I think that this is overstated in the sense that Christian teachings do not advocate the destruction of nature per se. However, when the early church walked away from the Laws found within Torah, it also walked away from the environmental Laws found there. Let me give just one example.

Under halacha, one cannot destroy a fruiting tree that feeds either people or animals. However, if there's simply no choice but to do so, halacha states that two fruiting trees must be planted to replace the one, and that any animals/people that were originally fed by the one cut down must be fed until the new trees mature to the point of picking up the slack. This is one reason why in Jewish custom today most Jews will plant a tree or have one or more planted when a loved one dies.

Because there are provisions in Torah dealing with the protection of the environment, including provisions dealing with animals, there has been a concern dealing with both. But when Christians abandoned those provisions, there was nothing to stop some of them from raping the environment. Fortunately many Christians in more recent decades have realized that the environment does needs protection, and that includes a growing number of fundamentalists.

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"The further the spiritual evolution of mankind advances, the more certain it seems to me that the path to genuine religiosity does not lie through the fear of life, and the fear of death, and blind faith, but through striving after rational knowledge."-- Einstein

Amergin wrote:

I find churches boring. The benches are uncomfortable and the hymns are irritating. Perhaps that is why over a third of our churches have been converted into architectural history sites, mini-malls, banks, libraries, offices, and ritzy apartments.

My reply:

I sympathize... But heard some of the benches were uncomfortable so as to keep you (not you personally) awake.. Probably nowadays many are very comfortable to allow for long services... yeck.

Hymns irritating.. I suppose for some yep. What though would you consider to be an "irritating hymn"? I'm just interested because most hymns when I went to church were the same ones ..more like a sedative than say an irritant.

Now the later part seems pretty cool.. Probably a lot of older churches especially in the inner city have been abandoned at least around where I live because they've built newer structures elsewhere. But I'd like to know more about converting a church into a "ritzy apartment"... now that I gotta see!

- Art

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"it benefits us to be thoughtful, not of the glory of our minds, but rather, above all else, of the glory of God."
- Johannes Kepler

One does not need to be kneeling in the typical prayer stance to actually be 'praying'.

And prayer is a personal thing, I often lay out on giant boulders and rock outcroppings, soaking up the sun. I have been known to lay out in fields staring at stars. Walking through the woods, alone or with my husband and the dogs can be a form of meditation, think of all those new age CDs with waterfalls, whales, rain, waves, and birds on them.

I don't have to be wearing a big sign that says "Hey! I am prayin' here!"

And because I am not, does that make my prayers any less valuable than those said in your local synagogue, mosque, or church?

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- Wisdom comes when you stop looking for it. -
"If God were alive today, he'd be an atheist" - Kurt Vonnegut

Please visit my foster dog blog: The Colbert Report.

When I was younger, one year instead of going to sunrise Easter service we went camping. Very strange I have to tell you as my foster family was very strict Southern Baptists so I really don't know what caused the change of heart this year and it was never repeated. But I was struck at that age when walking through a pine forest Easter morning how beautiful and peaceful the world was. And thinking the pine branches were the roof of my place of worship and the wind through the pine branches which really is alot of silence mostly, was the music. It was really the most moving feeling for me I can't explain it and I don't know that I have ever felt closer to the Creator then I did that morning.

And Wendy, I agree completely. For me sometimes prayer is just contemplation and even my mind is silent.

One of my mothers friends lives in what used to be a Presbyterian church. It was converted to senior living apts. She apparently lives on the second floor.

I haven't been inside, but my mother says it is very nice.

My sister also at one point lived in a building that used to be an elementary school =]

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- Wisdom comes when you stop looking for it. -
"If God were alive today, he'd be an atheist" - Kurt Vonnegut

Please visit my foster dog blog: The Colbert Report.

Wendy, I may have asked you this before (I honestly can't remember-- must be an age thingy), but do you practice any of the traditions of the elders (Indian elders, I mean)? As I may have mentioned to you before (another continuation of my age-thingy problem ), I was not brought up in that tradition even though I'm a Me'tis. In the last decade or so, I've come around to appreciate much of the wisdom found within, and I'm amazed how much is compatible with Hindu and Buddhist teachings. Maybe I shouldn't have been so amazed since they derive from pretty much similar sources it appears.

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"The further the spiritual evolution of mankind advances, the more certain it seems to me that the path to genuine religiosity does not lie through the fear of life, and the fear of death, and blind faith, but through striving after rational knowledge."-- Einstein