God Please Save Your Planet...from us.

Chapter Twenty- No One Said This Was Going to be Easy

There is a young child on the cover of this book. What do you think he is doing? Why should you care? For the moment, I'm not going to answer these questions. Your answers will reflect your personal world view. The title alone may have been off putting if you are an atheist. I have carefully crafted this title. Why should an atheist be interested in reading a book that implies there is a God?

As Richard Dawkins indicated in his book: "The God Delusion", you may equate the title of this book with fantasy. That's fine. I welcome your perspective. In fact, as an atheist you can bring something very valuable to the discussion. Over the years, I have noticed that individuals who don't believe in a supreme deity in the universe, usually carry with them a question that shields them from becoming religious. It goes something like this: 'If he's (she's, or it's) out there, why doesn't it do something to stop all the suffering in the world?' Inaction is seen as evidence of non existence. As an atheist, you make a very good point.

On the other hand, you may hold the view that scientific evidence proves there is no higher person or force in the universe. After all, the Bible doesn't teach evolution, and selective species adaptation is clearly how we all got here. Okay, if that is your particular worldview, welcome. I hear you. I think you might actually find this book enlightening.

Are you an agnostic atheist? If so, I invite you to keep reading. This book may offer the conversation you've been waiting for. You may have been burned by organized religion. You are not alone, but is there common ground between religion and resentment? I respect this term: Agnostic Atheist, because it implies that you are a person who likes to ask questions. Questions are good. Are you open to answers?

There are many eastern schools of thought that have pondered some of the tougher questions plaguing our world. Taoism is one that seeks to find harmony between humans and the natural world. Another is Confucianism which is more of a philosophy than a religion. Today we see many of these eastern ideologies blending into our modern societies. If you share either of these perspectives, welcome! This book will definitely appeal to you.

You may have a Jewish heritage. Are you an adherent of Islam? Are you Hindu or Buddhist? All are welcome! We have much to discuss. Time would escape us if I went on to list all the various branches of these different perspectives.

Are you a woman? Thank you for taking the time to read this book. Sometimes it can feel like the Bible and some other religious texts cast women as second class citizens. I don't know how you might personally feel, but I don't believe it is kind, or emotionally healthy to tell you that they don't, when in many places these sacred texts do. Perhaps, a conversation is in order. We will address some of these controversial references in this book.

While I'm on the topic of unfair treatment of women, I think it's important to point out that this is something felt by many different ethnic groups and sexual orientations. There are no minorities in this book. This book is designed to be diverse in its scope. It needs to be, in order to achieve the goals that I set out in the Backward.

No one said this was going to be easy, but each person who reads this book is in a safe place. You don't have to answer to anyone else who may hold a different world view. I desperately desire to find common ground in the pages that follow. I am not advocating mere tolerance, but discussion. What does every man, woman, child, animal, plant, and insect have in common? Isn't it the ground on which we are standing, sitting, or lying? Whatever your position, take your stand, or take a seat. Listen or read. Feel or analyze.

Our common ground is not our age, our religion (or abstinence from religion). It is not our political views, nor our living conditions. Our common ground is literally the ground on which we stand. This diverse planet. Our common home.

While we may share common ground, the condition of our ground may differ greatly. Some ground is more fertile. Some ground is depleted. Some is even over saturated. For many it is pavement. This difference in the quality of the soil beneath our feet reveals an inconvenient reality. We all share the planet, but we do not share it equally. Gross mismanagement of resources has insured survival of the richest. But what about people who can't afford a lifeboat?

As Greta Thunberg said in her book; The Climate Book: "Stop saying that we are all in the same boat. We're all in the same storm. But we're not all in the same boat." And I would add: Some of us may not even have a boat to get into.

One thing I think we can all agree on is that we are indeed in a storm. Everyone may differ in their opinion of what sort of storm it is, but one thing is undeniable. We're all in a lot of trouble if something doesn't change our global trajectory. It just might be time to ask for some help. That might be the most difficult thing of all. On the next page, we will consider why there has never been a better time to overcome this common aversion. It's sink or swim.