4 ms·

Could also be a variant of manifest destiny.

• emodendroket 10y ago
  Don't really see how it fits.
  • cmurf 10y ago
    Manifest destiny stems in part from a religious belief in American moral superiority and the necessity and morality of its expansionism and imperialism. As a variant of that, I'm suggesting only what I've heard from (and grew up with) midwest American Christians, not least of which is language from the Vice President elect, and many other Republican elected officials: that god created the earth for man to use and consume however he wanted, and therefore there's no good reason to believe that humans can even screw up the planet, because that'd sortof be a bait and switch and god wouldn't do that to us. That man has superiority over all the plants and animals (as it says in the bible) means we can do with them as we will, there are no negatives to completely obliterating entire species, there's no meaningful consequence to that, man doesn't have the power to alter the earth in such a negative way that humanity becomes incompatible with the earth. I think it's dangerous nonsense. However, I know people believe in this. Around 10 years ago the local paper asked readers if hell was real, and sinners go there to burn for eternity, and the majority of readers said yes. And so on. So, you know, insane but also socially acceptable mythology. But these are also the same people who say they're sick of political correctness, but get all pissy when their dangerous beliefs are questioned. shrug
    • emodendroket 10y ago
      I don't think that's really manifest destiny. But sure, I've heard the stuff about dominion over the Earth. It's bad Christian theology in addition to being bad politics. That Man is to have dominion over the Earth does not imply that there's nothing he can do to make it worse for himself and his fellows. But I'm often surprised at how little many Christians I meet seem to know about the Bible or Christian theology. I guess it's mostly a cultural affiliation for many people.
      • cmurf 10y ago
        I think we're in agreement that American Christians are uniquely, or perhaps especially, ignorant about a number of things, climate change and their own religion.
        • emodendroket 10y ago
          Well, I am an American Christian so I'm probably not going to get on board with a blanket condemnation of all of us.