Be Fruitful and Multiply -- Deny Planetary Consequences... How can I not hate these people?

Question

I am an environmentalist and agnostic, but I come from a family of V-8 driving, 12 kid having, non-recycling, anti-environmentalist, fundamentalist christian rite-wing nut-jobs.

I believe in tolerance, so at family gatherings I always try to avoid the topics of the environment and religion, but inevitably they pick a fight with me. It goes something like this:

"God told us to be fruitful and multiply to replenish the earth, and god can't be wrong, so if you think there is a population problem you are brainwashed by the liberal-environmentalist agenda"
"We should just burn all the plastic if it doesn't decompose"
"The world is cleaner now than it was before because humans use machines to clean it up and develop the wilderness into useful land as god intended"
"It doesn't matter because god is going to cleanse the world with fire and take us all to heaven before the world is destroyed"

ON, and On, and on the ignorance flows until I can't take it. How can I NOT hate them?!

Answer 1

That is one of the problems Humanity seems unwilling to face that they MUST address. Over the centuries, your planet was a curious place to visit once or twice and was not considered very interesting . Sure, your wars showed us how undeveloped you are as a species. Your infantile,(in cosmic terms) dependence on god concepts does not bode well for you and neither does your penchant to breed beyond your planet's ability to sustain you. We are now showing an interest in you because it is not often that we get to observe a species commit suicide. You are so close to maturing as a sentient species and it will be a shame to see you kill yourselves. There are just not enough of you becoming rational enough to force the issue. You let the least among you determine your fate, so be it.

Answer 2

hmmm... normally I would not answer a question like this because I wonder if you would listen. I am a right wing nut job as you put it...but, I have another perspective on this for you. Perhaps this will help you to deal with how your family comes at you.
1. God said..."Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it"...etcetera..:
"fill the earth" has obviously been left out of the quote to you...it is found in Genesis 1:28.
Is the earth full? Some might say...we are around in every part of the globe...so, I think we have the choice to slow down now.
2. Our first job on this planet? We were to care for the earth - as gardeners and caretakers of the wildlife... so does that mean we are to waste and reek havoc on the earth? ABSOLUTLY NOT!!!

Hate them? I think you can hate what someone believes...but to hate the person? Is that grateful? Did not your parents raise you and feed and clothe you? Is this how you would repay them? By hating them?

An agnostic, as I understand believes that their is a God, just one that does not care. I heartily disagree...God cares far more than any of us cares... we are bloodthirsty peoples...more interested in our own ideas and hatefullness than that of what our Creator deems important. However, we are not robots...God gave us free will and choice.

Your family's choices will have consequences...and you are quick to see them. They are quick to point consquences out to you...and, your response is one of hatred. Think about it. Hatred.

Hate is a very strong word.

Answer 3

I feel for you...this year, the police had to remove my ranting, Orthodox Catholic mother from my Secular Humanist home.

You have chosen environmentalism and agnosticism. Can you not choose also how you will deal with this situation? As an intelligent person, you know that hatred is counterproductive and that the stress of these gatherings is unhealthy for you. You can either relax and let it go, or avoid the gatherings, but you can't change them.

Answer 4

Eh. I hardly ever call anyone arrogant or ignorant. I'd be more careful with your insults. But, if it is as you describe, it's pretty rude for them to say things like that, just because they know it will offend you. My best advice, just smile and act like you agree. It will piss them off more, and they'll try it a few more times, but then just give up. It's kinda hard to do at first, but it will be better in the end. I'm..probably what you'd call a right-wing fundie-nut job, so you might not want to take it from me. I hope this helps though, God bless!!

Answer 5

This is silly really... I know many Christian environtmentalists and Agnostic/Atheists who drive SUVS. Last I checked Atheists and Agnostics also have children and own Environmentally Unfriendly companies too.... as a matter of fact, I live close to Dupont which is one of the biggest chemical companies in the country and the Duponts are not Christian and have TONS of kids lol

Answer 6

Hello!! :o) I appreciate WHY you feel the way you do. But try not to be a hypocrite [And I say that respectfully] "How can I not hate them?" - you ask? Because TO hate them would mean that you have become LIKE them. You are frustrated - are you not - by THEIR HATRED of our planet. Of THEIR lack of respect for nature and of what you perceive to be THEIR ignorance of the importance of having respect for such things. Rise above that. And the next time they share their OPINION regarding how it doesn't matter how 'we' treat the world - remind them that the world itself is a GIFT from God and how likely it is that God would not be pleased with the lack of respect many of us have for the gift He has given us. [Just as we would be upset if a gift we gave someone was tossed aside and treated as if it were garbage] MERRY CHRISTMAS!! Craig!! :o)

Answer 7

so according to you men like Darwin, Beethoven and many others who were 6th 7th and 8th children in there family's should never have been born?

while its true we should conserve that dose not mean there should be population restrictions. There is enough food produced today to feed everyone on Earth. The only reason why people starve is because politics get in the way.

about 2% of the Earths surface is urbanized.

and you call this a crisis?

Humanity is always learning and discovering. If we stop growth that will only impede that.

All you need is one scientist to invent something that can feed a million people.

We are nowhere near a population crisis as you call it.

Answer 8

What good we do, we claim to be from our wisdom. What wrong occurs around, we blame other people or blame God. Is that a rational or mature attitude?
Who cause the deterioration of the environment? Who cause the wide gap between the rich and the poor? Who establish the bad system of world governing? It is I and you. I am trying to learn, I am trying to remedy my ignorance. I don't think it is correct to blame anyone besides myself. I don't blame you, the word you mentioning here, only because you blame other people whom you consider to be ignorant.

Answer 9

I wouldn't burn the plastic but....there's more trees today than there was 100 years ago, more available resources, average worldwide standard of living is increasing, people are generally healthier than at any time in history and the average lifespan keeps increasing and increasing. And most REAL scientists think Al Gore is waaaaay out of his depth on the global warming issue.

Yes, I know it's painful torture for some people to hear that things could actually be worse but you'll have to get used to it.

Answer 10

It's really something how children rebel against their parents and keep repeating the cycle through their generations so when yours rebel against you they will likely be Christians. They will be seeking an environment of true unconditional love. You want to control others it seems. How hate filled of you to blame all the world's ills on Christians, who by the way are instructed to be good stewards of what God has given us. Sounds like you need to take your hatred of your family elsewhere because not all Christians are like them. Deal with it in counseling please. You don't have a correct view of God, who created this universe in the first place so until you quit hiding behind your anti-Christian beliefs as an excuse for all your anger and hatred towards your family, you aren't interested in knowing Him are you? When you get to that place, you might be able to understand reasoning and what the true love of God feels like in your life, at least I hope you get there one day.