Jeff Jarvis writes:In the new millennium, we are seeing not only the rise of environmentalism but also of environmental correctness. Like political correctness, weÂ’re bound to see this new green gospel — well worthy in its origins — being taken……

I draw a firm distinction between a belief in a higher power, a supreme/divine creative force, and being ‘religious.’

I do not attend church, nor do I support any clergy. I am, however, a very religious person, in the spiritual sense of the word (and I’m not talking about being some NewAge Gaia devotee or anything like that.) I get more out of hiking through the redwoods than attending services, although those can be nice, too.

I generally don’t go into discussion on the subject of religion, however, owing to my views on ‘organized’ religion. In its organized form, it’s near the top of the list for the supression of the advancement of scientific knowlege and social growth in civilization. Yes, the monks kept the writings of the Greeks and the Romans alive, but there’s not much you can say in favor of an organization (the Catholic Church, for example) that didn’t get around to apologizing for what it did to Galileo until the 1980’s - hey, thanks, guys, really! -

In the middle ages it did more to suppress the serfs than to spread knowlege. The examples set by the modern day Mental Minority live up to the same high standards set by the medieval institution they claim to have supplanted. The fact that our current appointed corporate hood-ornament in the oval office happens to wrap himself in pages of the Bible hasn’t exactly done much for my appreciation of ‘organized’ religion, either…hypocrite though he may be.

In other words…don’t get me STARTED…

I noticed you didn’t say you were religious. Shocker.

For CaptiousNut:
I’m a major environmentalist, married, and relatively happy. You need to move to a new area…try Portland…

For hepzeeba:
• EVERYTHING about Enron was crooked - even their LOGO.
• The concept of selling carbon credits to worse offenders is sheer idiocy, agreed.
• The Green Movement can’t do much to alleviate environmental issues in the face of manifest corporate greed - who holds the money controls the military. Who could possibly object to making the earth better for our children and grandchildren? Anyone heavily invested in Petroleum or the big three automakers. The apparent logic here seems to be “I’ll get mine, and screw the kids.”

If you think the whole green movement is being taken too seriously, Jeff, perhaps you should read THIS:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070430134319.htm

No time like the present to get started…unless it’s too LATE, that is….

The notion of offsetting your carbon footprint sounds like good old-fashioned American snake oil: salve your conscience by paying a sin tax, and sleep well at night.

Meantime, while the green movement fails to do anything concrete to alleviate environmental issues, it may indeed make big inroads against those of us who love our freedom (and believe in exercising it responsibly, like good citizens). It’s the perfect issue for demagogues. After all, who could possibly object to making the earth better for our children and grandchildren?

Coincidence?

I think not.