Does Mormonism affect how we treat our enviroment?
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Does Mormonism affect how we treat our enviroment?
Growing up as a TBM I was never concerned about the environment or the earth for that matter. Sure I didn't like all the smog in the air and it would be great to get rid of it but I was never concerned about the long term affects of what mankind would have on the earth. These were the last days and many people in their patriartical blessing said that they would be alive when Christ comes back. Growing up in Utah my whole life you would only see recycle bins for newspapers here and there and people would only recycle aluminum cans to try and get a few extra bucks. It was a pretty big shock when I went to California on my mission and everybody actually had recycling bins that they would also put out with their garage. It was a foreign concept to me and I thought it was a lot of useless extra work because Jesus was coming pretty soon anyway. Why try and save the environment when the whole world was going to be destroyed in less than 100 years. This kind of thinking did not just stop at recycling but Oil and other things. I figured the 2nd coming would happen before the oil wells dried up. We might as well get the most out of these resources while we can.
Now that I am no longer a believer, my entire outlook has changed. There still might be a God but who knows when the last days will be or even if there will be "last days". What if we have to stick it out on this planet for another 10,000 years or so or more? I am now actually concerned on what effect that we as humans have had on the earth and how we might be able to correct a few things.
Anybody else have similar thoughts when they were TBM?
Now that I am no longer a believer, my entire outlook has changed. There still might be a God but who knows when the last days will be or even if there will be "last days". What if we have to stick it out on this planet for another 10,000 years or so or more? I am now actually concerned on what effect that we as humans have had on the earth and how we might be able to correct a few things.
Anybody else have similar thoughts when they were TBM?
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Absolutly... not just Mormonism but anyone who believes some otherwordly being is going to return shortly to celestialize the earth, remove all evil, and save the believers.
I think this is one of the most damaging beliefs currently existing on our planet.
The reality is, folks have believed the end of the world was in their lifetime for the past two thousand years.
It may be all true ... who knows... but holding the idea is exactly what is thwarting any efforts to change the world.
If we all realized that if the world is going to be saved, it is WE that will be doing the saving, we will have a chance.
So long as we hold to the idea that someone else is going to make it all find and dandy, I do not think humankind will find the creativity, strength, and motivation to overcome the challenges we currently face.
My hope is that enough people will wake up and realize the fate of humankind rests on us.
Great thread!
~dancer~
I think this is one of the most damaging beliefs currently existing on our planet.
The reality is, folks have believed the end of the world was in their lifetime for the past two thousand years.
It may be all true ... who knows... but holding the idea is exactly what is thwarting any efforts to change the world.
If we all realized that if the world is going to be saved, it is WE that will be doing the saving, we will have a chance.
So long as we hold to the idea that someone else is going to make it all find and dandy, I do not think humankind will find the creativity, strength, and motivation to overcome the challenges we currently face.
My hope is that enough people will wake up and realize the fate of humankind rests on us.
Great thread!
~dancer~
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I feel exactly the way you do Rank&File.
Gotta wonder if there's some correlation here:
Conservative---Religious---Don't give a crap about the environment
Liberal---Not so religious---Environmentalist
Are there any examples in politics that don't follow this pattern?
Gotta wonder if there's some correlation here:
Conservative---Religious---Don't give a crap about the environment
Liberal---Not so religious---Environmentalist
Are there any examples in politics that don't follow this pattern?
WK: "Joseph Smith asserted that the Book of Mormon peoples were the original inhabitants of the americas"
Will Schryver: "No, he didn’t." 3/19/08
Still waiting for Will to back this up...
Will Schryver: "No, he didn’t." 3/19/08
Still waiting for Will to back this up...
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The other belief that plays into this is this "not caring about our planet" idea is the thought that the world was created for us... it is ours to use as we wish. It separates us from our world and the reality of what is really going on!
:-(
While this topic has worked its way into politics... I think it is more of a moral/ethical issue. It should have nothing whatsoever to do with one's religion or political beliefs.
The reality is we are harming our world and we need to stop it!
~dancer~
:-(
While this topic has worked its way into politics... I think it is more of a moral/ethical issue. It should have nothing whatsoever to do with one's religion or political beliefs.
The reality is we are harming our world and we need to stop it!
~dancer~
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truth dancer wrote:Absolutly... not just Mormonism but anyone who believes some otherwordly being is going to return shortly to celestialize the earth, remove all evil, and save the believers.
~dancer~
I agree with you. For the past year I have been attending a non denominational Bible church and many of them talk about how the Bible is almost fulfilled and that the end may be near. Of course they don't teach "use all the resources you can" but naturally if people think that these are truly the last days, saving our planet is not going to be very high on the list.
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From what I understand, American Jews are going to return to Jerusalem, with their money, to rebuild the Temple there before the second coming.
I think its going to be a while before he comes back.
Also God gave the dominion, and caretaking, of earth to Adam. This is shown in the fact that Adam had to name everything. That means we inherit that caretaking responsibility. But that also means we should have a sensible balance. Those kookie hippie girls need to climb down out of the tree and shave their legs.
I think its going to be a while before he comes back.
Also God gave the dominion, and caretaking, of earth to Adam. This is shown in the fact that Adam had to name everything. That means we inherit that caretaking responsibility. But that also means we should have a sensible balance. Those kookie hippie girls need to climb down out of the tree and shave their legs.
We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light. - Plato
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Gazelam wrote:From what I understand, American Jews are going to return to Jerusalem, with their money, to rebuild the Temple there before the second coming.
I think its going to be a while before he comes back.
Also God gave the dominion, and caretaking, of earth to Adam. This is shown in the fact that Adam had to name everything. That means we inherit that caretaking responsibility. But that also means we should have a sensible balance. Those kookie hippie girls need to climb down out of the tree and shave their legs.
Was Gaz beaten by a hippy woman? Maybe a hippy whore?
Because you sure do seem to have it in for anyone female.
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Bryan Inks wrote:Gazelam wrote:From what I understand, American Jews are going to return to Jerusalem, with their money, to rebuild the Temple there before the second coming.
I think its going to be a while before he comes back.
Also God gave the dominion, and caretaking, of earth to Adam. This is shown in the fact that Adam had to name everything. That means we inherit that caretaking responsibility. But that also means we should have a sensible balance. Those kookie hippie girls need to climb down out of the tree and shave their legs.
Was Gaz beaten by a hippy woman? Maybe a hippy whore?
Because you sure do seem to have it in for anyone female.
I noticed that too. You forgot the soccer Mom's. What's up with that, Gaz?
Jersey Girl
Failure is not falling down but refusing to get up.
Chinese Proverb
Chinese Proverb
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Hah.
Well, I hadent noticed I did that. But then, I don't see any guys hanging from trees trying to save the enviorment. I gueess those guys are too busy in the colleges indoctrinateing our kids with that garbage.
I'll go talk to Wade and see if he can diagnose why I bring up women in my posts. Maybe I have a slight oedipus complex or something. Or maybe women talking a problem to death as opposed to men just solveing a problem is something I notice.
Well, I hadent noticed I did that. But then, I don't see any guys hanging from trees trying to save the enviorment. I gueess those guys are too busy in the colleges indoctrinateing our kids with that garbage.
I'll go talk to Wade and see if he can diagnose why I bring up women in my posts. Maybe I have a slight oedipus complex or something. Or maybe women talking a problem to death as opposed to men just solveing a problem is something I notice.
We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light. - Plato