Followers of the
Church of the Holy Shitters concern themselves with how humans relate to the planet. Through our practice of the Sacrament of Holy Shitting we are constantly reminded of the Eat/Shit Shitloop Cycle and the importance it plays in our continued survival.
Being a religion based in the natural, not the supernatural, does not mean we can afford to ignore the current teachings and beliefs of mainstream supernatural religions and how those beliefs impact their followers interaction with our planet. It is important for us to be aware of them, understand them and realize how they impact our shitty way of life.
Take for instance the beliefs revolving around the concept of the rapture and the end of times.
The rapture is Christian belief that forms a major part of the current teaching and expectations of fundamentalist and other evangelical denominations. In its most popular current form, the doctrine involves Jesus Christ returning from Heaven towards earth. In violation of the law of gravity, saved individuals -- both dead and alive -- will rise up in the air and join Jesus in the sky to enjoy a better life for all eternity.
The main biblical passage supporting the rapture: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
In the King James Version of the Bible, the text reads:
1 Thessalonians 4:13-17: "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."
The Rapture is a future event believed by most
born-again Christians. They believe that those who have died will have their bodies reconstituted and will ascend through the air, and meet Jesus Christ in the sky. This will be followed by a second mass migration of the born-again who are currently alive.
As it is described in Evangelical literature, pilots would disappear from planes, truck drivers from their trucks; people from automobiles, etc. Some born-again Christians believe that a family will be eating dinner, when some of the members will float upwards from their seats, pass through the roof and keep rising through the air towards Jesus.
As glorious as the Rapture experience will be for the saved, many Evangelical pastors, theologians and authors teach that the state of the billions of unsaved people will be truly frightening. From the prophetic books of Daniel, Ezekiel and Revelation, they have concluded:
There will be mass disorientation as those left behind as they try to make sense out of the sudden disappearance of tens of millions of people.
A seven year period of disturbance and destruction, called the Tribulation will take place. Most denominations teach that it will follow immediately after the rapture but there are differing views on the timing as this graphic illustrates.
The Antichrist will rule the world. He will come from Europe, gain political control of the world (perhaps by heading up the United Nations), make peace with Israel, and then attempt to destroy much of humanity, concentrating on the Jews, and those new Christians who will have been saved since the Rapture.
Armageddon will follow. This is a massive war - one larger than any the world has ever seen. Untold billions of people will die.
The survivors will see Jesus rule the world for a period that will last a millennium, 1,000 years.
When a person holds beliefs such as these it dramatically affects their personal responsibility for their interactions with the planet. For them the supernatural is in charge of the outcome of the planet and humanity. It is all predetermined. To a large extent it absolves them from caring about the physical and diverts their attention and efforts to working on their soul to ensure an afterlife is forthcoming.
Take this argument by this anonymous commenter on the internet which expresses the end of days argument.
“I don't think you are going to find anything in the Bible that speaks about Jesus telling man to take care of the earth. Taking care of the earth is not the point in life and I don't think any Christian should make it their point. Let me explain:
First of all, I am not saying that we should trash the earth and do with it as we please. God did not call believers to be rude and disgusting. When Jesus walked the earth, it was His desire that men would come to know Him as their Messiah and once they know Him as Lord, to make Him known to the rest of the earth (The Great Commission at the end of the book of Matthew).
We need to realize that the earth is dying and there is not anything anyone can do to stop it from decaying. Its going to get weaker and weaker until God is going to destroy it with fervent heat (2 Peter 3:10-12). After God destroys the earth and heaven, He is going to make a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21:1).
The enemy tries and tries to pull people (believer and non-believer) away from focusing on the Lord, but rather focus on anything that is not the Lord (i.e. sin, pleasure, distractions, etc.). One distraction I believe is getting caught up with alternative groups and non profit organizations (i.e. save the dolphins, save the ozone, prevent forest fires, hug a tree, etc.). It seems like people put all of their attention on these things, but at what cost and at what end? It's all going to burn and melt away, just as the Scripture has said. However, we can make a difference in people's lives, so they don't have to forever burn in hell. This should be the goal of every believer.”
And there is scripture to support this argument.
Revelation 21:1-5 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away." and the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true."
For followers of these religions it is easy to see why such problems as over population, climate change and pollution are not of concern.
Rapture: The Blessed Hope for All Christians
Rapture: The Scariest Most Ass-backward Shit for Holy Shitters!
"Scary not in the sense that all this crap will actually happen."
but
"Scary in the sense there are so many actually believing this crap!"
and
"The implications that has on our ability to do something constructive and proactive about the environment!"
The Church of the Holy Shitters will post articles on our holy S.H.I.T. day ( So Happy It's Thursday)
Last week: 10/24/13 - Commandment #4 - A Closer Look
Next week: 11/7/13 - Commandment #5 - A Closer Look
Hoping to add some humor, provoke thought, spark debate, deepen understanding, and shed some light on the fecal side.
Remember: "If we really want to straighten out all this crap we really need to think about shit." ( Shitbit by Poop John the First of the Church of the Holy Shitters)
Church of the Holy Shitters
A secular environmental religion, scientifically based, with a focus on the psychology of it all. Our ego is the culprit when it comes to dealing with climate change. We cannot save the planet. We can only save ourselves. Our current egotistical self-perception makes that prospect a dubious one at best. Meekness, humility and a realization that our shit does stink, guides us on our path to true sustainable living and climate equilibrium.
Cross posted at http://holyshitters.com/