Yoopernewsman's Blog

An Interfaith Earth Healing Message from Bishop Thomas A. Skrenes about the EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge

A Lutheran Bishop who has participated in interfaith Earth Day recycling projects for three years in a row encourages people of all faiths to get involved and help protect the environment.

Interfaith environment projects like the EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge will help ensure a better future for all humans, according to Lutheran Bishop Thomas A. Skrenes of the Northern Great Lakes Synod (NGLS) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

The challenge involves about 40 projects in hundreds of communities across eights states including recycling electronics (e-Waste), properly disposing of pharmaceuticals and everyday poisons (called Household Hazardous Waste - HHW), and cleaning up communities across the Great Lakes basin.

The U.S. Environmental Projection Agency has provided grants to some of the cities and to the Earth Healing Initiative to help reach a goal of one million pounds of electronics and one million pills.

The interfaith Earth Healing Initiative, based in Marquette, MI, is helping promote the challenge and coordinate interfaith volunteers and participation in some of the Great Lakes Basin cities.

Bishop Skrenes is among 10 faith leaders who have signed the northern Michigan Earth Keeper Covenant pledging to actively participate in environment projects, build bridges with others faiths, and reach out to Native American communities.

The ongoing project involves the congregations of over 150 churches and temples representing ten faith communities - Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Methodist Church, Unitarian Universalist, Bahá'í, Jewish, Zen Buddhist and most recently the Religious Society of Friends - commonly known as the Quakers.

The Upper Peninsula Earth keepers set up collection sites across a 400-mile area of northern Michigan on Earth Day 2005-2007.

About 15,000 residents turned in over 320 tons of e-Waste, 45 tons of HHW including car batteries, oil-based paint, pesticides, liquid mercury, and other common poisons and over one ton of pharmaceuticals including $500,000 in narcotics.


Bishop Skrenes said the interfaith clean sweep is an example for other communities in the world because it shows like-minded people with good hearts can make a real impact in their communities when tackling environmental problem that seem daunting or too big for the average person to really make a difference..

Bishop Skrenes hopes everyone across the Great Lakes Basin will participate in their local project.

For more information:
http://www.EarthHealingInitiative.org

or call: 906-401-0109
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Background: Earth Healing Initiative and the Michigan Earth Keeper Initiative

The Cedar Tree Institute (CTI) co-founded the interfaith Earth Keeper Initiative in Michigan's Upper Peninsula that works closely with ten faith traditions on a wide range of environment projects that include college students, at-risk teens, American Indian tribes and others.
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The CTI Earth healing Initiative is developing the same relationship with the same faith communities in northern Michigan and others across the Great lakes.

The faith communities include Roman Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Methodist Church, Unitarian Universalist, Baha'i, Jewish, The Religious Society of Friends (commonly known as the Quakers) and Zen Buddhist.
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Challenging an interfaith stake in the world"s environmental future: Million pounds e-waste, Million pills goal of EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge

(Chicago, Illinois) - Faith leaders across eight Great Lakes states are urging their members to participate in an Earth Day 2008 challenge to collect one million pounds of electronics and more than one million pills because trust is needed between all people to stop "an environmental crisis."

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge has moved into high gear more than 100 projects involving hundreds of communities are collecting pharmaceuticals, electronics and household poisons.

An EPA grant to the non-profit interfaith Earth Healing Initiative (EHI) is mobilizing religious communities in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania.

A Lutheran Bishop who has participated in interfaith Earth Day recycling projects for three years in a row encourages people of all faiths to get involved and help protect the environment.

"We are in an environmental crisis in many ways," said Lutheran Bishop Thomas A. Skrenes of the Northern Great Lakes Synod (NGLS) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). "The Great Lakes watershed is really kind of a mother to all of us here in the populated areas of the upper Midwest."

Interfaith environment projects like the EPA Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge will help ensure a better future for all humans, Skrenes said, adding "sometimes its relationships and trusting each other that really count in environmental work."

"The culture, the society and the environment are now connecting in some fantastic new ways to build relationships between people," Skrenes said. "We are building trust along and across denominational lines, in the Christian communities and into the wider faith communities of the whole country."

The EHI is "a coalition and partnership of churches, synagogues and other faith traditions joining together and sharing their projects and resources to heal, protect and defend the environment," said founder Rev. Jon Magnuson of Marquette, Michigan.

Bishop Skrenes hopes everyone across the Great Lakes Basin will participate in their local project.

Saying "it"s not your grandfather"s environment movement anymore," Skrenes said that environmental work is now more mainstream and no longer "an obscure thing for a certain group of people" unlike 40 years ago when he was in high school "and I dare say some of my relatives said it was kind of a hippie movement."

"The church is called to bring people together to be part of the healing," Skrenes said.

"This interfaith earth healing effort is really a great gift that has been given to all of us," Skrenes said. "It is our calling and our responsibility to assist in renewal and rebuilding - it"s God"s work and it"s the work of God"s people."

Examples of established interfaith organizations that are assisting the EHI include the University of Minnesota Lutheran Campus Ministry, the Arrowhead Interfaith Council in Duluth, the Marquette University Ministry outlets in Milwaukee, several Catholic interfaith groups and the office of Ecumenical Formation and Inter-Religious Relations at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

EPA grants to some of the organizers help fund projects aimed at recycling computers, cell phones and other electronics commonly known as "e-waste plus collecting out-of-date and unwanted pharmaceuticals for proper disposal in high tech incinerators.

To comply with federal drug laws, police officers and pharmacists are accepting the medications. While some of the projects have been running all month or during Earth Week, the bulk of the events will be held either this Saturday, April 19 or next Saturday, April 26. Collections, rules, times and dates vary from city to city.

The interfaith EHI is one of numerous environment and Native American projects founded by the non-profit Cedar Tree Institute in Marquette, Michigan including the Earth Keepers, known for removing more than 370 tons of e-Waste, pharmaceuticals and household hazardous waste (HHW) during three Earth Day clean sweeps across the Upper Peninsula.

The northern Michigan Earth Keepers have alliances with ten faith traditions across the Upper Peninsula, and the EHI is coordinating the same relationships with religious communities across the Great Lakes and beyond.

Bishop Skrenes is among the faith leaders who have signed the northern Michigan Earth Keeper Covenant pledging to actively participate in environment projects, build bridges with others faiths, and reach out to Native American communities.

Bishop Skrenes said the interfaith clean sweep is an example for other communities in the world because it shows like-minded people with good hearts can make a real impact in their communities when tackling environmental problem that seem daunting or too big for the average person to really make a difference.

The ongoing Earth Keeper project involves the congregations of over 150 churches and temples representing ten faith communities: Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Methodist Church, Unitarian Universalist, Bahá'í, Jewish, Zen Buddhist and the Religious Society of Friends commonly known as the Quakers.

The Upper Peninsula Earth Keepers set up collection sites across a 400-mile area of northern Michigan on Earth Day 2005-2007. About 15,000 residents turned in over 320 tons of e-Waste, 45 tons of HHW including car batteries, oil-based paint, pesticides, liquid mercury, and other common poisons and over one ton of pharmaceuticals including $500,000 in narcotics.

"People of many spiritual dimensions resonate to this work," Skrenes said. "This is a good effort for all of us to be involved with."

"This is about the environment, this is about cleaning up and making things new again and restoring things to the ways they once were and can be," Skrenes said.

"People who are spiritual reflect upon and think about creation," Skrenes said. "We think about the lakes and the streams and the forest and all of the rest that God has produced."
The 2008 EPA challenge collection sites in large cities and surrounding areas like Chicago, Milwaukee and Cleveland.

Illinois: Alton, Beecher, Bellwood, Bolingbrook, Carol Stream, Channahon, Chicago, Elk Grove Village, Elmhurst, Glenview, Joliet, Lockport, Lombard, Mount Prospect, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Romeoville, Shorewood, Villa Park, West Chicago, Wheaton, Woodstock

Indiana: Columbia City, Hammond, Knox, LaPorte, Fort Wayne, Rushville, Valparaiso

Michigan: Bay City (two events), Benton Harbor, Bloomfield Hills, Dearborn Heights, East Lansing, Farmington Hills, Goodells, Grand Rapids (two events) Harbor Springs, Lansing, Midland, Monroe, Royal Oaks, Sault Ste. Marie, Southfield, Traverse City

Minnesota: Blaine, Brooklyn Park, Duluth, Eagan, Eden Prairie, Madison, Maple Grove, New Ulm, Saint Cloud, Shakopee, St. Louis Park, St. Paul
New York: Brockport, Buffalo, Fredonia, Rochester (two events), Syracuse (two events).

Ohio: Cleveland, Grove City, Kent, Perrysburg, Sandusky, Springfield, Toledo, Warren

Pennsylvania: Erie, Lancaster

Wisconsin: Appleton, Brillion, Chilton, Crandon, Green Bay, Keshena (Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin and College of Menominee Nation), Manitowoc, Milwaukee (two events), New Holstein, Oshkosh, Plover (two events), Racine, Superior, Waupaca.

The EHI works in collaboration with the EPA and other government and non-government organizations, said Magnuson, executive director of the Cedar Tree Institute

The EHI is organizing faith community volunteers and participants plus providing free media assistance to the Earth Day projects including press releases, press contacts, internet videos, podcasts and postings.

For more information on the EHI project call 906-401-0109.
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Related websites:
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EPA:
Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge:
http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/earthday2008
Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge event list:
http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/earthday2008/events.html
EPA Press Release on challenge:
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/D48F2AD96EC624E38525740B003AEE57
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Earth Healing Initiative:
http://www.EarthHealingInitiative.org
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Backgrounds by Marie Native American art
http://www.artistic-designers.com/bkgds/
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Interfaith graphics by Justice St. Rain (Bah'i Community) of Interfaith Resources - Special Ideas website:
http://www.interfaithresources.com
http://www.interfaithresources.com/subcategories.php?dir=leftMenuSub&template=default&id=10
http://www.interfaithresources.com/products.php?id=2469
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Call Justice St. Rain at Interfaith resources:
1-800-326-1197
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Interfaith Resources
416 W 4th St.
Bloomington IN
47404
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"Bah'u'llh, the One who founded the Faithclaims to fulfill the prophecies concerning the Promised One of all religions. His life and teachings are worthy of further study to determine the goodness of His fruit, and the validity of His claim."

Quote from "Finding Common Ground"
How many beliefs do you share with members of the Bah'i Community?
You may be surprised!
By Justice St. Rain
(Bloomington, IN: Published by Special Ideas, 1997), p. 11

Interfaith graphics located with help from Bahai Media and Public Information specialist Ellen Price

wk: 847-733-3559

http://www.bahai.us
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Duluth, Minnesota:

University of Minnesota Lutheran Campus Ministry
P.O. Box 3649
Duluth, MN
55803-3649

UM LCM Website:
http://www.d.umn.edu/lcm/index.html

Pastor Doug Paulson page: Anchored in Christ's love, Lutheran Campus Ministry is an open, welcoming and caring Community:
http://www.d.umn.edu/lcm/doug.html
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Arrowhead Interfaith Council (AIC)
102 W. 2nd Street
Duluth, MN
55802

Arrowhead Interfaith Council (AIC) website
http://www.arrowheadinterfaith.org/home.html

AIC members page:
http://www.arrowheadinterfaith.org/members.html
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AIC President
Erik Nordgren, AIC President
218-525-3136
president@arrowheadinterfaith.org
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AIC Interfaith Committee
"The Interfaith Committee plans events which foster interfaith dialogue and learning"

AIC Interfaith Committee Chair
JoAnn Chesser
218-728-1516
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Milwaukee, WI:

Rev. Brad Brown
Lutheran Campus Pastor Marquette University

email:
bradley.brown@mu.edu

414-288-3691 (Pastor Brown vm)
414-305-2349 (cell)
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Pastor Brad Brown's blog:
http://www.mulutherans.com/index.php

Marquette University Lutheran Campus Ministry website:
http://www.mulutherans.com/
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Marquette University Ministry
AMU 236
1442 W. Wisconsin Ave.
P.O. Box 1881
Milwaukee., WI
53201-1881
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Phone: 414-288-6873
Fax: 414-288-3696
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website:
http://www.marquette.edu/um
staff:
http://www.marquette.edu/um/staff/
Campus faith list:
http://www.marquette.edu/um/worship/documents/1018107web.pdf
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Select challenge cities:

Chicago, Illinois:
IEPA:
http://www.epa.state.il.us

IEPA Spring HHW collections:
http://www.epa.state.il.us/land/hazardous-waste/household-haz-waste/hhwc-schedule.html

AGL website:
http://www.greatlakes.org
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Milwaukee, Wisconsin:

Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District:
www.mmsd.com

Milwaukee Journal articles:
http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/16462496.html
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=726592
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Keshena, Wisconsin:

Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin:
http://www.menominee-nsn.gov

College of Menominee Nation
http://www.menominee.edu
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Greater Cleveland, Ohio area:

Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District:
http://www.cuyahogaswd.org
http://www.cuyahogaswd.org/residents/comprec.asp
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Duluth:

Western Lake Superior Sanitary District:
http://www.wlssd.com
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Fort Wayne, Indiana:

Allen County TRIAD:
http://www.allencountytriad.4t.com/

Volunteer Center @ RSVP:
http://www.volunteercenterfw.org
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Million pounds e-waste, Million pills goal of Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge

Federal officials hope Earth Day 2008 will see over one million pounds of electronics and more than one million pills turned in by the public in dozens of cities across eight states that surround the Great Lakes Basin.

It's called the Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is providing grants to many of the collection sites that make up the challenge list of events. The exact number of grants - which are expected to exceed $200,000 - have not been announced.

The EPA hopes the public meets their goal by turning in over one million tons of electronic waste (e-waste) and over one million pills along with other pharmaceuticals. The collections, rules, times and dates vary from city to city.

A new non-profit group - called the Earth Healing Initiative - has been formed to get numerous faith communities involved and help promote the EPA-sponsored Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge.
I am serving as the volunteer media advisor for the challenge, and other Earth Keeper team members are also involved.

The faith-based Earth Healing Initiative was recently created by Rev. Jon Magnuson - the founder of the Michigan Earth Keepers - known for removing more than 370 tons of household hazardous waste from the Upper Peninsula during three Earth Day Clean Sweep.

The latest on the Michigan Earth Keeper Initiative near the end of this article.

Catholics, Lutherans and many other faith traditions are being asked to join the effort either as a volunteer or to spread the word in their churches/temples and participate in a nearby collection event.

College students, Native American tribes and other indigenous/minority groups are also being contacted by Earth Healing volunteers. Anyone who would like to participate can check out the list of events that include contact numbers, or call me at 906-401-0109.

At some of the challenge events, the public is asked to turn in old and unwanted pharmaceuticals.

The EPA is awarding grants to some of the collection projects involved in the challenge.

Collections are being held in large cities and surrounding areas like Chicago, Milwaukee and Cleveland.

Collection sites include locations in eight states:
http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/earthday2008/events.html

Illinois:
Beecher, Bolingbrook, Channahon, Elk Grove Village, Glenview, Joliet, Park Ridge, Romeoville, Shorewood, West Chicago, Wheaton

Indiana:
LaPorte, Fort Wayne, Rushville, Valparaiso

Michigan:
Benton Harbor, Traverse City

Minnesota:
Duluth, Madison, New Ulm

New York:
Syracuse

Ohio:
Cleveland, Perrysburg, Sandusky, Springfield, Warren

Pennsylvania:
TBA

Wisconsin:
Appleton, Brillion, Chilton, Keshena (Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin and College of Menominee Nation), Milwaukee, New Holstein, Oshkosh, Racine, Waupaca.
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The EPA has been targeting the proper disposal of pharmaceuticals for several years because the drugs have begun turning up in AmericaÃâs drinking water after being improperly disposed like flushed down the toilet, poured down the drain or mixed with trash that ends up in local landfills.

The reason is because many wastewater treatment plants are not designed to remove the drugs so the chemicals remain in water discharged into lakes, streams and rivers.

From steroids to depression and pain medication, these drugs also end up in fish and other wildlife. The EPA is concerned about the long term health effect on people and animals ingesting these drugs.

Some collection sites are targeting old/broken computers (and related equipment, televisions, cell phones and other electronics.

ELECTRONIC WASTE (E-Waste)

Electronic waste includes all those old or broken TVs, cell phones, computer components and similar gadgets that are part of our lives.

E-waste contains possibly hazardous materials that can harm human health and the Great Lakes environment if disposed of improperly, according to the Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge official website.

In 2005 we discarded an estimated 2 million tons of TVs, computers and other electronic gear,Ãâ the EPA website states. Proper disposal and recycling are necessary to avoid unwanted pollution.

When we reuse or recycle e-waste properly, we recover materials for re-use, save energy and reduce the environmental costs of raw material extraction and processing, the website states.

PHARMACEUTICALS:

Traces of medicines have been found in streams and the Great Lakes where we get our drinking water and have also been detected near wastewater treatment outflows, according to the EPA.

Some of these medicines can lead to reproductive and developmental problems in fish and other animals. We often treat leftover medicine as a common household waste, the challenge website states.

More than half of people surveyed throw their unused medicines in the trash while a third flush them down the drain - In both cases, the medicines have the potential to be released into our rivers and lakes.

More sites are being added to the event list every day. More information will be released in the near future.

If you are involved in the Great Lakes Basin events or have questions, call Greg at 906-401-0109

The Michigan Earth Keeper Initiative collected over 320 tons of electronics on Earth Day 2006 and over one ton of pharmaceuticals on Earth Day 2008 thanks to nine faith communities with over 140 churches/temples and over 15,000 residents who dropped off items to be recycled or properly disposed.

After three Earth Day clean sweeps and with grants expired, the Earth Keepers won't hold a collection in northern Michigan this Earth Day - and will instead hold a public awareness campaign on how people and business owners can reduce power consumption and pollution.

The Earth Keepers hope to resume the clean sweeps on Earth Day 2009 and are considering collecting old televisions as the high definition boom hits full stride under federal laws requiring all TV stations to broadcast in HD.
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EPA Press Release on challenge:
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/D48F2AD96EC624E38525740B003AEE57
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EPA's Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge: a prescription for healthy Great Lakes

Release date: 03/13/2008

Contact Information: Phillippa Cannon 312 353-6218, cannon.phillippa@epa.gov

Chicago (March 12, 2008) -- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Great Lakes region invites the public to join the Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge to collect at least 1 million pounds of electronic waste and 1 million pills.

EPA is encouraging organizations, businesses and communities in the Great Lakes region to protect the environment by sponsoring collections of unwanted medicines and electronic waste around Earth Day, April 22.

The Great Lakes are an irreplaceable treasure.

They are the largest source of fresh drinking water on earth and are vital to commerce and recreation in the upper Midwest.

Responsible recycling and disposal of unwanted electronics and medicines will prevent contaminants from polluting the Great Lakes basin.

"Last summer, there was an outpouring of support from thousands of people in the Great Lakes area to protect this national treasure," said EPA Great Lakes National Program Manager Mary A. Gade.

"Participating in the Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge is a simple way for individuals to take action to protect the lakes. I'm asking people to clear out their desk drawers, medicine cabinets and basements and properly recycle or dispose of their old and unwanted cellphones, computers, TVs, and medicines at a local collection."

EPA has partnered with the nonprofit group Earth 911 to launch an online clearinghouse of collection events that will be held between April 19 and 27.

As dates and locations for events are confirmed they will be added to the clearinghouse at:
http://www.earth911.org

"EPA is pleased that Earth 911 volunteered to work with us on this important project and we welcome other organizations that may wish to join us by sponsoring or publicizing collection events," said Gade.

Participating organizations should register their events at:
http://www.epa.gov/greatlakes/earthday2008

The Web site includes a "Plug-In to E-cycling" tool kit to help plan collection events.

For more information or technical assistance on planning an event, call EPA's toll-free Earth Day Challenge Hotline at 866-575-8543.

Part #1 Debating Atheism: Modern look at Bible, God, Jesus versus Young Atheist

First, I don't claim to be a religious scholar - and some Christians - especially extremists - may not agree with my modern interpretation of the Bible.

The following is the first of several posts in which I debate a "radical atheist" who commented on one of our Turtle island Project videos on Current TV.
I have also posted the video on GodTube.

For this blog, I have removed some of his comments about my choices for keywords and links - (he thinks I use too many) as they are not directly related to the debate about God and the Bible -

To see the unedited version of the ongoing debate you can go directly to Current.com:
http://current.com/items/88872974_critical_decision_time_for_humans_earth_s_kyros_moment_learn_focus_through_jubilation_chants#88876081

His user name is dco:

His profile on Current TV says:

dco:
I'm a radical atheist and aspiring psychologist. I am a sophomore in high school, and am attending psych courses at University of Vermont. I'm not currently involved in any film related activities, but I enjoy the Current community just the same. There's no god $!!@ god, god !%% it. â
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(This is the first comment by self-proclaimed radical atheist - followed by my react):

Okay, I definitely acknowledge the crisis we're in, and that we as a species need to change our ways if we hope to live, but the narrator in that video was RIDICULOUSLY boring.

I couldn't get past the three minute mark without ripping the headphones out of my ears. And way,way, way, way, way, way, way too many links!

Is that the citations list from a Wikipedia article?

I did, however, watch the bit about jubilation.

That was one of the most hilarious things I've seen in a long while.

If that is a regular occurrence among Lutherans, I'm sorry. I would HATE to endure that every time I wanted to worship. This is a joke! And did you really need to enter 130 categories? Unnecessary.

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My response to first comment by dco:

I see you call yourself a "radical atheist" and don't believe in any God.

You also make numerous inaccurate assumptions and put the word hate in capital letters.
What does that say about your phsyci (psyche)?

It's fine if you don't like the video and believe your life is a cosmic accident - but put some more thought into your comments rather than your opinion on the perfect number of links and keywords.

It appears your comments on this and other videos are merely a way to get noticed rather than fostering debate on the topics.

I suspect and hope that deep down you have a higher goal.

I commend your efforts and desire to become involved - itâs great to hear from people with opposing viewpoints.
Your youthful interest in getting involved in debate is a good thing.

I suggest you make thoughtful substantive comments about the messages and opinions in videos not sophomoric criticism about non-related issues.

For example - if you actually tried Dr. Cairns jubilation technique as a way to focus your thoughts - and it did not work for you - explain why and offer a way you find is good to focus your energies.

Thereâs a lot to be said for shooting from the hip but it can make you appear insecure in your beliefs as it lacks substance.

For Dr. Cairns itâs a useful way to focus his thoughts before taking his battle to raise environmental awareness on the road.

By the way - he is not Lutheran but his interfaith message that included jubilation techniques were taught at an interfaith conference of clergy from numerous religious traditions.

It would have been easy to disregard your comments as an attention-getting tirade - but I sense you truly would like to enter intelligent debates.

Use your grey matter instead of blather.
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What you just read has triggered an ongoing discussion - or debate - on God, atheism and other issues - more to come (Or use that link above to read everything to date)
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I am concerned that the days are numbered for the neighborhood church.

Due to the death of true "churchgoers," future economic reality will dictate virtual sermons to spread God's word to the masses and terms like pews, wearing "Sunday's best" and the "collection plate" will litter the internet superhighway.

In the United States church attendance is declining at a dramatic rate.

Most congregation members who attend regularly are over 50 years old.

Many religious leaders believe that church attendance will die with the death of Baby Boomers.

They fear the neighborhood church will soon be unable to support its infrastructure.

Already many small congregations are reluctantly merging with nearby churches/temples and closing older buildings.

In the next 20 years those who attend on a regular basis will die off leaving behind "Creasters" - a moniker for those faithful inclined to attend services only on Christmas and Easter possibly either because parents forced their religious attendance or believe they don't have to be inside a house of worship to believe in God.

Pastors, priests and rabbis fear those born since the birth of the internet lack people-person skills or the inclination to get dressed up, venture out in all weather, and sit next to another human in their neighborhood pews.

Once the community cornerstone, it was unheard of not to attend the church in rain, shine or snow.
Those were the bygone days of families who took pride in putting on their "Sunday best" and relied on the church as much for social interaction as spirituality.

Many raised with computers in the crib prefer virtual reality to groups of people.
In the future, religious denominations will be forced to either fold all together or create virtual church services.

That means the neighborhood pastor can record one year's worth of sermons that will be replayed for decades. Clergy will replace traditional hospital/nursing home visits with computer appearances.

However, preachers of numerous faiths told me they believe (pray) that the shallowness of this form of worship - and the human tragedies that may result - will eventually lead to a pool of unfulfilled lives, a thirst for a spiritual touch only quenched by personal interaction, and open the floodgates to a return to neighborhood houses of worship.

Like a flowing river, God's word will seek out those who are low and in need despite the occasional dam or valley because humans need sweet tender touch as much as convenient eye candy in a virtual world.

I hope reports that the death of the neighborhood church are greatly exaggerated but I live in a very religious area where the decline in Sunday attendance over the past 20 years is significant and it worries me especially since I am one of those who could be labeled a "Creaster" - and therefore am partly responsible for the problem.

In addition, despite being a "Creaster" I have lots of respect for the church and the part it plays in our lives. I do not see this respect for organized religion in some of today's youth.

I am not a prude by any means, but have noticed a downward spiral in morals and respect - and when you throw in the threatened environment and evil racism - it makes me very concerned about the future of mankind as a species.

Two of the pastors for whom I do volunteer media work - Rev. Dr. George Cairns and Rev. Dr. Lynn Hubbard - believe that humans are facing a 'Kyros Moment."

They believe mankind must make some major changes in how we view each other, the planet and religion - or face an uncertain future.

I agree - do you?