Christians and Environment – Can Christian Beliefs Inspire a Believer to Help Saving the Planet?
Posted: Sunday, December 30, 2007
by Gorazd Andrejc
http://exeter.academia.edu/GorazdAndrejc
Among Christians one can find very different attitudes towards environment and global warming problem. There are of course Christians who simply do not care and do not see any real connection between their religion and the idea to save the planet. Religion is about saving humanity, spiritually speaking, not the planet, right? Before moving to the answer to this question, let's have a quick look at another, even less eco-friendly Christian attitude.
Even if these beliefs are not so explicit and widespread, and despite the change of mood in the environmental issues among the evangelical leaders in the in last couple of years, there is still a general feel of relative passivity in relation to the environmental issues among many evangelical and also other Christians. In the internet and in other media you will much more likely find new-age believers and atheist defending the green attitude. Why? Majority of new-age belief-systems include belief in (equal) sanctity of all life, a belief in Gaia Mother Earth, and similar. These beliefs inspire new-agers to action. Atheists on the other hand believe that this world, however bad and imperfect, is the only world we have. So whatever we feel, we better do something about it or we will simply cease to exist as a race! If there is no afterlife you naturally have a very strong motivation to preserve this life and this world.
So, what about Christian beliefs and environmental concern? Are Christian beliefs actually a disadvantage for someone who wants to take eco-friendly attitude? Not necessarily. This of course mainly depends on one's choice of Christian theology. Which biblical messages are more, and which are less important and relevant today? Such hermeneutical decisions, for Christians who take Bible more seriously, guide their ethical priorities and lead to decisions.
There is an important difference between focusing mainly on the texts where God threatens to destroy the earth because of the sins of humans (e.g. "I, the Lord, now promise to destroy everything on this earth"(Zep 1,2)) and on the other hand focusing on the threats that He will destroy the destroyers of the earth ("It is time to destroy everyone who has destroyed the earth." Rev 11,8). Also, the responsibility towards the whole of mankind, which is for majority the single most important reason why we should care about the environment at all, is present in the biblical idea of the first human couple and the human race as a big family (whether Adam and Eve are literal or a symbolic doesn't matter here, the very idea of the human family is what counts). Yet another positive route to environmental ethics in Christian theology is praising the inherent value and beauty of Creation, which definitely doesn't lack in the Bible (Gen 1:31, Ps 104, Rom 1:20, etc.). Most of these positive reasons for environmental concern are of course present also in Judaism and can be found in Islam too.
So, there are many starting points for a Christian believer when deciding why to take environmental issues seriously. Christianity need not be eco-unfriendly at all.
To read more, discuss, comment or just browse on related issues, visit my blog " of Life - An Ordinary Person's Guide": http://eco-friendly-lifestyle.blogspot.com It is intended for people with other occupations and interests who are not necessarily experts in environmentalism, to discuss and find motivation for lifestyle changes connected to environmental issues.
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Top-level comments on this article: (9 total)Gorazd, Well stated! I have been struggling with this issue on this website wondering how Christians can ignore the facts surrounding global warming and the environment. I wish someone could explain to me how God's people cannot see this truth but they can see all these other issues of minor importance. Thank you. I have joined your fan club! Be well
Thanks James! Well, this is puzzling to me too. It seems that Christianity is so many times about slogans and mass thinking instead of individual intelligent decisions. By the way, your articles are great, I became your fan too! :) I am looking forward to read more of your articles and participate on discussions around here!
Good job, but let me ask you this. Does calling yourself something actually make you something? It has to do with a lot more then professing. Faith = works and they shall be known by their signs. All the best RTM
Dear Robert, thanks for your comment. I guess it depends on whether you are talking about God's perspective or simply about the meaning of the term "Christian" as it is used in the society. We people do not have any way to look deeper into people's lives, so I think we simply have to call everyone who professes to be Christian, a Christian. Who really lives by the standards of Christian ethics, is a different matter of course, I agree completely.
This anonymous was me, Gorazd. Sorry.
Thanks for helping me with my homework!!
hi thanks for such a very good learning informationbye
Hello! This is intresting!!! 8-}
As Christians, we are expected to be good stewards of the planet and the resources provided therein.The problem, though, is that the Anthropogenic Global Warming theory is seriously flawed and yet to be proven. The models, which were run years ago have been proven wrong. The hockey stick never happenned. Phil Jones, shamed "scientist" recently admitted that there has been no significant global warming for the past fifteen years even as CO2 in the atmosphere has increased.Furthermore, The rate of temperature change is not unprecedented nor is the actual temperature. It is widely believed that the Medieval warm period was warmer than it is now and polar bears survived then even as the population is now increasing.It has been further exposed that many statements in the 1007 IPCC Assessment were either overstated or flat out wrong. Causing some of the high level bureaucrats to resign in shame. It has also further been exposed that the IPCC has focused on all the potential negative impacts of global warming while completely ignoring any benefits.Finally, Solar physicists have found empirical correlations between solar activity and historical as well as present temperature. All which is admittedly ignored by the news media and the bureaucrats at the IPCC.So what does this have to do with Christianity? Using cap and trade and other government schemes to control the uncontrollable, we are poised to waste trillions in resources. These resources could better serve us if directed toward adapting to the inevitable changes in climate. Additionally, schemes such as using corn, worldwide food staple to produce fuel has the secondary effect of driving up food prices for everyone and creating food shortages.My version of Christianity says it is a sin to perpetuate a lie even in ignorance. It is incumbent upon us all to learn the truth.P.S. Did anyone read the N.Y. Times article today where Harvard Eggheads say that we will need to push the price of gasoline up to $7 per gallon to limit carbon emissions as much as the EPA is directing us to? That is a sin!
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