Given that our civilization seems to be careering inexorably along the road to collapse, I recently found myself wondering if - should the desperate need arise - I would be able to contemplate cannibalism. The conversation this thought generated didn't really reach any conclusion, but I thought I'd open a thread here and see what views the more spiritually-minded among us might care to share?
@avalanchethecat said'Is' civilization careering inexorably along the road to collapse?
Given that our civilization seems to be careering inexorably along the road to collapse, I recently found myself wondering if - should the desperate need arise - I would be able to contemplate cannibalism. The conversation this thought generated didn't really reach any conclusion, but I thought I'd open a thread here and see what views the more spiritually-minded among us might care to share?
Would be a shame to eat your neighbour and then discover it was only a recession.
@ghost-of-a-duke saidDepends on the neighbour.
'Is' civilization careering inexorably along the road to collapse?
Would be a shame to eat your neighbour and then discover it was only a recession.
@avalanchethecat saidFor every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: (1 Timothy 4:4 KJV)
Given that our civilization seems to be careering inexorably along the road to collapse, I recently found myself wondering if - should the desperate need arise - I would be able to contemplate cannibalism. The conversation this thought generated didn't really reach any conclusion, but I thought I'd open a thread here and see what views the more spiritually-minded among us might care to share?
@avalanchethecat saidNot really old chap. I remain optimistic about the long-term destination of the human species, out there colonizing the eternal universe.
@Ghost-of-a-Duke
Oh I hope it isn't, but it does kind of seem that way, don't you think?
@lemondrop
I can assure you that cannibalism was certainly not unheard of among our hunter-gatherer ancestors! There are numerous examples of archaeological evidence contesting to this. That's not really the point though. Suppose you've run out of bugs and worms, suppose millions of your hungry countrymen have stripped the place bare - certainly a possible future. It's a question of starving or eating dead people. Would you?
@avalanchethecat saidYou're really going to bat for cannibalism.
@lemondrop
I can assure you that cannibalism was certainly not unheard of among our hunter-gatherer ancestors! There are numerous examples of archaeological evidence contesting to this. That's not really the point though. Suppose you've run out of bugs and worms, suppose millions of your hungry countrymen have stripped the place bare - certainly a possible future. It's a question of starving or eating dead people. Would you?
@avalanchethecat saidOptimism starts with a bowl of hot porridge.
@Ghost-of-a-Duke
I fervently hope you're right, but I find it difficult to share your optimism.
Christianity has us quite literally falling into degradation when in actuality we are evolving in an increasingly advanced species. Sure, we have some way to go, but our future is an amazingly exciting one.
@Ghost-of-a-Duke
Well I was weaned on sci-fi and still avidly consume it along with probably more tech news than is good for a body, so I think I see the future you're hoping for. I'm hoping for it too. I see some big problems looming without easy solutions though, and I'm not sure the powers-that-be are up to the job.
@ghost-of-a-duke said
You're really going to bat for cannibalism.
I am! And I want to know what you would do - will you eat your neighbour or will you feed them?
@ragwort saidI think you're right, and I've just read that spokespersons for the Catholic Church (New York Archdiocese) said that they acted 'justifiably'. They said “A person is permitted to eat dead human flesh if there is no feasible alternative for survival.”
@avalanchethecat
Weren't some of the Andes aircrash cannibals Catholics?