Dear Ecolady,
I'm so tired of this relentless talk of how good christianity is and how we all
should embrace spirituality, etc. Isn't it obvious that you are attempting to
assert your (religious) superiority over the rest of us on this list? If you
really believe in working for equality, try respecting that many of us do not need
religion in our lives to be doing good work for environmental and social causes.
In response to your spiel on dominion: The whole concept of dominion has been used
to justify countless acts of violence against nature, women, people of color, and
gay people. It gives everyone "in God's image" (i.e. white men) the power to
control everything and everyone else. Time and again ecofeminists have
demonstrated that hierarchical thinking (like "god is charge of everything") is
the major cause of oppression in the world today (see Carolyn Merchant, Karen
Warren, Rosemary Ruether, and many more) I find absolutely no solace in the
prospect of embracing christianity to solve ecological or social problems. Plus,
your rhetoric consistently smacks of cultural imperialism, another source of the
world's major problems.
Beth
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> In a message dated 98-12-02 22:26:10 EST, you write:
>
> << This is just a passing thought. so it might be something to be ignored.)
> The core of most
> religion actually
> is based on the concept of domination in some ways, because god dominates
> us. a power greater than ourselves. true people recognize spirit/god
> within themselves, but i think a lot of people view god as a force
> dominant over them. So if dominance as an act of god, why would people
> want to diminish it?
> >>
> Hi!
>
> Here I go again. Sorry but I have to clear up this one issue of dominion - it
> seems to keep coming up:
>
> Dictionaries definition of dominion: the power to rule, territory governed.
>
> Ok, follow this:
>
> God says we have dominion over the beasts and the trees, etc.
>
> Which means we have "the power to rule." We have the power to rule! We have
> a choice we can be good rulers or bad rulers - so God sent an example of good
> rule in the form of his son, Jesus - Jesus ruled with truth and grace - he
> treated others as he would be treated - he was not arrogant or full of self-
> pride, he was kind, tenderhearted, merciful (IN God's image) - this IS how
> God wants us to rule - In other words God loves us so much they he gave us
> this religion - He gave us this choice. and Holy Spirit to help us rule -
> praise him for his glory - doesn't want us to destroy each other but LOVE EACH
> OTHER in the light of that love- The bible does say that!
> How can we interpret that to mean treat each other with disrespect and
> inequity - and destroy the Earth? It's all how you look at it!
>
> If Jesus were here today to teach spirituality - not the religion Christianity
> based on spirituality - I think he would say - Reverance for Life - that is
> the one true religion. Love, Honor and hold in esteem all Life and the Creator
> of Life with the Spirit and all the Angels, the Saints - our ancestors - In
> other words all that is seen and unseen - It's all here! In you and around
> you and a part of who you can be to your fullness in humanity.
>
> It is really up to us how we decide to rule or govern - ourselves, the
> animals, the plants, the birds, etc. - if we are wise (as God gave us brains
> to be) we rule like Jesus with mercy, tenderheart, kindness, love, maturity,
> forgiveness, trust . . . .
> or we can rule like arrogant, cruel, little disobedient brainless wonders (as
> witnessed by the eco-crisis)!
>
> Peace!
> Angela
