Church of the Unwasteful
@alexevasion.bsky.social
Not a Puritan, but can't stop railing against waste and excess. Mostly via essay snippets and Q&A
Q: Doesn’t a religion need rituals?
A: Well, we sure don't prescribe prayer, meditation, alters/shrines, pilgrimages, etc. Besides taking concrete actions to improve the function of ecosystems and to spread messages that cause people to do less damage to them, I guess abstention is our core ritual.🧵
A: Well, we sure don't prescribe prayer, meditation, alters/shrines, pilgrimages, etc. Besides taking concrete actions to improve the function of ecosystems and to spread messages that cause people to do less damage to them, I guess abstention is our core ritual.🧵
May 6, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Q: Doesn’t a religion need rituals?
A: Well, we sure don't prescribe prayer, meditation, alters/shrines, pilgrimages, etc. Besides taking concrete actions to improve the function of ecosystems and to spread messages that cause people to do less damage to them, I guess abstention is our core ritual.🧵
A: Well, we sure don't prescribe prayer, meditation, alters/shrines, pilgrimages, etc. Besides taking concrete actions to improve the function of ecosystems and to spread messages that cause people to do less damage to them, I guess abstention is our core ritual.🧵
Q: Do you really think people could/would radically alter their lives in order to confront a crisis they can barely conceive of, at least in terms of consequences?
A: Well, after seeing Covid-19 responses unfolding, I became less skeptical. Remember how poorly understood that disease was initially.🧵
A: Well, after seeing Covid-19 responses unfolding, I became less skeptical. Remember how poorly understood that disease was initially.🧵
May 2, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Q: Do you really think people could/would radically alter their lives in order to confront a crisis they can barely conceive of, at least in terms of consequences?
A: Well, after seeing Covid-19 responses unfolding, I became less skeptical. Remember how poorly understood that disease was initially.🧵
A: Well, after seeing Covid-19 responses unfolding, I became less skeptical. Remember how poorly understood that disease was initially.🧵
Q: Is it really all that feasible for people in the developed world to live much less wasteful lives? Like, isn’t it already baked in?
A: Well, that's essentially the argument put forth by those who would rather see us focus on long shot policy proposals like radically redesigning our settlements. 🧵
A: Well, that's essentially the argument put forth by those who would rather see us focus on long shot policy proposals like radically redesigning our settlements. 🧵
April 28, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Q: Is it really all that feasible for people in the developed world to live much less wasteful lives? Like, isn’t it already baked in?
A: Well, that's essentially the argument put forth by those who would rather see us focus on long shot policy proposals like radically redesigning our settlements. 🧵
A: Well, that's essentially the argument put forth by those who would rather see us focus on long shot policy proposals like radically redesigning our settlements. 🧵
Q: Why do you underestimate just how much people love stuff and their freedom to acquire it?
A: Because it's just a base desire that we've come to coddle. We don't like to think about the consequences of being free to take as much as we can, both in environmental damages and doing moral harm to us.🧵
A: Because it's just a base desire that we've come to coddle. We don't like to think about the consequences of being free to take as much as we can, both in environmental damages and doing moral harm to us.🧵
April 17, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Q: Why do you underestimate just how much people love stuff and their freedom to acquire it?
A: Because it's just a base desire that we've come to coddle. We don't like to think about the consequences of being free to take as much as we can, both in environmental damages and doing moral harm to us.🧵
A: Because it's just a base desire that we've come to coddle. We don't like to think about the consequences of being free to take as much as we can, both in environmental damages and doing moral harm to us.🧵
Q: Does this faith deal with the concept of original sin?
A: No, certainly not with the premise that human beings are inherently selfish and destructive, if that's what you are getting at. We may however believe in some tipping point when too many lost sight of our relationship to the natural world🧵
A: No, certainly not with the premise that human beings are inherently selfish and destructive, if that's what you are getting at. We may however believe in some tipping point when too many lost sight of our relationship to the natural world🧵
March 25, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Q: Does this faith deal with the concept of original sin?
A: No, certainly not with the premise that human beings are inherently selfish and destructive, if that's what you are getting at. We may however believe in some tipping point when too many lost sight of our relationship to the natural world🧵
A: No, certainly not with the premise that human beings are inherently selfish and destructive, if that's what you are getting at. We may however believe in some tipping point when too many lost sight of our relationship to the natural world🧵
Q: Does this religion encourage homelessness and penury?
A: No. However, there is a long history of asceticism and mendicancy to be found in most religions. Advocating for needing and taking less as a means to higher spiritual ends is a venerable tradition. The prosperity gospel is decidedly not. 🧵
A: No. However, there is a long history of asceticism and mendicancy to be found in most religions. Advocating for needing and taking less as a means to higher spiritual ends is a venerable tradition. The prosperity gospel is decidedly not. 🧵
March 24, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Q: Does this religion encourage homelessness and penury?
A: No. However, there is a long history of asceticism and mendicancy to be found in most religions. Advocating for needing and taking less as a means to higher spiritual ends is a venerable tradition. The prosperity gospel is decidedly not. 🧵
A: No. However, there is a long history of asceticism and mendicancy to be found in most religions. Advocating for needing and taking less as a means to higher spiritual ends is a venerable tradition. The prosperity gospel is decidedly not. 🧵
Q: Got a holy book?
A: No. There's no revelation story or grand narrative in this religion. It may not even bear traces of the deeper spiritual meaning you're looking for. But take its practice seriously and it'll definitely change your life, then perhaps you'll find something holy in it after all🧵
A: No. There's no revelation story or grand narrative in this religion. It may not even bear traces of the deeper spiritual meaning you're looking for. But take its practice seriously and it'll definitely change your life, then perhaps you'll find something holy in it after all🧵
March 21, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Q: Got a holy book?
A: No. There's no revelation story or grand narrative in this religion. It may not even bear traces of the deeper spiritual meaning you're looking for. But take its practice seriously and it'll definitely change your life, then perhaps you'll find something holy in it after all🧵
A: No. There's no revelation story or grand narrative in this religion. It may not even bear traces of the deeper spiritual meaning you're looking for. But take its practice seriously and it'll definitely change your life, then perhaps you'll find something holy in it after all🧵
Q: Why follow a religion that seeks to crash our economy?
A: Wow, you're really bullish on this effort, but simultaneously quite pessimistic about people's ability to find non/less harmful ways of contributing to the world. Anyway...not sure we're really the folks you need to worry about right now.🧵
A: Wow, you're really bullish on this effort, but simultaneously quite pessimistic about people's ability to find non/less harmful ways of contributing to the world. Anyway...not sure we're really the folks you need to worry about right now.🧵
March 20, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Q: Why follow a religion that seeks to crash our economy?
A: Wow, you're really bullish on this effort, but simultaneously quite pessimistic about people's ability to find non/less harmful ways of contributing to the world. Anyway...not sure we're really the folks you need to worry about right now.🧵
A: Wow, you're really bullish on this effort, but simultaneously quite pessimistic about people's ability to find non/less harmful ways of contributing to the world. Anyway...not sure we're really the folks you need to worry about right now.🧵
Q: Is this going to look like the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster?
A: Well, I'd certainly consider that initiative a qualified success, but no. This isn't a religious parody. I'm not trying to make light of faith in general or any tradition in particular. We're just a nontraditional religion🧵
A: Well, I'd certainly consider that initiative a qualified success, but no. This isn't a religious parody. I'm not trying to make light of faith in general or any tradition in particular. We're just a nontraditional religion🧵
March 18, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Q: Is this going to look like the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster?
A: Well, I'd certainly consider that initiative a qualified success, but no. This isn't a religious parody. I'm not trying to make light of faith in general or any tradition in particular. We're just a nontraditional religion🧵
A: Well, I'd certainly consider that initiative a qualified success, but no. This isn't a religious parody. I'm not trying to make light of faith in general or any tradition in particular. We're just a nontraditional religion🧵
Q: Are there rules about what's holy/profane in this religion?
A: Not really. Maybe more like kosher/non type debates. Redirecting ones consumption away from newly produced goods to used ones would seem to be emblematic, but even thrifting begs a series of questions that I have often wondered about🧵
A: Not really. Maybe more like kosher/non type debates. Redirecting ones consumption away from newly produced goods to used ones would seem to be emblematic, but even thrifting begs a series of questions that I have often wondered about🧵
March 17, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Q: Are there rules about what's holy/profane in this religion?
A: Not really. Maybe more like kosher/non type debates. Redirecting ones consumption away from newly produced goods to used ones would seem to be emblematic, but even thrifting begs a series of questions that I have often wondered about🧵
A: Not really. Maybe more like kosher/non type debates. Redirecting ones consumption away from newly produced goods to used ones would seem to be emblematic, but even thrifting begs a series of questions that I have often wondered about🧵
Q: Is this essentially a religion of frugality?
A: No. There are certain behaviors associated with that word - buying things on sale, clipping coupons, choosing generic brands, saving pennies, etc. However, there's a big distinction between benefit to the world vs. benefit to ones’ account balance🧵
A: No. There are certain behaviors associated with that word - buying things on sale, clipping coupons, choosing generic brands, saving pennies, etc. However, there's a big distinction between benefit to the world vs. benefit to ones’ account balance🧵
March 14, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Q: Is this essentially a religion of frugality?
A: No. There are certain behaviors associated with that word - buying things on sale, clipping coupons, choosing generic brands, saving pennies, etc. However, there's a big distinction between benefit to the world vs. benefit to ones’ account balance🧵
A: No. There are certain behaviors associated with that word - buying things on sale, clipping coupons, choosing generic brands, saving pennies, etc. However, there's a big distinction between benefit to the world vs. benefit to ones’ account balance🧵
Q: How much waste do you believe there is out there, in terms of people trying to subsist on it in large part?
A: In response to the first part, SO MUCH, like most of our economies are unnecessary. Yes, seriously, start your consideration engine. In terms of the second part, that's not the point.🧵
A: In response to the first part, SO MUCH, like most of our economies are unnecessary. Yes, seriously, start your consideration engine. In terms of the second part, that's not the point.🧵
March 12, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Q: How much waste do you believe there is out there, in terms of people trying to subsist on it in large part?
A: In response to the first part, SO MUCH, like most of our economies are unnecessary. Yes, seriously, start your consideration engine. In terms of the second part, that's not the point.🧵
A: In response to the first part, SO MUCH, like most of our economies are unnecessary. Yes, seriously, start your consideration engine. In terms of the second part, that's not the point.🧵
Q: Don't religions need rich historical backstory?
A: You are correct that this is a new religion, so we're severely lacking in past narratives. However, the concept of living simple, satisfied lives with mostly meager means while also making room for others to do so was/is a part of most religions🧵
A: You are correct that this is a new religion, so we're severely lacking in past narratives. However, the concept of living simple, satisfied lives with mostly meager means while also making room for others to do so was/is a part of most religions🧵
March 11, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Q: Don't religions need rich historical backstory?
A: You are correct that this is a new religion, so we're severely lacking in past narratives. However, the concept of living simple, satisfied lives with mostly meager means while also making room for others to do so was/is a part of most religions🧵
A: You are correct that this is a new religion, so we're severely lacking in past narratives. However, the concept of living simple, satisfied lives with mostly meager means while also making room for others to do so was/is a part of most religions🧵
Q: Do you worry that people won’t be able to find things to do to fill the vacuum left after eliminating high-resource activities from their lives?
A: This is a version of the “boredom question” that's frankly quite boring - imagine a full life without incessant burning of fossil fuels and shopping🧵
A: This is a version of the “boredom question” that's frankly quite boring - imagine a full life without incessant burning of fossil fuels and shopping🧵
March 7, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Q: Do you worry that people won’t be able to find things to do to fill the vacuum left after eliminating high-resource activities from their lives?
A: This is a version of the “boredom question” that's frankly quite boring - imagine a full life without incessant burning of fossil fuels and shopping🧵
A: This is a version of the “boredom question” that's frankly quite boring - imagine a full life without incessant burning of fossil fuels and shopping🧵
Q: Is this religion going to end up being a bunch of people gathered around in a quasi-AA format or Maoist struggle session, lamenting past choices and shoring each other up against capitalist pro-shopping forces?
A: Wow, hadn’t considered or envisioned such scenarios. Sadly, perhaps maybe for some🧵
A: Wow, hadn’t considered or envisioned such scenarios. Sadly, perhaps maybe for some🧵
March 6, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Q: Is this religion going to end up being a bunch of people gathered around in a quasi-AA format or Maoist struggle session, lamenting past choices and shoring each other up against capitalist pro-shopping forces?
A: Wow, hadn’t considered or envisioned such scenarios. Sadly, perhaps maybe for some🧵
A: Wow, hadn’t considered or envisioned such scenarios. Sadly, perhaps maybe for some🧵
Q: How do you plan to attract new converts?
A: I'm still mostly unsure about what exactly drives people to adopt new religions. Perhaps a sense that something is not right in the world and is not being adequately addressed through other means. Well, that's what the “climate crisis” feels like to me🧵
A: I'm still mostly unsure about what exactly drives people to adopt new religions. Perhaps a sense that something is not right in the world and is not being adequately addressed through other means. Well, that's what the “climate crisis” feels like to me🧵
March 5, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Q: How do you plan to attract new converts?
A: I'm still mostly unsure about what exactly drives people to adopt new religions. Perhaps a sense that something is not right in the world and is not being adequately addressed through other means. Well, that's what the “climate crisis” feels like to me🧵
A: I'm still mostly unsure about what exactly drives people to adopt new religions. Perhaps a sense that something is not right in the world and is not being adequately addressed through other means. Well, that's what the “climate crisis” feels like to me🧵
Q: What sort of lifestyle do you envision for serious adherents?
A: As a rule, we don’t prescribe lifestyles. There may currently be somewhat limited avenues for a mass adoption of non-consumer lifestyles, but that doesn't mean we can't help invent some. Just give it a try and see where it leads. 🧵
A: As a rule, we don’t prescribe lifestyles. There may currently be somewhat limited avenues for a mass adoption of non-consumer lifestyles, but that doesn't mean we can't help invent some. Just give it a try and see where it leads. 🧵
March 4, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Q: What sort of lifestyle do you envision for serious adherents?
A: As a rule, we don’t prescribe lifestyles. There may currently be somewhat limited avenues for a mass adoption of non-consumer lifestyles, but that doesn't mean we can't help invent some. Just give it a try and see where it leads. 🧵
A: As a rule, we don’t prescribe lifestyles. There may currently be somewhat limited avenues for a mass adoption of non-consumer lifestyles, but that doesn't mean we can't help invent some. Just give it a try and see where it leads. 🧵
Q: What do you say to those who contend our problem is just too many newly wealthy humans not being able to foresee the problem with current technology?
A: "not being able to" was a valid excuse 50 years ago. We're where we are right now because people/orgs have chosen to become more wasteful since🧵
A: "not being able to" was a valid excuse 50 years ago. We're where we are right now because people/orgs have chosen to become more wasteful since🧵
March 3, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Q: What do you say to those who contend our problem is just too many newly wealthy humans not being able to foresee the problem with current technology?
A: "not being able to" was a valid excuse 50 years ago. We're where we are right now because people/orgs have chosen to become more wasteful since🧵
A: "not being able to" was a valid excuse 50 years ago. We're where we are right now because people/orgs have chosen to become more wasteful since🧵
Sometimes, just sometimes, the conversations about waste, fraud, and abuse really are actually about those things. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/28/o...
Opinion | Dead Athletes. Empty Stands. Billions to Keep Horse Racing Alive.
Let the sport of kings stand on its own.
www.nytimes.com
February 28, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Sometimes, just sometimes, the conversations about waste, fraud, and abuse really are actually about those things. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/28/o...
Q: Do you really believe that people can just come off their high living standards and settle for less?
A: It's entirely plausible to stop “lifestyle creep” at the individual level and many have already chosen to do so with success. However, at a societal level this has never been done voluntarily🧵
A: It's entirely plausible to stop “lifestyle creep” at the individual level and many have already chosen to do so with success. However, at a societal level this has never been done voluntarily🧵
February 28, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Q: Do you really believe that people can just come off their high living standards and settle for less?
A: It's entirely plausible to stop “lifestyle creep” at the individual level and many have already chosen to do so with success. However, at a societal level this has never been done voluntarily🧵
A: It's entirely plausible to stop “lifestyle creep” at the individual level and many have already chosen to do so with success. However, at a societal level this has never been done voluntarily🧵
Q: Are you concerned that what little “religiosity” on offer here will be undermined by adherents who are too focused on quantifiable goals?
A: That is an apt concern. Some people will always tend to focus on how “good” their adherence is compared to others... towards arithmetic enhanced zealotry.🧵
A: That is an apt concern. Some people will always tend to focus on how “good” their adherence is compared to others... towards arithmetic enhanced zealotry.🧵
February 27, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Q: Are you concerned that what little “religiosity” on offer here will be undermined by adherents who are too focused on quantifiable goals?
A: That is an apt concern. Some people will always tend to focus on how “good” their adherence is compared to others... towards arithmetic enhanced zealotry.🧵
A: That is an apt concern. Some people will always tend to focus on how “good” their adherence is compared to others... towards arithmetic enhanced zealotry.🧵
Q: Is this a religion of the poor or is it more for the rich?
A: Well, it's for the poor, but aimed at the rich. Poor people get a pass because they haven’t contributed as much to the problem, are forced to aid/abet the rich in the mission of accumulation, and don't benefit as much from the system.🧵
A: Well, it's for the poor, but aimed at the rich. Poor people get a pass because they haven’t contributed as much to the problem, are forced to aid/abet the rich in the mission of accumulation, and don't benefit as much from the system.🧵
February 26, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Q: Is this a religion of the poor or is it more for the rich?
A: Well, it's for the poor, but aimed at the rich. Poor people get a pass because they haven’t contributed as much to the problem, are forced to aid/abet the rich in the mission of accumulation, and don't benefit as much from the system.🧵
A: Well, it's for the poor, but aimed at the rich. Poor people get a pass because they haven’t contributed as much to the problem, are forced to aid/abet the rich in the mission of accumulation, and don't benefit as much from the system.🧵
Q: What does this religion have to say to “the resistance”?
A: Ah, you want help countering the rightward shift that's seemingly taken place across the globe. Obviously, this new crop of leaders doesn't share our alarm about the underlying environmental crisis, but they do fear economic stagnation.🧵
A: Ah, you want help countering the rightward shift that's seemingly taken place across the globe. Obviously, this new crop of leaders doesn't share our alarm about the underlying environmental crisis, but they do fear economic stagnation.🧵
February 24, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Q: What does this religion have to say to “the resistance”?
A: Ah, you want help countering the rightward shift that's seemingly taken place across the globe. Obviously, this new crop of leaders doesn't share our alarm about the underlying environmental crisis, but they do fear economic stagnation.🧵
A: Ah, you want help countering the rightward shift that's seemingly taken place across the globe. Obviously, this new crop of leaders doesn't share our alarm about the underlying environmental crisis, but they do fear economic stagnation.🧵
Am I the only one looking around wondering what else I could possibly need? Certainly not more freshly made cheap Chinawares. Just taking my kids thrifting means coming home with too much cool stuff, for peanuts. This isn’t me being anti int’l trade, but we maintain a great lifestyle with less of it
Opinion | Xi Is Making the World Pay for China’s Economic Blunders
Trump’s tariffs are bad enough, but Xi is fundamentally distorting world trade to dig China out of the hole its economic decisions have created.
www.nytimes.com
February 18, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Am I the only one looking around wondering what else I could possibly need? Certainly not more freshly made cheap Chinawares. Just taking my kids thrifting means coming home with too much cool stuff, for peanuts. This isn’t me being anti int’l trade, but we maintain a great lifestyle with less of it
Q: Do we all really need to make drastic cutbacks in our lifestyles, or just those who already have too much?
A: This is a difficult problem because of course some people are living lives that are really difficult to make less wasteful. I’m thinking of folks living on imports in Alaska for instance🧵
A: This is a difficult problem because of course some people are living lives that are really difficult to make less wasteful. I’m thinking of folks living on imports in Alaska for instance🧵
February 18, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Q: Do we all really need to make drastic cutbacks in our lifestyles, or just those who already have too much?
A: This is a difficult problem because of course some people are living lives that are really difficult to make less wasteful. I’m thinking of folks living on imports in Alaska for instance🧵
A: This is a difficult problem because of course some people are living lives that are really difficult to make less wasteful. I’m thinking of folks living on imports in Alaska for instance🧵