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Wednesday, September 22, 2010

'Pollution and the Death of Man' Chapter 3

Finding pantheism inadequate, Schaeffer examines other moral bases for the ecological movement. He says a Byzantine model of Christianity where only the heavenly things matter, isn't much chop either. The Reformed model is the best because God has told us something "about both heavenly things and nature" (p38).  This is important both because we have a source of knowledge outside ourselves and because our attention is on both heavenly things and nature.  Schaeffer then closes the chapter with an anecdote my dad has told before. Schaeffer is at a Christian retreat and goes across the valley the bohemian New Age retreat where they discuss ecology.  The New Age retreat is laid out beautifully but when they turn around and look back across the valley, the Christian retreat is an ugly set of buildings.   Scheaffer isn't condoning glamour or prettiness but commenting on the way that the gospel should but often doesn't impact our aesthetics.  It's a very jarring cover but don't be put off, it's a great read, very accessible.