Climate Change as Religion: Seminary Students Confess Their Sins to Plants in Ritual
“Today in chapel, we confessed to plants. Together, we held our grief, joy, regret, hope, guilt and sorrow in prayer”
Conservatives often say that progressives act as if climate change is a religion. They can now say that without a shred of irony.
Students at the Union Theological Seminary of Manhattan recently performed a religious ritual in which they confessed their sins to plants.
Coy Westbrook reports at the College Fix:
Seminary defends confessing sins to plants: ‘Beautiful, moving ritual’
Students at a seminary in New York City recently confessed their sins to plants during a chapel service, an experience that drew nationwide ridicule but that a campus spokesman defended as a “beautiful, moving ritual” in a statement to The College Fix.
On Tuesday, Union Theological Seminary in Manhattan shared on its Twitter account a photo of a group of students speaking to an arrangement of house plants. “Today in chapel, we confessed to plants. Together, we held our grief, joy, regret, hope, guilt and sorrow in prayer; offering them to the beings who sustain us but whose gift we too often fail to honor…
According to its website, Union Theological Seminary was founded in 1836 by nine Presbyterian ministers, who were seeking a “new vision for theological education.” Long known as a center of progressive Christian theology, it has graduated and hosted liberal thinkers from Harry Fosdick to Cornel West. Elsewhere on its website it states that “the fragility of our planet” is one of “the most profoundly challenging issues of our contemporary experience.”
How do people do this without feeling stupid, embarrassed, or ashamed?
It’s hard to believe this isn’t parody:
Today in chapel, we confessed to plants. Together, we held our grief, joy, regret, hope, guilt and sorrow in prayer; offering them to the beings who sustain us but whose gift we too often fail to honor.
What do you confess to the plants in your life? pic.twitter.com/tEs3Vm8oU4
— Union Seminary (@UnionSeminary) September 17, 2019
Jon Brown of the Washington Examiner has more:
‘Absolute theological bankruptcy’: Union Theological Seminary students confess climate sins to plants
Students at Union Theological Seminary prayed to a display of plants set up in the chapel of the school, prompting the institution to issue a statement explaining the practice as many on social media mocked them.
“Today in chapel, we confessed to plants,” the nation’s oldest independent seminary declared Tuesday on Twitter. “Together, we held our grief, joy, regret, hope, guilt and sorrow in prayer; offering them to the beings who sustain us but whose gift we too often fail to honor. What do you confess to the plants in your life?”
The ceremony, which is part of professor Claudio Carvalhaes’ class “Extractivism: A Ritual/Liturgical Response,” drew ridicule from many on Twitter, some of whom accused the seminary and students of having lost their minds.
The seminary posted this thread to explain:
We’ve had many questions about yesterday’s chapel, conducted as part of @ccarvalhaes‘ class, “Extractivism: A Ritual/Liturgical Response.” In worship, our community confessed the harm we’ve done to plants, speaking directly in repentance.
This is a beautiful ritual. /1
— Union Seminary (@UnionSeminary) September 18, 2019
We are in the throes of a climate emergency, a crisis created by humanity’s arrogance, our disregard for Creation.
Far too often, we see the natural world only as resources to be extracted for our use, not divinely created in their own right—worthy of honor, thanks and care. /2
— Union Seminary (@UnionSeminary) September 18, 2019
We need to unlearn habits of sin and death. And part of that work must be building new bridges to the natural world.
And that means creating new spiritual and intellectual frameworks by which we understand and relate to the plants and animals with whom we share the planet. /3
— Union Seminary (@UnionSeminary) September 18, 2019
Churches have a huge role to play in this endeavor. Theologies that encourage humans to dominate and master the Earth have played a deplorable role in degrading God’s creation.
We must birth new theology, new liturgy to heal and sow, replacing ones that reap and destroy. /4
— Union Seminary (@UnionSeminary) September 18, 2019
When Robin Wall Kimmerer spoke at Union last year, she concluded her lecture by tasking us—and all faith communities—to develop new liturgies by which to mourn, grieve, heal and change in response to our climate emergency.
We couldn’t be prouder to participate in this work. /5
— Union Seminary (@UnionSeminary) September 18, 2019
And here’s the thing: At first, this work will seem weird. It won’t feel normal. It won’t look like how we’re used to worship looking and sounding.
And that’s exactly the point. We don’t just need new wine, we need new wineskins. /6
— Union Seminary (@UnionSeminary) September 18, 2019
But it’s also important to note that this isn’t, really, that radical a break from tradition. Many faiths and denoms have liturgy through which we express and atone for the harm we’ve caused. No one would have blinked if our chapel featured students apologizing to each other. /7
— Union Seminary (@UnionSeminary) September 18, 2019
What’s different (and the source of so much derision) is that we’re treating plants as fully created beings, divine Creation in its own right—not just something to be consumed.
Because plants aren’t capable of verbal response, does that mean we shouldn’t engage with them? /8
— Union Seminary (@UnionSeminary) September 18, 2019
So, if you’re poking fun, we’d ask only that you also spend a couple moments asking:
Do I treat plants and animals as divinely created beings?
What harm do I cause without thinking?
How can I enter into new relationship with the natural world? /9
— Union Seminary (@UnionSeminary) September 18, 2019
Change isn’t easy: It’s no simple business to break free from comfortable habits and thoughts. But if we do not change, we will perish. And so will plants and animals God created and called “good.”
We must lean into this discomfort; God waits for us there. /10
— Union Seminary (@UnionSeminary) September 18, 2019
Some progressives take great pleasure in looking down on people of faith. It’ll be fascinating to see how they react to this.
[Featured image is a screen cap of the Union Seminary Twitter account.]
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Comments
It’s hard to take this seriously.
No, no, the way to look at this is progress, real progress. Just think how we’ve advanced. In 1967 we learned from Doctor Doolittle how to Talk to the Animals.
Today, a breakthrough – at long last, being able to Talk to the Plants!
Once you understand that this is an “acquirable skill,” which these seminary students have mastered, you’re home-free.
Later today I’ll call this seminary with this question, “Does the grass like to be mowed every week or so?”
From wiki, “The song first appears in Dolittle’s residence, when the Doctor fully realizes from his parrot, Polly, that intelligently communicating with animals is an acquirable skill. In reaction, Dolittle resolves to master it with as many species as possible and starts the song as he muses about the skill’s possibilities. The song is reprised outdoors when the Doctor finds he has mastered the skill and joyfully celebrates, surrounded by animals.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk_to_the_Animals
Take it away, Rex,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpBPavEDQCk
If only they could get Harvey Weinstein to confess.
That photo is a Harvey Weinstein photoshop opportunity on steroids.
oh corn cob, dear corn cob, I confess that I ran out of toilet paper the other day and I did terrible, terrible things to you. I am so so sorry!!!
Huh? Apologize for feeding plants more CO2?
They can now say that without a shred of irony.
There was never any irony. It is an apocalyptic cult, just one of many. Fire from the heavens, what can be more apocalyptic than that?
Won’t be no more water, de fire next time
Plants use CO2 for food and, at CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere of around 200 ppm and less, plants starve to death. Being that CO2 concentrations are now over 400 ppm and plants are thriving all over the Earth to the point where plants are starting to reclaim fringe areas around major deserts such as the Sahara Desert, harvest yields are increasing, etc., it would seem more appropriate to express love and thanks to them, but certainly not to confess to them the dreaded sin of improving their situation. This is Botany 101. Have we become so stupid we don’t even know basic science anymore? (Rhetorical question for the answer among the Left/Democrats is obvious.)
You never see them go after developers who plow tracts of land to create strip malls. The malls live 5 years, fail, and then they rinse, lather and repeat. No concern for the plant-life offset, which is a major red flag
Consider two things: When we burn hydrocarbon fuel, we make two things; 02 and h20. More of the former, fortunately. So what if they perfect the hydrogen engine, which will only produce h20 as it’s emission? Suddenly flooding the planet with a whole bunch of water could contribute to warming as each cc of water releases 520 calories of heat when condensed, far more than C02 could ever.
Now just suppose they find a way to harness the internal heat of the planet. It could provide centuries of power for many heat-based engines. But the long term net loss of heat from the planets core could one day solidify the magma, causing the magnet to stop or greatly weaken. At that point, the solar winds blow the atmosphere away and the planet becomes Mars-like
These phony anti-capitalists are dangerous
“plants are starting to reclaim fringe areas around major deserts such as the Sahara Desert…”
Not to forget reclaiming metropolitan Detroit.
“What do you confess to the plants in your life?
That I stalk them……
and
I like them with french dressing.
Glad you didn’t say Russian dressing… then we would know you tamper with elections
The plants should be thanking me for using plastic straws and plastic bags, because guess where the paper and biodegradable ones come from? 🙂
Um, one question. Shouldn’t plants be thanking them in turn for the increased CO2 levels?
These people are insane. God help us all.
This puts a whole new spin on the word “vegetarian.”
Q: Are you a person of faith?
A: Yes, I’m a Vegetarian.
Q: What are the tenets of that, it’s new to me?
A: All human beings have original sin, because we exhale CO2. But we can seek salvation through lowering our carbon footprint, confessing our sins to the Vegetarian Angels around us, and purchasing dispensations in form of carbon credits.
As a mother of four adult children and several grandchildren, I have to wonder how on earth the people confessing to a plant got to where they are. Are they so removed from reality in life because of bad parenting?
My kids come in various stripes – no two are alike, they agree and disagree on all sorts of things but thankfully at no time has any one of them asked, “mom, do you treat plants and animals as divinely created beings?”
I totally treat plants as divinely created being. Beings who exist to fulfill the measure of their creation – the reason they were created by a kind and loving God. I talk to them and express thanks when I am cooking, and tell them why I am glad they came to my house, and how they will fulfill that reason. I don’t do it all the time, but yes, I do talk to my food, and believe that it has a reason for being in my kitchen.
(my friend laughed at me when we were picking strawberries together because I would tell the not-quite-ripe ones that I was leaving them there to enjoy more sunlight so they could become more juicy and sweet. And then she would laugh when I would say to another, “oh, you are so beautiful, I need to eat you NOW. mmmm”)
Have to keep those fruits and vegetables in line. If one tries to roll away or hide I immediately eat it. The rest having witnessed that don’t move a fiber out of fear.
I hate to be the voice of doom and gloom (aw, who am I kidding -I love it!) but this plant worship is not just the latest exercise in harmless lunacy. Environmentalists are directly responsible for the deaths of tens of millions of humans, which in the Genocidal Olympics puts them in the ranks of Hitler and Stalin.
Take the environmentalists’ worldwide ban on DDT, and the resulting surge in malaria (which was close to being eradicated before the ban). Tens of millions of poor people – most with black or brown skin – were left to die in slow agony so that a bunch of rich white Western progressives could feel good about themselves.
When will the pampered white academics who are bowing to plants confess their real sin of genocide?
But…Rachel Carson! Silent Spring!
Conservatives often say that progressives act as if climate change is a religion.
Actually, it’s all of progressivism that is a religion. But there are demi-gods to which you can devote yourself, if you so desire: Gaia, Pax (for the hoplophobes), the 6-faced demi-god of Intersectionality, etc.
Multiple references to plants as “beings.” At a theological school no less. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Well, they are. They exist, therefore they are beings. I don’t understand your problem with that. And of course they’re divinely created, just like all beings. No problem with that either. That’s not the loony part.
“Long known as a center of progressive Christian theology…”
Not any more. Obviously, their mission statement changed to a Gaia Worship Cult; ‘the creature, not the Creator.’
But have no fear. We won’t behead you.
Mea culpa. I often forget to water.
Well, if their churches have become empty (as so many progressive churches have) then perhaps they can put plants in the pews and preach to them?
“…creating new spiritual and intellectual frameworks by which we understand and relate to the plants…”
Well, at least they’re interacting with their spiritual and intellectual equals…or perhaps striving to reach upwards to attain said equality.
I might be good if they not only refrain from eating meat(too many steps removed from plant-based foods, after all!) and refrain from the wanton killing and eating of all plants as well — unless they opt to pray to and thank the plants they are about to savagely cook (else, eat all raw!) and eat. (In their case, from an intellectual basis, one might conclude they’re engaging in cannibalism.)
Yup, that’s the ticket. Don’t eat any more animal=-based or plant-base products and, by all means, STOP exhaling that planet-killing CO2. NOW! Before it’s too late…
Carrot Juice is Murder
I really, really expect a Babylon Bee article on this soon. Something like “Anglican Church Ordains First Fern Minister” would be very cool.
Admittedly, I thought this was a parody at first. Then I read through their website a little, and came to the realization that a seminary who offers such widespread degrees must be a very open and progressive institution. Also, any church who hires somebody from this institution gets what they deserve.
Ask and you shall receive!
https://tinyurl.com/y2yrlz4s
“Giant carnivorous plant refuses to accept students apologies”
Run for your lives!!!! I
It’s a fast food joint for the descendants of Audrey II.
NBC News put up a “Climate Confessional”web site yesterday soliciting reader inputl
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/specials/climate-confessions-share-solutions-climate-change-n1054791
It’s hilarious. They are getting the same results that MSNBC got a couple of days ago on their reader poll on citizens right to carry guns in public (93% pro).
http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/poll-do-you-think-people-should-be-allowed-carry-guns-public
Most Americans just aren’t dumb enough to take fake news seriously. Maybe they will get a clue for why their viewership numbers are so low and yet keep crashing.
The only people taking this seriously are the commie establishment elites and the 5% weak-minded idiots among us.
I left a comment apologizing for having sometimes peed outside, since that would increase the outdoor temperature. I wonder if they’ll publish my comment.
I posted:
“I’m a carnivore. I like to pounce on my food and rip it to pieces before I eat it. It’s who I am. I can’t help it.”
You do realize that the people in the photo (and the plants in some cities) all vote for Democrats. Perhaps the Dems could have one of the plants testify before one of their retarded Committees about how they are triggered by climate change or something.
They’re very close to nominating a vegetable for president.
CNN’s setting up a podium on stage for the next Democratic debate as we read this! Kermit’s considering a law suit claiming misappropriation of “It’s Not Easy Being Green.”
Between these fools and the vegans, what do they eat? I’m waiting for the day scientists record the primal scream of a plant as it is harvested! Can you imagine the outcry from PETA and the silence from the vegans?
“I apologize for some times in the past having peed on your brethren in the forest.”
The old Canaanite religion…
This is so old that is mentioned in the Bible old testament….
It didn’t work well for the Canaanites…
Yes, Ashera is a tree that is worshiped.
Is she still alive? How do they know she’s a ‘she”?
The Asherah nuts apparently don’t fall far from the tree.
Ashera in the Bible is not a “she”. Any tree that is worshiped is an ashera.
Oh. I thought “Ashera” was one of those exotic female names, like “Aguilera”, or “Gaga”, or “Beyonce”. My bad.
All the old gods have returned…just repackaged.
So you’ve just chucked the Bible in the garbage.
I confess that I couldn’t give two schists about the felings of a bunch of sanctimonious panic-mongers, or the potted plants that out-IQ them.
Well few years ago Prince Charles said he talked to his plants. Don’t expect he apologised to them, though. The UK Royals just never apologise to anyone – in which way you could say they tend to treat their ‘subjects’ just like vegetables..
UN’s “Earth Charter” (with an “Ark of Hope” to carry it in!):
“In 1992 Maurice Strong was the Secretary General of the historic United Nations Earth conference in Rio (UNCED). He said, “The real goal of the Earth Charter is that it will in fact become like the Ten Commandments.”iv Strong was not the only one to think this way. Consider these words from Mikhail Gorbachev:
Do not do unto the environment of others what you do not want done to your own environment….My hope is that this charter will be a kind of Ten Commandments, a “Sermon on the Mount,” that provides a guide for human behavior toward the environment in the next century.v”
This is all about a Global governance; Global economic control; New Age worship of Earth; Global education of environment.
https://amazingdiscoveries.org/S-deception_resources_global_sustainable
All bundled together under Climate Change.
Ban assault-lawnmowers!!
And weed whackers! Gasp! Roundup!!!!
Check out UN Agendas 21 and 2030, too.
What Union is doing is pagan, Pantheism. Christians should run from this unholy scheme.
One worships God the Creator, not the created.
Upvoted, but I am not sure that communication (albeit likely one-way) is like worship.
Oh, I’m sure it’s one-way. What plant would even listen to them, given the choice — let alone reply?
Someone should ask these people what they think about smoking weed.
Well. That puts a downer on the Burger King vege burger roll out.
Botanist says genetic modification of plants is equivalent to rape:
https://pjmedia.com/trending/genetic-modification-of-crops-is-rape-botanist-says/
It would be funny except that these same people are demanding the power of life and death over all of us.
So, they confess to Joe Biden?
No silly. You are confusing Joe B. with with Ruth G.
Treating plants as having divinity makes a mockery of Christianity.
OK it was an elective.
I baptize thee with RoundUp®.
lord–was raised in the presbyterian church–if any of this nonsense had occurred then, the participants and instigators would still be in confinement somewhere
“How do people do this without feeling stupid, embarrassed, or ashamed?”
Answer: Dunning-Kruger effect
Bless me plant, for I have sinned.
I just smoked a primo relative of yours.
My goodness! Those appear to be healthy potted plants. They’re confessing indoors to healthy, well cared for plants. How crazy is that! If they really cared they’d be outdoors taking care of sick unhealthy plants. Instead of giving lip service, they would get off their ass and organize a plant rescue – bring all those endangered plants into a nursery and nurse them back to health. Offer a cup of cold water in Jesus name (mixed with a spoonful of Miraclegro).