Is environmentalism green religion or a cult?

That’s silly, environmentalism is caring about the environment. Not a system of beliefs or a group with practices outside the norm.

There are extremes with every ideology. And while some might take things too far, like forcing everyone to recycle like they do or living a hemp filled life, it’s their choice and they can’t really be compared.

Apples to oranges.

lol, living a hemp filled life.

No, it is a set of beliefs, but there is nothing spiritual about the movement.

That’s like saying, “Is taking care of your children a religion or a cult?” It’s neither. It’s just what people who choose to live on this planet should do, if they don’t want to be evicted.

The only issue comes when someone cares about the environment more than the people who inhabit it.

In any other case, more power to them—the more they do, the less I have to.

Um, neither? I don’t even know if it qualifies as a “set of beliefs”...there is such a wide variety of ways to live green, and it often differs from person to person.

I’m with the original poster – there are some people totally set in converting others to changing their lifestyles to better the environment.

But don’t get me wrong – I believe we should all change our habits so we aren’t so excessive, wasteful, and using products that harm the earth.

It’s just that they shouldn’t make you feel like a “sinner” because you aren’t driving a Prius or “Bible-bash” you with literature about the environment, or “starving-child-in-africa-won’t-you-donate” types of commercials with children worried about their future.

Sure, it’s great marketing. Sure! It’s true. Just don’t be so forceful.

Is peanut butter brown doorknob or floormat?

I’ve never imagined it as either a religion or a cult. To me, its more like a passion for people who want to preserve and protect what is left of a deteriorating (at a very quick rate) environment all around us.

Well, I played in the yard with my sisters kids today. They are six years old and I don’t want to fuck up the planet that they are going to inherit. Is global warming real? It probably is. I’m going to assume it is because it would be a bad thing to be wrong about.

You don’t really know if heaven is real. But you don’t want to fuck it up so you think it is. Same thing, except scientists agree with me.

Obviously, neither. Have a tad bit of a chip on your shoulder about the environment?

i don’t understand how the word green fits into this sentence. The word “green” is an adjective…or it was last time i was taught grammar in elementary school.

Reading this sentence in English would imply the question, “is environmentalism a religion that is the color green or a cult, possibly also the color green, or some other option, such as ‘not’?”. last time i checked religions didn’t come in colors….neither did cults…

What are you trying to ask?

@La_chica_gomela :: Is peanut butter brown doorknob or floormat?

That pretty much sums this thing up. Dave wins.

Does that mean I lose? :-(

@chica: no

@PupnTaco: I was literally giggling at your peanut butter comment for four or five minutes after I left this thread. I just had to come back and congratulate you.

@La_Chica: lots of things that aren’t actually covered with green pigment are metaphorically described as “green” if they’re environmental. For instance, the Prius, a hybrid gas/electric car, is “green,” even if the actual car is blue or red.

In this case, I think the question asker is asking about environmentalism as being a “green,” or eco-friendly, religion. This isn’t as strange as it would appear, as there are many people out there who treat Environmentalism as a part of how they worship, or as something they do for spiritual reasons. (Wicca is known for its adherants trying to be kind to nature. There’s also the Gaia Hypothesis which describes a belief that the Earth regulates itself as a sentient being might, which some people feel has religious or spiritual overtones. There are even Christians who feel that God wants them to be good stewards of the Earth.)

In these cases, though, I think it is environmentalism that fits itself in as a platform for some peoples’ “green” religions/spirituality, and not necessarily that Environmentalists (who may be of any religion) practice some kind of ecological cult. Looking at it this way is, I believe, putting the cart before the horse. The only time I hear people describe environmentalism itself as a religion or cult is when they’re trying to be a troll by making people who care about the Earth look like ridiculous wackos.

Quote from laureth… “There are even Christians who feel that God wants them to be good stewards of the Earth.”

That is true. I am a Christian and since I believe God created the Earth and gave it to us to consume and live on, we should take care of it out of respect for the gift!

In the OP’s defense, I don’t think this was meant to be understood as an either/or question.

Or understood at all, perhaps.