Eco-friendly Church?

Any one who has had regular lengthly discussions with myself will soon learn that I am a growing eco fanatic.
I find that it is a massive subject that is not talked about enough, and there are many reasons for my caring. I first find it interesting that human-kind today (especially Western cultures and China) view themselves as advanced technologically. When looking back at say pre-historic human, I can see that we as a race are indeed skilled with technology and are moving on from hammers and nails, and onto circuit boards.
But my observation is this, if we power all this development by merely drilling dinosaur remains out of the ground and burning them, I cannot label the human race as advanced.

In our world, OIL has just about replaced the gold in which we apparently base out money on. The price of a barrel of oil is above all else in the stability and success of the stock market and the income of not just big companies, but as the price of things go up as a result of this affects all walking on this earth whether directly or indirectly. This is not advanced. This is just exploitation. I do not have to inform readers about the damage that fossil fuels do to the environment, as it is clear. The speed up of global warming is of a result of us. The industrial revolution has finished, perhaps a renewable energy revolution should be next.

We have the technology today to raise the whole earths peoples living standards higher than the richest man on earth. This is proven (see links below). But what is stopping us? the money. This is a subject I shall not expound in this post but will in time. We have the technology today to power the whole worlds energy needs safely. But not only that, we can have abundance in power if we get rid of fossil fuels and focus on renewables.

To most people, this is hippy talk. Free love stuff. Partly because those who are stereotypically labelled as protesters are the ones who are publicly renouncing fossil fuels, with statements such as 'you are killing the earth'. It is good that at least some people are complaining about this injustice, but is a shame that every day people who stand for this change are put in the same camp as these professional protesters. Killing the earth? No, we are not killing the earth, it has had worse to contend with than human beings, we are just making it uninhabitable for our race. We have to do something about this.

'But what difference can I do?' 'Why should I turn off a light to save energy when Las Vagus is lit up all year round?' Good questions. What can you do? Campaign and complain, make your voice heard. Which leads me nicely onto my next point, the Church. How many billions of Christians are there in the world? Doesn't Genesis command God's people to steward the earth? So why is the Church doing next to nothing to make a difference in this area. If the world Church banded together in the search for sustainability both ecologically, and for resources then such a change would be made. What better Christian example for the world is there than pushing for eco-friendly energy and production??? If every church in the UK pushed for Solar Panels on their buildings roofs, this would make a truly massive difference both to the environment, but also on how people view the church. Solar Panels are visible, and people can see the difference that is trying to be made without having to preach it to people. Money even isn't a problem, as after 25-30 years the things pay for themselves. Along with that, the government are actively supporting the investment in Solar Panels through 'Feed in Tariffs ', where the government pretty much pays you for having them.

The same goes with cars. I have visited many churches where nice BMW's or vintage Jaguar's are parked outside. Surely the purpose of a car is to travel from A to B. Christians are commanded to be in the world but not of it. So why hasn't half the church community invested in electric cars. Power your house with Solar Panels, power your car for free!! And it gives the Christian a positive example, helping with its mission. Granted, some people cannot afford these new electric cars as they are often twice the price of the conventional petrol powered car. However, the money that is saved in the long term by owning one of these vehicles is great.

I hate to get angry, but I am fed up of Christians fighting among themselves over petty things such as differences over communion or baptism, which in comparison are tiny tiny issues. Isn't the increasing melting ice caps a bigger issue, and something God actually gives a crap about!?

Please, as always let me know your thoughts in the comments
Chow x


Links as promised, enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59J3X19N4Ug
http://www.thezeitgeistmovement.com/
http://www.thevenusproject.com/

Its been a while

First things first

I apologise that I have not written for so long. With Christmas, New Year and January deadline, it has been hard to find time to sit and write another post, a task that I have been meaning to do for a while. The holidays were quite full on, what with essays to write and relatives to see, not to mention the somewhat countless pub trips to catch up with friends, whom, I wish I had more time to see.

Right, not that is out of the way, I suppose now is the time to write about a particular subject that has significance to myself or the world that surrounds me. This being said, I do not have one. The desire to write another post has been bugging me for so much, that it has robbed me of a subject to write on.

There is hope however. Those of you reading this will see the banner at the top of the blog, and may recognise it as lyrics from a song, one that has always been close to myself and was written by a band whose ideals, life views and stance on todays society have always hit home and whose lyrics I cannot find fault with. The lyrics read:

'Home could be anywhere when I am holding you' 

These lyrics are taken from a song called Adieu, written by Enter Shikari.

If you get a chance, I urge, or at least strongly recommend readers to find and listen to it. Such a good track!

This band, who hold no membership with any religions organisation or view, write these lyrics in a purely secular context, written in a way that can be seen to be as Christian in nature as any modern worship song writer's work. Before leaving home to take my place as a degree student, I would listen to it,  drawing religious significance. Home could be anywhere when I am holding you, could be addressed as much to God, as to any girl or fleeting fancy. I knew that as long as I hold on to God, then I could call any location of my choosing home. Powerful words indeed.

When moving out of home for the first time, this song was very significant and was a nerve wracking time. Now, I am a second year student and this song is just as relevant today as it was back then. Next year I will have completed my degree and can only hope that I have attained a job at this point. In this time where even the simplest and/or common jobs are scarce, I may have to again move from home. 

I hope you can see then, why this song is so important to me. Wherever I choose to live, I can call it home if I hold on to God. This is why I have chosen this to be the header title to this blog.

I hope to write again soon, hopefully next time with more content. Thank you all who are following and support this blog and thank you those who take time to read it. As I have mentioned before, if you could shed light to how I could improve this blog, or if you have a desire for me to write on a particular subject, then please comment and let me know. Thanks again

So then... Blog time...

Right so here I am writing a blog.

Most of you reading this will probably know me in some way or another, and if you don't then welcome, needless to say I hope you all enjoy reading what will probably end up being a unstructured and no doubt mindless rant and today's politics, modern Christianity and the 21st Century 'so-called' modern society that I live in. I will probably even mention a good ol' family rant now and again and also of myself, to get me off any high horse I may appear to be lifting myself onto.

I hope that this at least gave you some idea about what I like goes on upstairs what my general standing is.

To those who do not know very well, or at all, let me give you the low down on who I am.
I am a 20 year old student from the East Midlands UK studying a Degree for Theology.
I am a Christian, love music, and seem to have a somewhat musical, yet challenged underdeveloped brain. (I hope you are beginning to detect and engage with my sense of humour).

As I said, I am a Christian, however if this fills your head with various negative connotations that today's media would have drilled into your skulls, then please relax, because although Christianity is my belief and is what I set my morals by, this does not somehow make me a 'bad guy' or one of those super indoctrinating tv pastors or door to door 'God botherers'. I would like it be known that this generalisation that was just shown was not done in good taste, just a few of many nicknames I find modern Christians labelled with nowadays. To be perfectly honest I am very laid back about such things. As long as when you see through the window into my life and my beliefs (that this blog will no doubt end up becoming) and can be seen without prejudice or previous misconception, and are respected, then I am fine with all. If you belong to a neighbouring faith, or have no faith at all then peace be with you, as you probably have just as much reasoning for believing as you do as I do about my faith. Hope my grammar is still on form here, however I can feel a steady decline as time goes on...

I really hope I have not resorted to mindless babble or an unnecessary defence of my opinions.

So here it is, my first blog. At the closing of 2011 I write this post, and I hope that this will be a blog for the new year, and hopefully the entire year. Hope you have enjoyed reading it. I have no idea whether it is too short or too long, but do feel free to comment (as I am sure their are facilities to do so) on how I can improve, and what I can further moan abo... I MEAN what subjects I can discuss in the future.

I am gonna let you into a secret, I have know idea what I will end up writing about. The idea to write a blog came from a friend of mine, and since I have so many ideas and discussions going on in my brain during studying and from general life, I thought I would give it a try. It all seems to be going well so far... No incoherence or absurd grammar yet, although do bare in mind that this will be an increasing issue as the time goes by. If you require perfect grammar to function then reading this probably isn't for you. Maybe a good old academic paper might be an alternative? Just a suggestion..

I hope to write another post soon, but as of yet am unsure how often I will write. Although it is my aim that  a rhythm is developed so you can come back to read new posts if ever you had the desire. It is the early hours of the morning as I write this so I will conclude and cease. Please stop by soon and feel free to comment, I would much enjoy the read.

Chow x