St Francis of Assisi

The second of the two sections I had to cut out from the afore mentioned paper. Here I refuted White’s statement that St Francis of Assisi represent a viable alternative to the dominant Western Christian attitude towards nature.

                White’s posited Christian alternative to what he perceives to be the dominant, and ecologically detrimental, Western Christian attitude toward nature, St Francis of Assisi, does not represent the hope for a modern environmentally-conscious Christianity that White supposes. While Francis’ life is remarkable in the history of Western Christianity for his loving all creation equally, the environmentalism of St Francis (if indeed that term can be applied, since our modern concern for ecological balance and species survival was not present in Francis’ thought) is far from sufficient to address the concerns of the world today. The sentiment that creation, from the lowliest animal to the very Sun, exists in a fraternity of the love of God, and that all God’s creations are symbols of Him, such as is evident in St Francis’ Canticle of the Creatures, while suitable as a vehicle for spiritual development, does not translate into positive action. St Francis’ attitude more closely resembles that of White’s preferred model of sainthood: the contemplative Eastern[1] Christian Saint.[2]

                However, the problems facing the world today cannot be stopped by the pleasant inaction of the contemplative Saint. Though it is possible that had the larger Western Christian tradition adopted St Francis’ attitude toward the natural world, we would not be in the ecological crisis in which we find ourselves.[3] However, the damage, regardless of its cause, is done, and an attitude of action,[4] framed within a new paradigm for Christian thought, is necessary if we are to hope to un-do that damage.

 

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[1] White uses the terms “Greek,” or the “Greek East,” in contradistinction to “Latin,” or the “Latin West,” however this nomenclature is imprecise, and fails to cover the diversity of Eastern Orthodoxy (the communion to which White presumably refers, whether he means to exclude Eastern Catholicism, Oriental Orthodoxy, and other Eastern Christianities is uncertain)

[2] White, Roots, 1206

[3] Justly so, it is possible that we would also not enjoy the standard of living nor level of technological advancement that we do today

[4] The quality of Western models of Sainthood which White decries; White, Roots, 1206

Need to know

Here is a picture that needs to be seen.

Orthodox Jews from the Naturei Karta group protesting IDF operations in Gaza during a march in Jerusalem on Wednesday.

Not everyone in Israel supports their country’s policy on Palestine or the current invasion. Make of that what you will.

Fearless

So I have in my list of current projects a knitted tie by Veronik Avery, one of my favourite designers. There is, however, one problem: i’m a little afraid to start it. It’s the most patterned thing i’ve worked on, and my ever-present fear of making a mistake is holding me back from working on it. I’m pretty sure that’s the dumbest thing ever.

Climate Change Melts Man

A man in Buenos Aires has been melted by global warming. How horrid! Read the full story here. No word yet on why he is blue.

Fortunately, he had some flyers handy.

A Winner

Having watched the English language leader’s debate in it’s near entirety (I was unfortunately not able to

Jack Layton, NDP Leader, Winner of the Debate

 watch nearly as much of the French language debate), I feel confident that I can come to an opinion on who won. Although most of the leaders gave compitent arguments (I dare say that Stephen Harper never did anything other than proffer vague assurances and downright lies), I think that Jack Layton came out on top.

I am not an NDP supporter. I have briefly flirted with them, but my first party was Liberal, and now I am vocal Green voter. But Jack came out of the gate swinging, didn’t hold any punches, and drilled Dion and Harper on the flaws in the records of their respectives parties while working together with Elizabeth May and Gilles Duceppe to present a better vision for Canada (I would in fact prefer an NDP government to a Liberal one on the whole, I prefer their economic and social policies, though I do support the Liberal Green Shift plan above the environmental policies of any of the other parties excepting the Greens).

I would hand the second place position to my aquaintance and school-mate Elizabeth May (she and I are in fact both studying theology at Saint Paul University, though she is in the Anglican Studies specialization, and I, though Anglican, am in the general civil BTh). She proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Green Party can debate on every issue, not just the environment, and that she belonged at that table from the get-go.

Dion and Duceppe both did fairly well. Stephane spent too much time pushing his policies and not enough actually debating the issues in my humble opinion, which seems odd coming from a University professor. Duceppe, who spent the evening advertising Quebec’s achievements and his own party’s policies that were good for Canada as a whole, rather than demanding special treatment for his province, is actually a very convincing speaker when he’s not being assinine (though his accent is occasionally rather funny).

Harper, well he spent the evening blurting out vageries and lies (that’s not an exageration, he really did lie a couple of times). Also, his makeup was preposterously femminine, my girlfriend doesn’t wear lip gloss that shiny. But then I just don’t like him, so many i’m not the best person to comment.

Choose

An odd incongruity exists between the Tory position on the economy when asked about their record/what they will do about the potential finanical crisis, and when they’re talking about the Liberals. When asked if Canadians should worry about the economy, whether we are safe from the crisis taking place in the States, what they have done/will do about it, all is well, our economy is strong. When they are commenting on the economic effects the Liberal Green Shift policy, then we are in shaky economic times and we can’t take the risk. I’m thinking Sweater Vest should make up his mind.

Greener

I’m in the market for a new cellphone, my current one is dying on me, after 3 or 4 years (which isn’t bad given that the average cell phone user upgrades ever year and a half). I decided to check out the latest Greenpeace report on which cellphone makers are the greenest, so I could be better informed about making a green choice when I get my new phone. And I think that which company is doing the best of being greener is imporant for everyone to know. So here is the information:

Greener Electronics

History

Blair Wilson, Green MP

History was made today. The Green Party of Canada has its very first Member of Parliament. Blair Wilson, previously sitting as a Liberal and then Independent MP, has joined the Greens. I look forward to this bringing in a new era of increased awareness of the Green Party, Green leaders taking part in Leader’s Debates, and Canadians electing Green MPs.