A2 - Wednesday, May 25, 1983 - North Shore News much of a surprise. Some 21 per cent of us profess to have no religious affiliation at all. We're nature freaks, in- stead. According to one pastor, “It's very difficult to have to compete with a day’s skiing at Whistler or a day's sailing on English Bay.” Compete? Gee, no wonder the chur- ches are losing. Witb attitudes like this on the part of the shepherds, one can hardly blame the strictly personal by Bob Hunter Nature as a religion THE NEWS that British Columbians go to church less than any other Canadians doesn’t come as flock for fleeing to the hills and the sea. I was an early convert to the trick of bugging out from church services — and this was back in Winnipeg, a place where nature is mostly a four-letter word. About the age of nine, | started passing out halfway through high mass. It was a legitimate faint. I didn't hold my breath. | just somehow managed to hypnotize myself into a sudden lapse of consciousness. Td fall over in the pew, usually managing to hit my head on the kneeling board with a convincing thunk. Next thing I knew, I'd be sit- ting outside, having been carried there by an uncle who knew I was pulling some kind of a scam, but couldn't figure out my system. To this day, I can’t tell you how I managed to do 11, but the desire to ‘get outside must have been a powereful subconscious factor. By the age of 16, I'd decid- ed that church was bad for my mental health and God was either non-existent or a bad actor who ought to be shot. My atheism phase lasted until I was nearly 30, when the sheer weight of evidence that the universe is a mystical experience over- whelmed my stubborn little ego. I started noticing God everywhere. If someone asks me now, “Are you a religious per- son?” I have to say: Yep. Ac- tually, I’m a_ religious fanatic.” But I sure don't go to chur- ch. And | really don't have a religious label that I'd pin on myself other than the general heading: “behever.” I'm a born-again something. but that’s about as specific as I can get, except to add that 1 agree with the native In- dians, like the Hopi, who say that God is nature, nature 1s God. These people who are out sailing or skiing instead of doing time in a pew aren't necessarily any less religious Seymour building ban lifted DEVELOPERS SEEKING lots for housing construction need look no further than North Vancouver District’s Seymour-area after council Monday lifted its three-year building ban in response to the recently ratified Seymour River crossing. Distnct’s “moratorium” on development in was first 1980. Council's intention at that time was to halt major housing construction in the region because the area had poor transportation access. It feared too much development would cause enormous traffic snarts and Seymour enacted in May endless headaches for those having to use the single, tight access route across. the bailey bridge. But District's recent agreement with provincial highway department officials regarding the long-awaited new Seymour River span means housing can proceed. now Baaadadaadaaaaaaaacaaaeaaaaaaaaa QaaaQaaa Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q THE COVESIDE 4323 Gallant Avenue North Vancouver NOW RENTING some two level suites Prices trom $585 per month PREVIEW SHOWING Saturday May 28th Sunday, May 29th 11 00am Underground parking with securty entry Gibson and Clark Properties Ltd 1274 West Pender Street Vancouver, B.C. For turther information call 929-3067 or 687-7103 QAGAQAAAAAAAQAAAQAAAAAAQAAQAAAAAA A QAQAAQAQAA (In the heart of DEEP COVE) Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q - First opportunity/best selection Q - July 1, 1983 occupancy 5 Enjoy the splendid view Q One and two bedrooms available , Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q 6 OOpmMm 11 00am 6 OOpmMm QUALITY THROUGHOUT New concrete building Six deluxe apphances including washer/dryer 40 02 W/W Harding carpet Woodburning fireplace Sunshine Ccethngs Skylights in many suites Patios and balcomes Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q “Since the Seymour crossing 1s scheduled to open later this year,” said District Development Director Fred Sigurjonsson, “the moratorium would seem to have served its purpose.” Council agreed = and repealed the three-year-old building ban. PRIMROSE OIL EFAMOL 9) 49° than the church-goers — it’s just that the object of their worship is a mountain or the ocean instead of an icon. I once asked a_ hip Teilhard de Chardin-type Catholic priest what the best method of prayer was, and he allowed thal your actions are probably your real prayers. What you do, not what you chant, ts what counts. So, rather than accepting for a minute the false and misleading notion that British Columbians are “less religious” than other Cana- dians, I would submit that the question was asked the wrong way. As far as I can tell, God likes a good rush. The universe was invented as a sensory phenomenon. The person who is zipping across the snow or pounding along through the waves is actually engaged in a very serious spiritual exercise. They're worshipping nature and nature is God, and therefore | say give them all points for good behavior on Sunday even if it looks like they're just having fun. That's the B.C. spirit! Opportunity costing N. Van City $720 DUBLIN will be the destination of North Van- couver City Director of Purchasing and Property Services G.H. Brewer in June, and City taxpayers will be defraying his expenses to the tune of $720. Brewer has been given permission to attend a convention of the In- ternational Federation of Purchasing and Materials Management from June | to June 3 in ireland. The Purchasing Management Association of Canada will be picking up the bulk of Brewer's tab — $1350, as he There’s only one VITAMIN DISCOUNTS STORE on the North Shore You may see imitations, but we're the one and only And since we've opened up nine stores ii the last three years, we must be doing something nght We cut out all the fancy packaging We cut out the expensive displays And we cut the pnce We didn't cut out the finest professional serice for all your vitamin needs We have the finest quality vitamins to fit the quality of hfe we share on the North Shore You can come see us an Vancouver, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Surrey. 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