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This writing is in response to Pat Hollidays 'The False Green Gospel'.   The False Green Gospel asserts
that the entire New Age/Environmental movement is part of a conspiracy to control the American People,
to derail and disempower traditional Christianity, and to deceive the world into adopting Anti-Christian
views.   You will appreciate this writing much more if you read all the details in Pats writing first.

Dear Pat:

I have read your writing 'False Green Gospel.'

There are three primary points in this reply.  The first point is that it is indeed possible to uphold Gods
creation and God Himself at the same time.   The second point is that the New Age/Environmental
movement is an umbrella term applied to many diverse groups.   The third point is that there are
substantial issues which organized Christianity and most Christians have never thoroughly dealt with.

Antagonism between Christianity and the New Age movement is apparent in your writing.  The New Age
movement generally advocates a synthesis or recovery of ideas and practices which celebrates our
relationship with the Earth.   (There are sub-currents in the New Age movement which include overt
Satanic practices and those are definitely in conflict with Christian beliefs.)  The traditional Christianity
cosmology or world view has been and largely remains domination of the Earth.   The first two chapters of
Genesis have been interpreted as the source of mans 'right' to do as we wish to the Earth.  The original
concept put forth in Genesis is one of stewardship, not ownership, and certainly not domination.   A major
factor in why peoples all over the world are embracing the concepts of the New Age and
environmentalism is the failure of traditional Christianity to embrace a rational view of the Earth.

Historical Christianity, having established mans supremacy over the Earth, tends to be anthropocentric
where man is the center of Gods' creation.  Perhaps we need a Christian Copernicus who can adequately
extol Colossians 1:17.  This verse makes it clear that Christ, not man, is the center of Gods creation much
in the same way a hub holds the spokes of a wheel together.  The Bible does indicate that man has a
special purpose to fulfill in expressing God.  Careful reading of Genesis also reveals that God told Noah to
save the animals as well as his family.  Noah's Ark demonstrates the care and love God has for all of His
creatures.   An examination of the Greek New Testament text indicates that Christ died on behalf of
everything (not just every man) and that the entire creation groans awaiting the manifestation of the sons
of God.

If the Earth were ours to do with as we wish, then God would have little concern over what we have done
to it in the last hundred years.   If this were the case, then a statement like "...to destroy those who destroy
the Earth" (Revelation 11:18) should not be in the New Testament.   Gods' wrath in the Book Of
Revelation is not just for the disbelieving and the followers of anti-Christ, it is also towards those who
destroy and pollute the Earth.  The Psalms strongly indicate that Jehovah takes delight in His creatures.
If he so clothes the grass and feeds the birds then they must be important to Him.

It is normal for people to care about the Earth and to care about the Creator at the same time. Most
aboriginal peoples base their culture on  love of the Creator and the Creation.   A lack of respect for the
Earth is a direct insult to God Himself.   He went through all of the planning and design to give us a
living planet for the purpose of developing biological life and ultimately our own lives.  To pollute this
Earth is metaphorical to dumping pig's blood on the Holy Altar.   How many times has it been written by
poets and naturalists that a deep forest of tall trees is like a cathedral?   Paul is clear in Romans 1:20 on
how the creation reflects the Creator.

Beyond the basic tenants of 'the faith' and the love of God through love of Earth, there are justifiable and
necessary actions to be taken which are currently executed under the general umbrella of
environmentalism.    Ethnobotany is one such activity involving the survey of plant uses among cultures
(often aboriginal or 'pagan').   Nearly 40% of all medicines prescribed daily either come directly from
plants or are synthetic compounds based on plant molecules.   It is ironic that as missionaries and
governments subdued the activities of local shaman or 'witch-doctors' in the name of God, a wealth of
medical and practical knowledge was lost.    It is doubtful that organized Christianity has historically
carried out the mission and gospel of Christ in the way He intended.

To say that the current environmental disasters, which are increasing, is a judgment from God, is partially
correct.   An Earth taken out of balance by pollution and over consumption of energy is likely to respond
in unstable and unpredictable ways.   We bring judgment upon ourselves as societies involved in
damaging and unsustainable practices.

The judgment we are seeing today in the freak weather patterns is no surprise.  Jesus predicted the
increase of earthquakes and plagues.  But can we as believers realize it when we contribute to the
destabilization of the planet?  How many Americans can accept the idea that the 'American Dream' which
pollutes the earth with its consumptive, materialistic, artificial, and selfish lifestyle is generally Anti-
Christian?   The icons of America are as much apple pie as empty pop bottles strewn along the highway
and  thousands of bison carcasses strewn across the prairies massacred to near extinction for sport.   If we
hold total allegiance to Christ then is there really room to idolize the American Dream?

When looking for examples of how to balance responsibility to the Creator and the Creation, one of the
social groups we should examine carefully are the Native Americans (Amerindians, Indians, etc.).    Their
original daily pattern centered around right relationships to the Creator, each other, the creatures, and the
land.   When an Amerindian had to take down a deer or bison, prayers of thanks were offered at every
step.  Compare that to wolfing down a burger from a cow slaughtered in the agricultural machines of
today.  Aboriginal 'primitive' cultures typically work three to four hours a day compared to our 'modern'
culture which works eight or more hours a day.   The Seven Nation Iroquois Confederation served as a
model for the organization of the U.S. Government and the Constitution.   If we think that Christianity
brought civilization to the Americas then we have to disregard mountains of archeological evidence.

Many Amerindian cultures weigh all tribal decisions based on the effect they will have upon the seventh
generation of children to come.   Contrast this to the quarterly focus of today's corporations which rape
and pillage the Earth for the  'bottom line'.    This does not mean that the Amerindian cultures were
perfect.   Many cultures had their own traditions which were contrary to the Bible (cutting of the flesh,
human sacrifice, etc.)   Our desire to 'convert' the Amerindians from their lifestyle to 'our' interpretation of
Christianity did not justify the oppression and oftentimes destruction of their cultures.  What we ended up
doing was trying to change them into our image, the European version of what we thought God wanted.
Some of the current themes of political correctness and multiculturalism, even though they seem and are
sometime extreme, do help us to appreciate the differences between us and others enough to not carelessly
clone them to be just like us.

It is clear that we, the citizens and government of the United States, have done the Amerindians a great
injustice.   A careful examination of the diseases and alcohol that we brought to them along with the theft
of their lifestyles, spiritual beliefs, and land makes the abuses clearly evident.   Amerindians today are the
most impoverished social group in the United States.  Any person, and especially any Christian, who
attempts to deny or ignore the injustices done to native peoples in the name of religion in general, and
Christianity specifically, is deceiving themselves.  The statements by a number of Christian groups in the
last few years apologizing for historic actions are a step in the right direction.

When talking about the New Age movement one of the most important facts to keep in mind it that 'New
Age' is an umbrella term for many peoples and beliefs.  The best parts of the New Age depict a
reawakening to basic principles and wisdom from people who understand how to live in balance with the
earth.   There are crackpots and loonies present in any social group and the New Age/Environmental
movement is no exception.  To say that everyone in the New Age movement is anti-Christian is to make a
prejudicial generalization of many diverse peoples.  I do not endorse or support the New Age movement as
a totality (because I don't think there is a coordinated single movement).   But there are aspects of the
movement which contain Earth-friendly beliefs which have escaped (or been prosecuted by) Christianity.
For example, the 'New Agers' have recently pointed to a shift they say the world is going through from
being a patriarchal civilization (dominated by men) back to a matriarchal one (guided by women).   There
is enough history of the exploitation of women to at least examine this concept with an open mind while
comparing it with the teachings of Christ.

If there are undercurrents in the New Age/Environmental movements which have sinister or otherwise
dark agendas, can the assumption be made that everyone associated with the movement is being deceived?
It is improbable that there is a group of people guiding or controlling the environmentalists.  The number
of groups and the diversity of the people involved is too great for such direction or control.   If the EPA
acted to clean up the Cayahoga river (Cleveland, OH) when it caught fire in the 70's from all the pollution
therein, was it carrying out a step it the global plan of deception?  Was the prohibition of the use of DDT a
Satanic action?   Associating environmental action with global deception is neither logical or reasonable.
When claims are made about other groups or movements we feel are contrary to Christians we need to be
rational and avoid hysteria.

Should we denounce other cultures prayers or rituals for the healing of the Earth and mankind?  If the
Christians are busy preaching hell and damnation and 'New Agers' are making prayers for the Earth, who
is the average non-Christian likely to gravitate to?   We Christians must find new ways to reach others for
the Lord.  It seems the current troubles on the Earth are a prime opportunity to be utilized and not cursed.

Some of the statements Albert Gore makes in his book Earth In The Balance are outrageous and offensive
to Christians.   (Most of the material in the book is simply a rehash of readily available environmental
data.  How it got to be a best seller is beyond me.) Just because Gore says something about what direction
he feels the world needs to go in does not make it an inevitable truth.   Many Christians rang alarm bells
in the 1970s when Jimmy Carter and others were working through the TriLateral Commission attempting
to forge a world government.   National governments have been unsuccessfully trying to forge a world
government this century since the League Of Nations.   Any multinational government would be a fragile
confederation.  No wonder the Book Of Daniel describes the last partial-world government as having feet
of clay which Christ will smash into pieces.   If post Cold-war history has shown anything it is that past
ethnic conflicts are more likely to resume and increase rather than everyone holding hands and giving
away the farm to some world government.    The UN seems to display very limited and specific powers
and it is clearly NOT in a position to take over the world.  The Book Of Revelation is clear regarding anti-
Christ taking control of a large part of the world (probably Europe).  Many Christian scholars doubt he
will have world control.  The wilderness in Rev. 12:6 is thought by many to be the United States.

Even if everyone in the world would join in a world government tomorrow, why should a believer in
Christ worry?  Isn't God still sovereign in our lives?   As long as you don't accept the mark of the beast
(whatever it is and whenever any rapture is) you'll be OK.   The idea that politicians will attempt to
control us through environmental issues is fantastic.

Christian opposition to New Age environmentalism parallels McCarthyism in many ways.   Suspicions of
deceptions, infiltration, and conspiracy are sprinkled in most Christian assessments of the New Age.
How many people know the history behind the Spanish Inquisitions?  What were the Druids all about?
What are the real historical origins behind Halloween ,Easter, and even Christmas?  Do we really know
what we are talking about?
How similar are the reactions of mainline Christianity towards the New Age to the prevalent mood during
the 1600s when people who had the ability to heal with herbs were burned at the stake as witches?   The
tone of many criticisms of the New Age movement by Christians is prejudicial, inflammatory, and
divisive.   People who are politically correct (PC) at least show a more fundamental respect for their fellow
human beings.  Claims like "an oppressive form of leadership in the world today that is controlling
America" and "Anti Christians and socialists are taking away our freedoms because of our spiritual and
political ignorance" lack credible evidence.   If Christians are to be listened to then we must at least seem
rational people and not "some isolated idiot living in his unrealistic dream world."

There are many fundamental issues about how Christianity should function in the world which have never
been adequately discussed.  Much of the reason is because of the scales of dogma and tradition covering
most Christian leaders' eyes and minds.  A lot of the reasons have to do with the relationships between
politics and organized religion.   Part of the extreme antagonism the Christians feel towards the New
Agers is that Christians don't possess a coherent view of the Earth or most things the New Age movement
is talking about.  It's hard to deal with a movement which can reach people easier than you can and has
more reasonable answers about how to live than you do.

There was recently a lot of press given to the 'Lost Generation'.  Those young people in their teens and
twenties who are not following their parents footsteps in organized religion.  Part of the reason is because
every generation in our information age is a little more sophisticated than the one before.  Kids today are
not getting much benefit from what we are telling them about the Bible.   It's not that there is anything
wrong with the Bible.  The problem may be that we either don't know what we are talking about or that
we have missed much of the real meaning of Christ because of our schools of theology and tradition.  But
how often is this issue discussed by the believers in your fellowship?  If not, why not?  If you had to
rethink the major concepts about what your priest or pastor told you, would you dare do so on your own?
Kids today can smell hypocrisy, dogma, and control faster than any generation before them.  The fact that
young people are turning off to traditional Christianity and turning on to alternative forms of spirituality
should shock us out of our tradition and complacency.   In order for us to reach the young people we will
have to abandon many concepts which are part of religious Christianity but not part of Christ.

One person who has attempted to address some of these issues is Matthew Fox.   A former Dominican
priest, he has written extensively on these topics in books such as The Coming Of The Cosmic Christ, and
The Reinvention Of Work.   As believers in Christ, we have to be brave enough to grope out a way of
living with each other and the Earth which is based on the principles of life depicted by Christ Himself.
We need to be free to discard old ideas (while keeping the Bible in hand) which no longer fit into a
reasonable mindset.   Domination of the Earth is one such idea that must be abandoned.

I know from my own past experience that some Christians can be very narrow-minded.   Many believe
that if they entertain an idea which their priest or pastor does not endorse then the punishing God will get
them in some way.   This type of thinking is very immature.   Typical Christianity is good at giving people
basic (often empty) knowledge, but poor at providing maturity and wisdom, the ability to function and
think for oneself in philosophical, ethical, and spiritual matters.   It is ironic that these matters of heart,
mind, spirit, and relationships were and remain central to the message of Christ.

There is a huge question remaining about how the message of Christ can be carried out without the
destruction of the wisdom each culture has gained in its history.    It is ironic that the Indian tribes in the
Great Lakes region who accepted Christ and turned to pacifism were wiped out within a generation by the
surrounding 'heathen' tribes.    The surrounding tribes learned that the converted tribes would no longer
defend themselves so the converted Indians were slaughtered for believing in the Lord.

In the past there were the missionaries and there were the 'unlearned' or 'heathens'.   We have typically
thought little about the impact we make on a culture by insisting on large lifestyle changes after accepting
Christ.   In Acts, Paul contended against the brothers in Jerusalem for statements about the relationship
between lifestyle and salvation (Acts 15:1-32).  We think we have the Bible behind us and often disregard
the wisdom of the native peoples in their experiences of the Earth.  How many white people died in the
westward wagon trains which could have survived scurvy by drinking pine needle tea as a source of
vitamin C?  If the 'settlers' would have tried to learn from the Amerindians instead of expatriating them
the entire saga of Cowboys and Indians and the Wild West could have been much happier and less bloody
for all.  Any gospel which destroys God-fearing and non-idolatrous cultures (Romans 2:14, Rev. 21:24) is
not good news.

The Native Peoples have become a frequent theme in this writing because we have much to learn from
them.   They have the wisdom we lack in dealing with the Earth in a sustainable or long-term way.   The
Native Peoples also hold biblical interest.  Notice that in the Book Of Revelation there are the nations
which live around the New Jerusalem (which is on the earth, not in heaven, Rev.  21:2,24).  I believe that
the nations will be comprised of individuals just like the Native Peoples of the Earth.

The relationship of the Christian to the Earth is an area in need of serious prayer and action by all
believers.  Not since the Middle Ages have Christian thinkers influenced the  believers through their
experiences of the Earth.  People like Francis of Assisi, Meister Eckhert, and Hildegard of Bingen extolled
the integrity of God expressed in the Creation.  Jesus and the prophets spent much time in the wilderness
because they understood the Earth holds an unadulterated quality in which the presence of God can easily
be experienced.   What have we learned from Jesus when most Christian meetings are inside an artificial
air-conditioned environment with four walls and plastic plants in the corner?   To aboriginal peoples, the
entire creation is a sanctuary for worship.

When, as a Christian, you begin to consider all of the weighty issues which need careful thought it is hard
to come across a more serious issue waiting to be addressed than division within the Body Of Christ.  How
can we decry the New Agers while accepting the existence of more than one kind of Christian? In the
bible there is only the term Christian.  All other names, or denominations, are man-made.  Are we jealous
because the New Age movement seems more unified than we do? They have the entire Earth to rally
around.  We on the other hand often times call ourselves something other than just Christians.   Are we
not all brothers of the same Lord (I Cor. 3:3-7, 12:25, 12:12-27)?   How can we tolerate all the divisions
and denominations among Christians today?   We should be cautious about the splinter of strangeness in
our neighbors eye while we have the log of division in our own eye.

The Lord needs believers who can rationally and accurately elaborate issues and potential solutions.  We
will not be very successful in 'preaching the gospel' unless we have real solutions to all types of problems.
Problems which affect the world in general and which affect Christians in particular.

Good health and happiness to all.

o->  John Tal / JOHNT4321


I dont have any books to sell but I can suggest some books written by others:

The Bible
The Worlds #1 Seller Of All Time.  Lots of wisdom and enlightened reading.

The Coming Of The Cosmic Christ - Matthew Fox
An examination of how the mystical experience with Creator and Creation is at the heart of the Christian
experience.

The Economics Of Sustainability - Paul Hawken
Ideas on how capitalism must be adjusted to reflect real costs of producing goods which pollute the Earth.

Altars Of Unhewn Stone - Wes Jackson
How modern fossil fuel agriculture is ruining the land and which alternatives (polyculture) are now under
development.  Examines the development of modern agriculture and its biblical implications to
stewardship.

The Universe Is A Green Dragon - Brian Swimme
A discussion of  the new cosmology from a quantum physicist.   New ideas on mans relationship and
purpose in the creation which ring true to precepts in the New Testament.

Prayers Of The Cosmos - Neil Douglas-Klotz
An examination of the Lords Prayers and the Beatitudes translated from Aramaic, the common language
of the disciples and the original language of the Gospels.   When one considers that the New Testament of
the King James bible was translated from Latin, which was translated from Greek, which was translated
from Aramaic, it is clear that there are tremendous opportunities for what Jesus really said to have been
lost.   This book brings the words of Christ alive with more meaning and vibrancy than other translations.
It is a direct translation from Aramaic to English.

Entropy: Into The Greenhouse World - Jeremy Rifkin
Political Christian Activists analysis of how the ideas of domination of the Earth have developed and what
we can really accept in terms of energy and material consumption.