Christian Perspectives on Peak Oil

Ludi

Here's a good quote for me:

2 P 3:9

" The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (KJV)

God's will be done.
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clueless

Ludi

Thank you, clueless. I accept the apology.
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Gandalf_the_White · Intermediate Crude Joined: Nov 21, 2007 Posts: 511

Ibon · Last edited by Ibon on Sat Apr 19, 2008 5:51 pm; edited 1 time in total

BigTex

Fredrik

According to a recent study, the percentages of people outside churches who describe Christians with the following words are:

* antihomosexual 91%
* judgmental 87%
* hypocritical 85%
* old-fashioned 78%
* too political 75% (=too right-wing?)
* out of touch with reality 72%
* insensitive to others 70%
* boring 68%

It would be nice to know how much of these attitudes are caused by the message and how much by some Christians' arrogance and lack of consideration in their interaction with non-believers.
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"A devastating error is to set up a political system based on [individual] desire... the best dictatorship would be one where the government prevents any economical growth."
"Only scarcity and effort make life worth living."
-Pentti Linkola

threadbear · Expert Joined: Jan 22, 2005 Posts: 7476

Big Tex, Yes, respect THEIR beliefs. Well said.

Is Peak Oil forums a kind of purgatory?

The Great Conversation is a reference to what many Catholic apologists believe happens in purgatory.[1] In effect, people in purgatory are to naturally converse with each other in an effort to determine where they are and how they got there. Think of a big social gathering in which every participant has, almost invariably, the exact same questions on his or her mind.[1]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Conversation

The most philosophically, spiritually, and psychologically brilliant book I've ever read is C.S. Lewis' "Great Divide" I've read the complete works of Lewis, but remain not quite Christian, in the traditional understanding of what being a Christian is.

From Amazon book reviews: The Great Divide:

"Lewis uses the image of a bus trip taken by a few hardy souls - some of whom have an agenda, others who have nothing better to do - to a familiar yet fantastic place where they discover themselves to be ghosts in a realm of "solid people". Through a series of vignettes, the narrator describes the travails of other ghosts who contend with the roadblocks to salvation - pride, jealousy, vengeance, lust, and the love of earthly life itself.

Lewis' theology owes much to the character "My Teacher", George MacDonald. A universalist, MacDonald echoes the sentiment that would dominate Lewis' other writings: that those who are condemned to Hell are there because they chose to be there over Heaven. Another readily apparent Lewis theme is that human emotions or feelings are two-edged: they can be used for purposes noble or evil. "Love begins to be a demon when he begins to be a god", lower case "g" in god emphasized, Lewis would later write in "The Four Loves". In The Great Divorce he shows that concept in action"

http://www.amazon.ca/Great-Divorce-C-S-Lewis/dp/0060652950

Another book review...very intriguing, by an atheist. Have to admit, Lewis had broad broad appeal.

"I don't happen to be a believer in a higher power, Christian or otherwise, but I thoroughly enjoyed this bus ride from the very first page. C.S. Lewis' writing is contemporary and hits a nerve. A voracious reader I rarely have time to re-read a book but, I've picked up this one several times; you'll never forget the story. It's the kind of book you can open at any page and have a good read. He shows you that it's the little character flaws that keep you small, and feeling good about yourself. And little they are, but powerful. I promise you won't be disappointed. This book is a fairy tale for adults (definitely not for children). It didn't change my views about re4ligion, but it changed me."

threadbear · Expert Joined: Jan 22, 2005 Posts: 7476

BigTex

Ludi

I found Lewis's arguments very convincing when I was a "Christian," less so later.

I haven't read "The Great Divorce," but quite a few of his other works.
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