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Ted Turner's oil spill theology
By David Waters
We the people of faith have an amazing ability to see God at work affirming our own opinions. Take the catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Media mogul Ted Turner, a liberal environmentalist who once called Christianity a "religion for losers," sees the oil spill -- and other recent fossil fuel-related calamities -- as God's way of telling us to stop exploiting his creation.
"I'm not a real religious person, but I'm somewhat religious. And I'm just wondering if God is telling us he doesn't want us to drill offshore," Turner told CNN. "And right before that we had that coal mine disaster in West Virginia where we lost 29 miners," as well as repeated mining disasters - "seems like there's one over there every week" - in China.
"Maybe the Lord's tired of having the mountains of West Virginia, the tops knocked off of them so they can get more coal. I think maybe we ought to just leave the coal in the ground and go with solar and wind power and geo-thermals where it's applicable."
Texas Gov. Rick Perry, on the other hand, would disagree with that conclusion. In early May, Perry dismissed notions that the spill might require a halt to oil drilling in the Gulf.
"We don't know what the event that has allowed for this massive oil to be released," Perry said. "And until we know that, I hope we don't see a knee-jerk reaction across this country that says we're going to shut down drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, because the cost to this country will be staggering . . .
"From time to time there are going to be things that occur that are acts of God that cannot be prevented," Perry said.
Or interpreted.
David Waters
| June 1, 2010; 3:50 PM ET | Category: Today's Topic Save & Share:
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Posted by: PSolus | June 1, 2010 4:28 PM
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David Waters
You wrote, ""From time to time there are going to be things that occur that are acts of God that cannot be prevented," Perry said."
Did God drill that well?
I could be wrong but I heard that "procedures" were shortcutted, did God do the shortcutting?
Just because God made absolutely everything and gave us free will does not give us the "right" to blame what we do on God, does it?
Take care, be ready.
Sincerely, Thomas Paul Moses Baum.
Posted by: Thomas Baum | June 2, 2010 11:18 AM
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Maybe god's telling the Huckabees who hate the environment and can only cry "drill, baby, drill!" that it's not such a good idea after all. What will be left of our planet after these good "Christians" stop ripping it open for their greedy profits and addiction to carbon based energy? Why do they obstruct alternative energy at every turn?
Posted by: areyousaying | June 2, 2010 12:21 PM
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Dear Ted:
You're not helping. Even Jane Fonda dumped you. Go back to your buffalo herd.
Love,
Followers of Earth-based Religions
Posted by: Athena4 | June 2, 2010 2:53 PM
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In response to 'Illegal immigrants are flouting U.S. laws...'
I do not support the idea that America has a moral or spiritual **obligation** to help illegals. First and foremost, America has an obligation to its citizens, to ensure their security and safety and to work within its means to provide for economic growth and prosperity. Having said this, it's important (perhaps even imperative in today's international climate) for America to take a wider view. It must become more aware of the fact that it does not exist in a vacuum and indeed shares this globe with scores of other nations. The policies and actions it takes throughout the world today have ramifications and repurcussions tomorrow. The challenge is to strike a balance between serving national interests and serving global ones. What seems apparent to me in 21st century thus far is that sincere effort expended toward the latter may actually equate with the former.
Posted by: JKValleyforge | June 2, 2010 5:12 PM
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I think that the ocean deities that many people are praying to are telling us, "you spilled it, you clean it up." They don't seem to be giving us any divine guidance here.
Where's Aquaman when you need him?
Posted by: Athena4 | June 3, 2010 11:23 AM
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Just this morning, god told me not to fry bacon until after I've put my shirt on.