Remember growing bacteria cultures in high school general science? Contaminating sterile agar-agar with toe jam, multicolored spots appeared within a few days. Eventually one colony consumed all others and ended in a stinky dish of death. Isn’t it interesting that the term we most often use to describe human beings is “consumers”?
Alternatively, many faith traditions teach that the good world is created through the living word of a loving creator, and that humans are to care for it. The Judeo-Christian interpretation of humankind having dominion ought not be license to exploit the earth.
Flying across Alaska’s tundra recently, I noticed far more potholes than when I taught there forty years ago. Inupiaq friends described how later freeze-up and earlier breakup on local rivers affects their lives. In our neighborhood, a short drive over Flescher Pass reveals mile after mile of ghost forests, killed by insect infestations.
Thoughtful plans for action are emerging to counteract the human-caused changes to this planet’s life. It is critical that we work together to begin implanting them now, and that we stop considering ourselves consumers, but accept our responsibility to be caretakers in creation.
Rev. Su DeBree
1106 Wilder Ave.
Jul 19, 2007
Jul 8, 2007
Socrates Cafe' in Helena
Discussion group takes on the big ideas
By ANGELA BRANDT - IR Staff Writer - 07/08/07
For those who have ever pondered — Does love at first sight exist? Is there a supreme being? Why do our dogs see us as their master? — Helenan Tom Cladouhos has a group for you.
By the way, his answer to that last question: “Because we’re good guys,” Cladouhos responded with a chuckle.
“Also because we know how to open cans of dog food,” he added.
Cladouhos has begun a discussion group, a Socrates Café, which opines on an array of topics once a month. The meeting is not like debate class, he said, and members are not looking to win but rather searching for the truth.
“It is not about argument but about discovery,” he said.
The group, which usually attracts a handful of participants, meets the second Tuesday of every month at the Staggering Ox. They begin at 6 p.m. and philosophize until they get the boot at closing time at 8 p.m.
At the start of the meeting, those gathered each pose a question. The group then votes on which they will discuss. At the group’s meeting Tuesday, five men gathered in the corner of the sandwich shop to reflect on the presence of a supreme being.
The men talked about how and if God differentiates between prayers and their importance, if morals and ethics would exist without a supreme being and whether or not prayer is fruitful.
This month’s group included some who are religious and others self-described as “non-believers.” The conversations swayed from intense retrospection to lighthearted joking.
Retired Helenan Bill Campbell attended the Socrates Café for the first time Tuesday. He said he will definitely return.
“That was the most stimulating conversation I’ve had in quite some time,” Campbell said.
An indicator of a successful meeting is when participants leave the discussion with more questions than which they began, he said. The idea isn’t to find a definitive answer but to continue pondering.
Cladouhos started the meeting after attending a similar one in Whitefish and reading the book “Socrates Café” by Christopher Phillips.
Denverite Ron Jepson, 55, saw a listing in the Independent Record about the Stagger Ox meeting while he was here on vacation and decided to attend.
“I love this kind of stuff,” Jepson said with a grin after the discussion.
Although Tuesday’s was his first meeting, Jepson said he will look to participate in a similar gatherings when he returns home to Colorado.
Anyone is welcome to the Helena discussions.
Contact Cladouhos for further information at 443-7376.
By ANGELA BRANDT - IR Staff Writer - 07/08/07
For those who have ever pondered — Does love at first sight exist? Is there a supreme being? Why do our dogs see us as their master? — Helenan Tom Cladouhos has a group for you.
By the way, his answer to that last question: “Because we’re good guys,” Cladouhos responded with a chuckle.
“Also because we know how to open cans of dog food,” he added.
Cladouhos has begun a discussion group, a Socrates Café, which opines on an array of topics once a month. The meeting is not like debate class, he said, and members are not looking to win but rather searching for the truth.
“It is not about argument but about discovery,” he said.
The group, which usually attracts a handful of participants, meets the second Tuesday of every month at the Staggering Ox. They begin at 6 p.m. and philosophize until they get the boot at closing time at 8 p.m.
At the start of the meeting, those gathered each pose a question. The group then votes on which they will discuss. At the group’s meeting Tuesday, five men gathered in the corner of the sandwich shop to reflect on the presence of a supreme being.
The men talked about how and if God differentiates between prayers and their importance, if morals and ethics would exist without a supreme being and whether or not prayer is fruitful.
This month’s group included some who are religious and others self-described as “non-believers.” The conversations swayed from intense retrospection to lighthearted joking.
Retired Helenan Bill Campbell attended the Socrates Café for the first time Tuesday. He said he will definitely return.
“That was the most stimulating conversation I’ve had in quite some time,” Campbell said.
An indicator of a successful meeting is when participants leave the discussion with more questions than which they began, he said. The idea isn’t to find a definitive answer but to continue pondering.
Cladouhos started the meeting after attending a similar one in Whitefish and reading the book “Socrates Café” by Christopher Phillips.
Denverite Ron Jepson, 55, saw a listing in the Independent Record about the Stagger Ox meeting while he was here on vacation and decided to attend.
“I love this kind of stuff,” Jepson said with a grin after the discussion.
Although Tuesday’s was his first meeting, Jepson said he will look to participate in a similar gatherings when he returns home to Colorado.
Anyone is welcome to the Helena discussions.
Contact Cladouhos for further information at 443-7376.
Jun 18, 2007
Evolution a religion per D.W. (Dumb Witt)
More on evolution
Over the years I have listened to the passionate debate between two religions. The debate between God’s creationist and Darwin’s evolutionist. One side believes in creative intelligent design and the other believes in an accident of chaos.The creationist believes that we are a moral, spiritual being of God’s creation and more than just another “animal.”The evolutionist believes that there is no God and man evolved from animals or is just a “little smarter animal.” Some teach creationism to their children, but all our children are taught the contradicting evolutionary theory as fact in our schools. Well, the debate should be over because current archaeology has shown that the evolutionist dinosaur timeline is wrong, making the whole evolutionary theory wrong. The conclusive evidence is well laid out in the book “Secrets of the Ica Stones and Nazca Lines” by Dennis Swift. I know this book may help some out of the pit of evolutionism, but probably most will continue in their ignorance because they cannot deal with the reality that there is a God.We all choose where we place our faith, but should our children continue to be taught the false religion of evolution in our schools?
D.W. MillerP.O. Box 190
Over the years I have listened to the passionate debate between two religions. The debate between God’s creationist and Darwin’s evolutionist. One side believes in creative intelligent design and the other believes in an accident of chaos.The creationist believes that we are a moral, spiritual being of God’s creation and more than just another “animal.”The evolutionist believes that there is no God and man evolved from animals or is just a “little smarter animal.” Some teach creationism to their children, but all our children are taught the contradicting evolutionary theory as fact in our schools. Well, the debate should be over because current archaeology has shown that the evolutionist dinosaur timeline is wrong, making the whole evolutionary theory wrong. The conclusive evidence is well laid out in the book “Secrets of the Ica Stones and Nazca Lines” by Dennis Swift. I know this book may help some out of the pit of evolutionism, but probably most will continue in their ignorance because they cannot deal with the reality that there is a God.We all choose where we place our faith, but should our children continue to be taught the false religion of evolution in our schools?
D.W. MillerP.O. Box 190
Beth a Scientist and Faithful
Too broad a brush
In response to D.W. Miller’s letter June 13, which attacks scientists as godless people, I say: don’t paint us all with the same brush, sir! In my many years as a scientist, I have taught junior high, high school, and college. I have taught biology, chemistry, and physics. When I taught biology, I taught evolution as part of it. And I am a church-going woman with unshakable faith in God. So don’t paint us all with the same brush. A good scientist knows that we don’t know everything. A good scientist is filled with wonder at the beauty and intricacy of the world. Personally, when I see the beauty and intricacy of the world, I am filled with awe and praise for The Maker.
Beth Murphy104 Elmwood Lane
In response to D.W. Miller’s letter June 13, which attacks scientists as godless people, I say: don’t paint us all with the same brush, sir! In my many years as a scientist, I have taught junior high, high school, and college. I have taught biology, chemistry, and physics. When I taught biology, I taught evolution as part of it. And I am a church-going woman with unshakable faith in God. So don’t paint us all with the same brush. A good scientist knows that we don’t know everything. A good scientist is filled with wonder at the beauty and intricacy of the world. Personally, when I see the beauty and intricacy of the world, I am filled with awe and praise for The Maker.
Beth Murphy104 Elmwood Lane
Jun 14, 2007
Mr Wise Silly per Mary
William Wise, it is obvious to me and should be obvious to anyone reading your rant in Friday’s IR Your Turn, that there should be an emphasis on “retired” by your name. Where on earth are you getting your information. Please tell me exactly what school health teacher is telling their students to “bath together, use body massage, read and watching erotic material together?” Sir you are full of bologna. Parents should be teaching abstinence in their homes; too bad it isn’t happening in all homes. It is the job of health educators to provide all information to their students. It is a FACT that a majority of teenagers are engaging in sexual behaviors and are you suggesting that we should turn the other way while saying ... please save sex until marriage? That mentality and practice has led to higher STD rates and higher pregnancy rates, which in turn will inevitably lead to more abortions. I say parents should do their jobs at home and health teachers should provide our youth with the knowledge they NEED in the real world. And retired physicians should do a better job of gathering their facts before they write to their local newspaper.
Mary VanderMars, East Helena
Good Job Mary!
Mary VanderMars, East Helena
Good Job Mary!
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