Environmentalism in the Post-Christian West
"Environmentalism [is] a substitute for religion," writes Stephen T. Asma, explaining, "Instead of religious sins plaguing our conscience, we now have the transgressions of leaving the water running, leaving the lights on, failing to recycle, and using plastic grocery bags instead of paper" — Green Guilt.
Labels: Ecology, Philosophy, Religion
4 Comments:
So how does that fit with the previous post?
If Roman Pope Benedict is right, those are "religious" sins. Though I have my doubts when one earnest young Dutch Reformed minister describes recycling as a sacrament.
As an unrepentant American, I'd resort to Walt Whitman: "Do I contradict myself? Very well then I contradict myself, (I am large, I contain multitudes.)"
But more seriously, I'd say that the venial/mortal distinction is all-important here.
At least the guy you quoted was alert enough to phrase his attack in away that did not call environmentalism a "religion." I am always amused by religious folks who attack something like environmentalism or atheism as a "religion". It's like they recognie the inherent insanity of their views, but cannot bring themselves to accept that fact, so they try to brand their betters through the projection of nonsense.
Environmentalism is a socially acceptable way to hate poor people. The uppercrust in our society pay too much lip service to egalitarianism to openly scorn the poor and working-class; environmentalism gives them an excuse to look down upon people who can't afford to make the lifestyle changes demanded by environmentalism.
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