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.
Many Christians (evangelicals) believe in the second coming
of Christ, but some of them believe that Christ's second coming is imminent,
that it will happen very soon. Majority of those in this second subgroup also
point to global warming phenomenon as a sign before Christ's coming – a prime
example of such a sign actually! Such interpretation of the prophecy also
includes the claim that we really can't do anything in this matter to make
things better. The belief, that Christ will come very soon and that global
warming is an important sign of His coming, naturally leads to the belief that
there is no point in "saving the planet". Not only will this planet burn in
destruction in a very near future, but you are actually working against the
prophecy (and so against God) if you are trying to save the planet. Not to
mention the peril of wasting your time and energy you should use for other more
important things to do. The comment of the late evangelical leader Jerry Falwell,
that "the myth" of global warming is a "Satan's attempt to redirect the
church's primary focus" is just one expression of such a position.
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.
