Environmentalism - Religion for Progressives
Mon January 6th, 2003 18:08 MSTModern environmentalism has the fundamental characteristics of an animist religion.
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Earth is Sacred; Man is Evil
A number of leading environmentalists have, in the past, stated that it would be better if a plague/war/whatever greatly reduced the population of mankind (or eliminated man). Although this is rarely stated outside of environmental councils, the viewpoint is consistent with the actions of the more extreme environmentalists, and again shows an obeisance to the earth as a religious object.
Hierarchy of Worshipped Icons
Within the range of natural objects to be worshipped is a hierarchy. For example, fur bearing animals are worshipped and protected more vigorously than mosquitos. Dolphins are more protected than sharks. An environmental extremist recently murdered a dutch political leader in the name of this worship.
Ritual Activities
Ritual activities are thought to bring benefits. For example, the eating of “organic” foods is expected to reduce disease, and is defended with the vigor of a religious fanatic rather than with science.
Perversion of Science
Science is perverted to the aims of the religion. The anti-chlorine movement is no more scientific than is “scientific creationism.” It is a grossly exaggerated belief that “non-natural” chemicals are somehow evil compared to “natural” ones.
Tokens of Evil
Some objects are invested with the mantle of evil. For example, much of the environmental movement *believes* that nuclear power is evil, even though rational analysis shows that nuclear power actually could be a major weapon against environmentalism’s current biggest demon: global warming. “Chemicals” are *evil*. Large automobiles are *evil* (as are their drivers).
Centralized Immortal Organizations
Many environmental organizations have taken on a life of their own (see Laws of Bureaucracy). They must continually discover and exaggerate environmental fears in order to maintain their power and get funding. Is this any different from some Americal television ministries?
Regressive and Nativist
As is typical with many fundamentalist religions, environmentalism is regressive. Its adherents want a return to a more simplistic lifestyle. They imagine that man would be better of without technology, and in the most extreme, advocate a return to the type of existence which lead to the extinction of most large mammals in the northern hemisphere at the end of the last ice age: hunter-gatherer “in tune with nature.”
Environmentalism is NOT Conservationism
Environmentalist goals cannot be clearly stated in terms of benefit to man, but rather are constantly articulated in terms of “protecting the environment” or not “despoiling the earth” and similar terms.
It differs from conservationism in this regard. Conservationism seeks to preserve some natural environment in order to make it available to future generations of man. But the modern environmental movement obstructs all human material progress in the name of honoring its gods.
Environmental Spiritualism
Environmentalism is spiritual. Its worshippers experience spiritual “cleansing” by engaging in its activities. It is emotional, as indicated by the large amount of energy they devote to it and the irrationality of many of their positions. With its attendant lifestyle promises of extended and better life, and its spirituality, community and emotional relief, it replaces religion for its mostly “non religious” followers.
This is the most overlooked fact about the enviromental movement. There are 2 theories of environmentalism: deep ecology (DE) and shallow ecology (SE). About 99% of the people on earth are SE. They want clean air to breath and clean water to drink. It’s hard to argue with that. On the other hand, DE want clean air and water, too, but not for people to breath or drink. They want it for the sake of the environment itself. This is an important distinction, and is the basis of their religion. It’s interesting, too that the theme of your website is “useful fools”. If you examine the power structure of the environmental movement, the foot soldiers are SE, whereas the leaders are DE. Conservatives and libertarians tend to dismiss DE as kooks. We need to get serious and pay a lot more attention to this.
This is especialy true amounsts many new agers in the pagan enviromental movment since many worship false dieties like GAIA and consiter it sacraligous to cut down trees unless they say goofy new age stanzas over them and even that ding-bat JULIA(BUTTERFLY)HILL has been into this new age movment the fact she named the tree she sat in for two years LUNA the pagan goddess of the moon and the facts are the RACHEAL CARSON lied the facts were that DDT wasnt harming the birds as she claimed in her book SILENT SPRING and AL GORE is into this new age mevment eco-crack pot sceintist JAMES LOVELOCK wrote the kookie book GAIAS REVENGE and many in the UN want to make EARTH WORSHIP into a practiced religion the AZTECS were earth worshippers who commited bloody cts of human sacrifice and that HITLER was into the new age enviromental movment as well
A few years ago TIME named enviromental radical PAUL WATSON as a HERO OF THE PLANET Yeah lieave it to a left-wing rag like TIME to blouster and enviromental extremists but it should be noted that TIME once named ADOLPH HITLER was their MAN OF THE YEAR back in 1938