Have evangelicals overstepped their bounds on abortion by claiming that their definition of when life begins should hold for everyone? While contemplating whether this is presumptive, consider this even bolder claim: the Navajo Nation claims that for them
the moon is a sacred place and that interring human remains there would desecrate it:
Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren:
The moon holds a sacred place in Navajo cosmology. The suggestion of transforming it into a resting place for human remains is deeply disturbing and unacceptable to our people and many other tribal nations.
Two private companies are providing lunar burial services for cremated remains, and the Navajos object. As strongly supportive as I am of respecting the beliefs of native Americans, I can't believe they have the temerity, the audacity, the sheer chutzpah, to in effect lay claim to the moon and tell others what they can and can't do with it.
Granted their request is a small one with no practical impact, but were it in any way respected or, even worse granted, it would set a remarkably poor precedent by opening the door to arbitrary requests regarding the moon by any and all religious groups. And how would conflicting religious beliefs be resolved? How will the sacredness of the moon for Navajos be reconciled with "The Church of Bury Me On The Moon When It Becomes Technically Feasible"?
In my opinion, this comment from Astrobotic Technology CEO John Thornton was inappropriately respectful:
Astrobotic Technology CEO John Thornton:
I’ve been disappointed that this conversation came up so late in the game. I would have liked to have had this conversation a long time ago. We announced the first payload manifest of this nature to our mission back in 2015. A second in 2020. We really are trying to do the right thing and I hope we can find a good path forward with Navajo Nation.
I understand Mr. Thornton's desire to make respectful comments in public, but I wish he had gone a different route by expressing respect for Navajo beliefs while noting the wide range of religious beliefs across the planet.
I liked much better the comments of Celestis CEO Charles Chafer:
Celestis CEO Charles Chafer:
We reject the assertion that our memorial spaceflight mission desecrates the moon. Just as permanent memorials for deceased are present all over planet Earth and not considered desecration, our memorial on the moon is handled with care and reverence, is a permanent monument that does not intentionally eject flight capsules on the moon. It is a touching and fitting celebration for our participants — the exact opposite of desecration, it is a celebration.
Returning to what I said at the opening, isn't granting the requests of evangelicals about abortion, something that's already been done in many states, the same as granting the absurd Navajo request about the moon? Aren't state laws about abortion just elected officials improperly mixing church and state at the behest of their evangelical constituencies?
Faith and Belief?
--Percy
™ Version 4.2