opinions from environmentalists and pagans?

Question

i think environmentalism is a new rebirth of paganism, since it is all about making sacrifices to Gaia the godess of nature. I think it might be contrary to christian ideals. what is your opinion?

I used to feel really strongly about the environment, so much so that i recycled EVERYTHING, i refused to weed the garden because it was unnatural, and i decided not to learn to drive, regardless of how much that would limit my career and social life, because of the pollution. last year i became a christian and i started to feel very doubtful about environmentalism. i started to think, what does it matter if we preserve the earth for a world of atheists and heathens? aren't there more important matters?

Answer 1

Ummm, no not really. There are many christian enviromentalists. There are just as many pyscho nuts who seriously need to question themselves. And there are rabid enviromentalists who make Jehova Witnessess knocking at your door more seem like a welcoming occasion.

There are pagans who revere the earth but are by no means enviromentalists., or if they are don't try to force it down anyones throat.

But if you do run into the ones who wish to convert you or die, try explaining to them freedom of religion, of speech etc. Try reminding them that not everyone has to agree with them. Try explaining that really, you have a God and thank you but no thank you. Or don't open the door, without a frying pan to help you say no:)

Answer 2

If anyone was sacrificing to save the planet now a days it would be sacrificing our trash to be recycled. Virtually no person, outside the actual pagan religions, sacrifices anything anymore. And the only environmentalists out there that do are those who believe in pagan deities. Gaia has become a term for the "spirit" of the planet, yes at one time it was a Greek deity, but it has become modernized, i have heard a lot of people using the term. Anymore we aren't trying to save the earth, we are trying to save Gaia. It sounds ridiculous if you aren't pagan but that is the way it is now. Hope this helped
Brightest Blessing.

There may be more important matters, for me at the moment it is keeping my home and trying to find a job, that is my mundane life, but I also feel hurt when I see what people are doing to the planet. You may not care anymore but this is the only place we live for now. When the "end time" comes you may be taken up to heaven but what if that doesn't come in your lifetime and the air gets so bad from everyone like you not caring that everyone gets asthma in the heavily populated area. Look I know this question might be a thing to confirm or deny that what you are doing is good or bad, but the fact of the matter is the "end time" might not happen for years or decades. What happens when you have children and those children get sick from pollution, or what about people like me, I am pagan, if the bible is right I will be left behind and if the bible is right I am in for a very rough time, I accept that but I would rather people care for humanity then just themselves. I am not asking anyone to change their lives, you don't have to stop driving a car or stop creating pollution entirely and that is up to you. But, just pick up after yourself, turn the lights off in the rooms you aren't in and leave your computer on, it waists less energy that way. Think of the future children not of the pagans and heathens, think of the animals and the forests. That is why people recycle, not to save themselves or the people in their religion but for the world as a whole, for everyone.
Brightest Blessings.

Answer 3

Well, considering that there are good deal of scientists who are atheists that are spearheading the environmental movement, no, I don't think it's a new version of the pagan movement.

Then again, every plant I touch dies. A wiccan that can't keep a plant alive. There's breaking the mold for ya. I may not be the best expert on the subject.

Answer 4

Say what? Where is the sacrifice in making our planet have a future for mankind? If you think sacrificing your lifestyle that is consuming finite resources that our children may see run out in their lifetime is sacrifice you need a serious reality check.

As an atheist, I don't believe in Gaia, the god of the christians or any other deity. I do believe that my children have a right to live on this planet when I am gone, and to treat it responsibly.

If my children abused their belongings, I took the belongings away from them.

Answer 5

I think there are thousands of environmentalists, of all religions, and none, who would sharply disagree with you. Where on earth did you get that nonsense about making sacrifices to Gaia?
I think it might be a good idea if you were to read your own Christian New Testament for yourself. Then you may find that caring for your environment and everything in it, is a Christian responsibility too.

Answer 6

Reverse that. Paganism grew out of the environmental movement. Traditional religion doesn't teach respect for nature, so the nature lovers found one that did.

Answer 7

Environmentalism is not religious. Some folks might interpret their religious beliefs to mean that they should support environmentalism (for whatever reason), but the basis of environmentalism is just plain common sense - taking care of where you live.

Answer 8

Pagans have hardly ever been environmentally sound. It wasn't until its modern revival that environmentalism became an important aspect of the faith.

Answer 9

Makes sense... and all this gasoline is then a burnt offering to Yahweh?

Answer 10

i think ppl are too softheaded nowadays that anybody thinks they can just convert to buddhism, satanism....etc. from one minute to another, but whatever. nobody cares about them moneyless hippies.