In a time where global conservation is a front-page issue, you would think that people who care about 'creation' would be foremost in wanting to keep our forests alive. This doesn't seem to be the case here in St.Thomas. In our city of dwindling natural trees and forest habitats, more forest is being torn down to accomidate another building.
Just north of town in a once wooded area, construction has now started to build a new church. Trees have been cut down, habitats have been destroyed and who knows how many animals have been evicted from their homes, all in the name of religon.
First of all, you would think that being a religious organization, they would want to keep God's creation intact. Now I understand that building and production is inevitable and forests and farmland are where we will have to move to next, but while we still have open, unused space in the city, why would you want to destroy what little forest we still have? Do you think that God would suggest tearing a hole in a natural forest over choosing an existing, non-forest lot? Churches should be in the forefront of enviromental rights arguments because we are destroying what God gave us, not adding to the disaster.
There are so many buildings in town that are empty and unused that would be a suitable space for a church. What it might come down to is a desire to make a building that would 'represent' the people who want to come to the organization. That is saying that they expect the people who want to come there to appreciate a large, new and probably very expensive building and couldn't see a use for an existing, not-so-exqusite building that could maybe save them money which they could help out a needful community. What kind of money would they save, not to mention the trees and forest, if they chose a building not normally percieved as a church. What could they spend this money on? Maybe helping the homeless? Assisting children in need? No, they'll just get that $500 per-square-foot marble for their walkway.
Take a walk downtown. Look in a few of the empty buildings and imagine a gathering of believers sitting there. It may not be an amplitheater with spotlights, pillars and stone fountains, but put the extra money to good use in our city and you'll get those pillars, marble walkways and stone fountains in heaven where no bulldozers exist.
Edit:::
This story was published a few weeks ago in the St.Thomas Times Journal. I surprisingly havn't gotten any calls or threats yet, but the year is still young...
