A sacred duty
2 February 2008 - 27 שבט 5768 by Huw
Creation, Environment and Torah. Integral living. Yes, it’s about Judaism. But how can the rest learn from this - especially Christians who claim to revere the same text?
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Christ is Risen!
«Be poets of the Logos»
Sarx (σαρξ) is the Greek word for "flesh".
This is the self-ruled blog of an Christian attempting to follow God in the Way of Jesus... sometimes. I most identify with the Anglican and Liberal Catholic flavours. I am a Confederate American sojourning in Buffalo, NY.
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Roots of Christian Mysticism: Texts from Patristic Era with Commentary by Oliver Clement
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Music by Heart: Paperless Songs for Evening Worship by Church Publishing
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A People\’s History of the United States: 1492 to Present (P.S.) by Howard Zinn
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Disclaimer
I who have written this story, or rather this fable, give no credence to the various incidents related in it. For some things in it are the deceptions of demons, other poetic figments; some are probable, others improbable; while still others are intended for the delectation of foolish men. (Closing lines of the Táin Bó Cúalnge)
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Last weekend Tamara and I stumbled across (via Huw) what we both thought looked to be a great video on Judaism, the environment and Tikkun Olam. We thought the first half was really interesting and I can honestly say, that I did learn a thing or two. I especially loved the part featuring two Eco-friendly Shul’s in the United States. For those of you who are interested one was Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation and the other was the Reform Synagogue Temple Emanuel. They both seem to be very cutting edge, in terms of environmental issues and sustainability. I like that!
Unfortunately the second half went way down hill, well at least in my opinion that is. It basically turned in to a PETA video and they started to lose me. Don’t get me wrong I’m a non-practicing vegetarian (meaning someone who believes in the virtues of vegetarianism but has fallen off the wagon) but to be honest, I just felt like I was having an agenda pushed down my throat. Watching it seemed like the film makers were merely trying to co-opt important environmental issues, for the sake of promoting their animal rights message. And that was basically “DONT EAT ANY ANIMALS AT ALL IF YOU WANT TO SAVE THE PLANNET.” There was no talk of “more humane/sustainable approaches such as free range, grass fed, reduced consumption or organic, all of which I think are important environmental strategies and part of the solution. The second half just seemed less tempered/balanced and that unfortunately took a lot away from their message.
I’m going to watch it again, now that I have a better head (as I settle into the new place). But my initial reaction is to agree with you. I don’t think it was a a surprise, though… there were hints from the very beginning as to where the video was going. In the end, it seems very logical to offer those other solutions. But - again, needing to watch the video a second time - I don’t think those are solutions. They don’t count.
The general message is not that we need some changes to repair the huge damage we’ve done. We need sacrifice. Not just “oops, I’m sorry” but full-on teshuvah, full on metanoia (to use the Greek): a 180 degree change from where we are now.
Ultimately, any mass-produced food is a drain. Meat is the most draining - pumping in the mose cost, time, enetergy and food for the least return - and if we add to that loss the lack of humane treatment for most animals, we’re kind of up the creek with no paddle.
Yes, if you were to grow and slaughter your own chickens it would be better than buying the Aaron Rubashkin’s “kosher” but inhumane traif. But you’d use a lot of energy on the chickens that you’d be better off spending in other, more earth friendly ways. And if everyone grew chickens, we’d have the same energy loss: even without the mass market farming.
I’m among those who have fallen off the wagon: I’m a firm believer in giving up all petroleum production. But I say that typing on a plastic keyboard, listening to electronic music and resting in a non-feather, non-cotton bed, looking though plastic lenses on plastic frames, typing by a fluorescent light… drinking out of a plastic cup. Nope… our petroleum addiction won’t be fixed by electric cars.
Neither will our meat addiction be cured by simply growing free range organic animals.
I more or less agree with everything you said. My point (though not clearly stated) was that
a) change comes in degrees
b) once you get people to relate to animals in more compassionate way, it becomes IMO eassier to take the next step.
c) they seemed to be more tolerant about taking smaller steps in the first half of the video. Then in the second half it was much more extreme. It just IMO took a good chunk of the legitimacy, away from the over all argument.
TTYL
That makes sense. Personally, I wish they had explained themselves more. It’s the new motto: “Eat good food. Not too much. Mostly Plants.” I can live with that… and live by it, even.
But everyone is talking like there’s no sacrifice involved (not you personally, just everyone in general).