. Good and bad happens no matter what extent of responsibility the government takes from you.
My difficulty with government is that it is less responsible and more powerful. That’s like giving your drag racing car to a 13 yr old.
If the government has to come up with a “right to try” solution for the ability to give a doctor license to treat, the government is tripping over itself.
We could do without all the government red tape.
There is nothing that will change my mind on this. Good and bad happens no matter what extent of responsibility the government takes from you.
My difficulty with government is that it is less responsible and more powerful. That’s like giving your drag racing car to a 13 yr old.