Ok, awesome cartoon. Whether you are really into President Bush or not, this is wonderful.
I just watched "An Inconvenient Truth" and am wondering what it looks like to be a faithful Christian and someone who desires to take care of the environment. I don't think it entails a reaction like James Dobson:
"More importantly, we have observed that Cizik and others are using the global warming controversy to shift the emphasis away from the great moral issues of our time, notably the sanctity of human life, the integrity of marriage and the teaching of sexual abstinence and morality to our children."
But honestly, I know that there is a part of me that is frightened at what it means personally for me to do something about global warming. So, here is the question: "What can we do, as individuals or larger community groups, to help change the trend of using the earth to keep us comfortable?"
2 comments:
I'm really glad that Dobson gets to decide what the great moral issues of our time are. I thought there was something about different parts of the body in the Bible, but I guess I misread something.
Also, it is a tough question that you ask. I think one thing is that before we can change the world, we have to change ourselves. Taking small steps to be more earth-friendly is good. Stop using paper towels, you're hands can air dry and you can reuse a rag in your kitchen. Bike or walk places if you can. I don't know. Take it one decision at a time. We probably don't have to go back to candles instead of electricity, but I don't think many of us are in any danger of becoming too earth-conscious. I don't know where we go from here to make macro change.
Morrow
Good "freaking" question...to borrow from one of our beloved roommates. Although I'm not sure that he would think this was a good freaking question...freaking tree huggers. Ah...you just got to smile.
Anyhow, since I've left bethel, this is the one issues that the dirty liberals have really won me over on. I'm writing my capstone paper on reconciliation and it's relationship to ecology. I set out to find texts like on in Psalms 70 something ish where it talks about ... something about the land. But in my research I have discovered a better way to approach this topic.
It seems to me that, as N.T. has successfully shown me, the new heaven and earth we talk about that belong to the eschatological vision are not so much destroy and recreates as they are renews of what is already existing. In his book the resurrection of the son of God he argues that there is a great deal of continuity in the way we live now and the way we wil live then. Ergo when you import the creation imagery into texts like Romans 8, Colossian 3:10 etc, it seems clear to me that as those who have dominion over the earth we are to be the caretakers of the earth and the creative problem solvers of the earth’s problems.
Thus living in consonance with the eschatological vision in the now means taking care of the earth in the now. Not leaving it for Tim LaHaye's vision of the future. So to Dobson, I would suggest that though the issues he raises are important, this one is equally important, and so on the bible's own account.
And here I think is the most important point. Perhaps those who suggest that the global warming is cyclical are right. What does that change for Christians? I think nothing if we approach the topic the way I propose above. Even if this is just a phase, which I don’t believe it is, we still ought to take care of God’s creation and that means finding solutions to our elevated CO2 levels, recycling, etc.
Pragmatically, I point the great prophetic work by Dr. Seuss, "The Lorax." In a recent read of this text, it struck me that his point isn't just take care of the environment, but also overcome your consumerist mentality. This is a tough one. As soon as I think I got it, then I realize the hundred other areas that I need to improve. here are some practical steps we've taken.
1. bought a house close to where we work and I go to school. It takes over 6 months to get to our 3,000 miles and oil change.
2. switch our light bulbs to CFL 13 watts to save energy.
3. went to the city to request a recycle bin. Now I bet I take our regular trash can out once a month. Most of what we use is recyclable.
4. Switch from TXU, to Green Mountain Energy. This is bit more expensive, but I think a great way to put your money where your mouth is. Green Mountain uses 100% renewable. I'm sure they have plenty of those in CO.
5. Download and listen to NPR environment podcasts weekly to stay informed.
6. protest the proposed coal mines that Texas is trying to bring in.
these are just some of the ways. We've got a long way to go.
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