'Global warming' fooling the faithful

[Kabowd]

I fail to see how Christianity and environmentalism are mutually exclusive. If anything, the two belong hand-in-hand, working in unison. We are stewards of this planet and, as such, it is our responsibility to see that it's resources are used wisely and to ensure that it is in good condition.

Further, I fail to see how humans can exempt themselves from the possibility that they may have caused a global change. We acknowledge that we pump billions upon billions of cubic tons of CO2 into the atmosphere each year and yet we refuse to think that it may cause some harm to the environment. Let's think about this rationally: billions upon billions of gallons of water would cause unimaginable damage. Billions upon billions of mice would also cause unimaginable damage. Billions upon billions of hail stones would cause unimaginable damage. Billions upon billions of hurricanes would cause unimaginable damage. . .

. . . How then can it be possible that billions upon billions of cubic tons of carbon dioxide would have no effect on the environment whatsoever, given that we know it acts as an insulant?

A lot of Christians are uncomfortable with environmentalism for some good reasons:

1) Originally, it began as a pantheistic cry, or with pantheism as the solution to everything that was occurring. Many have failed to recognize this was just an incorrect solution, not that the problem was also incorrect.

2) Many view it as a "liberal" thing. Unfortunately, in America, too many Christians tow the party line. Thus, if pro-abortion, pro-homosexual,. anti-tax cut, pro-illegal immigration politician comes out and says we need to protect the environment, natural resistance occurs.

3) Many think God won't let anything bad happen to the environment. They often forget we live in a fallen world.

4) Many fear that this has led to deep ecology, or ecocentrism, which would then ignore the importance of anthropology with the environment.

I'm not saying that these are reasons to reject environmentalism, but I am saying they are good reasons to be cautious (with exception to number 2, there's no reason to use that as an excuse).

True, but you forgot a couple more:

5) Many believers unwittingly have embraced semi-gnostic philosophy, which leads them to consider "earthly" and/or "worldly" existence as less important and valuable than things that are "spiritual".

6) Many fail to realize that heaven is going to be established here on earth. They believe that everything we see is going to be completely destroyed, and therefore do not see the point in valuing or protecting it now.

[GeneV]

I fail to see how Christianity and environmentalism are mutually exclusive. If anything, the two belong hand-in-hand, working in unison. We are stewards of this planet and, as such, it is our responsibility to see that it's resources are used wisely and to ensure that it is in good condition.

Further, I fail to see how humans can exempt themselves from the possibility that they may have caused a global change. We acknowledge that we pump billions upon billions of cubic tons of CO2 into the atmosphere each year and yet we refuse to think that it may cause some harm to the environment. Let's think about this rationally: billions upon billions of gallons of water would cause unimaginable damage. Billions upon billions of mice would also cause unimaginable damage. Billions upon billions of hail stones would cause unimaginable damage. Billions upon billions of hurricanes would cause unimaginable damage. . .

. . . How then can it be possible that billions upon billions of cubic tons of carbon dioxide would have no effect on the environment whatsoever, given that we know it acts as an insulant?

A lot of Christians are uncomfortable with environmentalism for some good reasons:

1) Originally, it began as a pantheistic cry, or with pantheism as the solution to everything that was occurring. Many have failed to recognize this was just an incorrect solution, not that the problem was also incorrect.

2) Many view it as a "liberal" thing. Unfortunately, in America, too many Christians tow the party line. Thus, if pro-abortion, pro-homosexual,. anti-tax cut, pro-illegal immigration politician comes out and says we need to protect the environment, natural resistance occurs.

3) Many think God won't let anything bad happen to the environment. They often forget we live in a fallen world.

4) Many fear that this has led to deep ecology, or ecocentrism, which would then ignore the importance of anthropology with the environment.

I'm not saying that these are reasons to reject environmentalism, but I am saying they are good reasons to be cautious (with exception to number 2, there's no reason to use that as an excuse).

True, but you forgot a couple more:

5) Many believers unwittingly have embraced semi-gnostic philosophy, which leads them to consider "earthly" and/or "worldly" existence as less important and valuable than things that are "spiritual".

6) Many fail to realize that heaven is going to be established here on earth. They believe that everything we see is going to be completely destroyed, and therefore do not see the point in valuing or protecting it now.

I agree - the question is did anything change after the fall? insofar as....

Gen 2:15 "And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it."

When Adam and Eve were put out of the garden did the 'steward' instruction become defunct, one assumes the Almighty meant "keep it" in a good way that would be acceptable to Him.

Did this just apply to the garden or all of the things that humankind has dominion over? I hold no brief or agenda here I simply believe that we should have respect, make that reverence for all of the Almightys creation. Yes He has given these things for our use - but surely that would be responsible use.

[ollkiller]

I would like to put forward my take on Global Warming. Here in Ireland i have noticed a few things in the past few years. There has been a definite shift in the seasons we experience. Normally in Ireland our hot weather (around 25 degress, i know not that hot.) would normally finish at the end of August. Over the past 5 years september has been consistently warmer and the cooling dosent appear until October. We normally would have our coldest period in January and February but this is not happening now until February and only last for around a month instead of the normal two cold months. All types of flowers and fauna are coming up earlier and staying for longer.

Now it may be a normal shift in the earths cycle but if there is slightest chance it is caused by humans we should do something about it. The only way we will know for certain is over a long period of time but can we take that chance. If humans are the cause of global warming then it won't be us that will feel the full force of it. It will be our children and grandchildren that will suffer and that to me would mean that we have failed as a generation to provide for our childrens future.

Last point about Rev. Farrell. He points out that he is not a scientist. When i look at the issue of global warming i listen to the arguments of scientists on both sides(and there are many good scientists on both sides doing very good work) and then make an informed decision. When there is something wrong with me medically i ask a doctor, that is, someone who is qualified in my eyes to talk about the issue at hand.

[apothanein kerdos]

I fail to see how Christianity and environmentalism are mutually exclusive. If anything, the two belong hand-in-hand, working in unison. We are stewards of this planet and, as such, it is our responsibility to see that it's resources are used wisely and to ensure that it is in good condition.

Further, I fail to see how humans can exempt themselves from the possibility that they may have caused a global change. We acknowledge that we pump billions upon billions of cubic tons of CO2 into the atmosphere each year and yet we refuse to think that it may cause some harm to the environment. Let's think about this rationally: billions upon billions of gallons of water would cause unimaginable damage. Billions upon billions of mice would also cause unimaginable damage. Billions upon billions of hail stones would cause unimaginable damage. Billions upon billions of hurricanes would cause unimaginable damage. . .

. . . How then can it be possible that billions upon billions of cubic tons of carbon dioxide would have no effect on the environment whatsoever, given that we know it acts as an insulant?

A lot of Christians are uncomfortable with environmentalism for some good reasons:

1) Originally, it began as a pantheistic cry, or with pantheism as the solution to everything that was occurring. Many have failed to recognize this was just an incorrect solution, not that the problem was also incorrect.

2) Many view it as a "liberal" thing. Unfortunately, in America, too many Christians tow the party line. Thus, if pro-abortion, pro-homosexual,. anti-tax cut, pro-illegal immigration politician comes out and says we need to protect the environment, natural resistance occurs.

3) Many think God won't let anything bad happen to the environment. They often forget we live in a fallen world.

4) Many fear that this has led to deep ecology, or ecocentrism, which would then ignore the importance of anthropology with the environment.

I'm not saying that these are reasons to reject environmentalism, but I am saying they are good reasons to be cautious (with exception to number 2, there's no reason to use that as an excuse).

True, but you forgot a couple more:

5) Many believers unwittingly have embraced semi-gnostic philosophy, which leads them to consider "earthly" and/or "worldly" existence as less important and valuable than things that are "spiritual".

6) Many fail to realize that heaven is going to be established here on earth. They believe that everything we see is going to be completely destroyed, and therefore do not see the point in valuing or protecting it now.

I agree - the question is did anything change after the fall? insofar as....

Gen 2:15 "And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it."

When Adam and Eve were put out of the garden did the 'steward' instruction become defunct, one assumes the Almighty meant "keep it" in a good way that would be acceptable to Him.

Did this just apply to the garden or all of the things that humankind has dominion over? I hold no brief or agenda here I simply believe that we should have respect, make that reverence for all of the Almightys creation. Yes He has given these things for our use - but surely that would be responsible use.

Some orthodox theologians have agreed that Genesis 2, and later God's command to Noah after the flood, represent man's call to rule over the earth, to be stewards. The fall would not have changed this command, but it certainly would change how we enact it and carry it out (fallibly so).

[Frosted Sun]

Rev. Jerry Falwell found another way to get some national news attention again. He is so smart. I could raise issues about how the world's environment is under the abuses of man created "things" ... the ones that threaten a good quality of life. The air pollution that comes from just about everything mankind makes in some form of another. The litter that fills the gutters along the roadways, which most of it eventually gets washed into the rivers and lakes. yuck. I could go on forever about how mankind has no regard or respect for God's creation and how we are to be good stewards of it, keeping it a healthy place for the next generation. Letters to big companies that have all the money, telling them "I wish you would make things in this country and on top of that, would you please make them so that they wasn't poison to the air, water and soil. If you have any profits could you please send some to my county so we will have money to clean up the trash from your left over by-products (trash and litter). After all that most of my efforts would fall straight to the floor and deaf ears and eyes. He is so smart, how can I be that way too. So some attention would be given to how we trash up this planet. It all adds up to global warming, everything is connected. Better yet , just forget it. I can more attention and money by poo pooing the whole thing off, just like Jerry did.

On earth as it is in heaven? Someone has read the prayer, i'm sure. Is heaven a littered up, polluted up place too? If we can't take care of this gift called earth why should God let us into heaven.

[Johni]

Of course Christians should be good stewards of the environment.

It seems that we are in a natural phase of warming. These have occured before in history and there were not large amounts of fossil fuels or hydrocarbons etc being sent into the atmosphere at those times. A few years ago there were dire warnings of another ice age. So the climate changes...seems like it always has. One scientific study says that even if everyone followed the Kyoto protcols (and most never will) that it would only change the average temperature less than a degree over the next 50 years! But it would cause lots of economic problems for the developed countries whereas China gets a free ride. If I read the report right, hardly any who signed the Kyoto agreement have actually cut back like they agreed to.

[JIME]

Not global warming----it's GOD WARNING!!!!

Not el nino---it's EL GODo!!!!

Not mother nature----it's FATHER GOD!!!!!

God controls the weather!!!!

These truely are the last days before Jesus comes!!!

Edited March 18, 2007 by JIME