Global Warming

[Buzz Dixon]

Should Christians be leading the way in protecting "God's Creations" - ie. animals, humans & our environment - from global warming?

It seems that the pro-gay, Green movement is more concerned about God's Creations than Christians.

Well, exactly what temperature should the Earth be?

Hot enough for flowering plants and dinosaurs above what is now the Arctic circle (as fossils show)?

Encased in a solid ball of ice as it was before life first appeared?

Trapped in a planet wide ice age that lasted until about 15,000 years ago?

Pick a temperature, please.

BTW, there's a lot of very strong evidence linking Earth's temperature with the cycle of solar flares and sunspots. You got any ideas on how to control them?

 

[Kris_J]

Well, exactly what temperature should the Earth be?

Hot enough for flowering plants and dinosaurs above what is now the Arctic circle (as fossils show)?

Encased in a solid ball of ice as it was before life first appeared?

Trapped in a planet wide ice age that lasted until about 15,000 years ago?

Pick a temperature, please.

BTW, there's a lot of very strong evidence linking Earth's temperature with the cycle of solar flares and sunspots. You got any ideas on how to control them?

So do you know what the formation of the continents was at the time those fossils died? & are you saying you want polar bears to suffer starvation & become the next generation of fossils?

 

[Buzz Dixon]

So do you know what the formation of the continents was at the time those fossils died? & are you saying you want polar bears to suffer starvation & become the next generation of fossils?

We know about continental drift. We know when certain parts of certain continents were in the Arctic and Antarctic regions (and most of the regions that are within the Arctic and Antarctic circles were there during the era of the dinos). We know from fossils that there were dinosaurs and flowering plants above what would have been the Arctic circle in the dinosaur era.

As for polar bears starving, not as long as there are garbage cans.

And since there seems to be a very strong correlation between solar activity and Earth's weather and temperature, how do you propose handling that?

 

[Arthra]

I think there's a disturbing corollary between those who enjoy a life style which in material terms is so much greater in proportion to the rest of the world and a seeming callous disregard for the balance of nature.

If Jesus original teachings are any criteria, Christians should be about living lives of thrift and parsimony not of gluttony and waste:

And he said unto his disciples,

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat;

neither for the body, what ye shall put on.

The life is more than meat, and the body [is more] than raiment.

Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap;

which neither have storehouse nor barn;

and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?

And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?

If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?

-Luke 12:22-26

 

[OrthodoxServant86]

Love and peace,

As an Orthodox christian, I see the world (and universe(s) for that matter) as the ultimate revelation of the work of God, that its condition is the direct result of our actions because we hold dominion over it, not because it is somehow our right to trash the world because of our dominion. Therefore, it should be a very clear sign when polutants are killing the Earth more and more that we have erred as a race and that our sin has brought the most disastrous things in the worst possible way- that is, ecological meltdown at an exponential rate.

The ignorance of many Christians faced with this is something I find despicable and horrible, even if the horrible things we are doing to the Earth are proven to be somewhat exaggerated (though I can assure you all, it's hard to exaggerate them much). It is also sickening to hear these same "Christians" encourage the way things are, thinking that this will somehow fit into their pipe-dream of an apocalypse, speeding its arrival or whatnot.

Anyhow, to close this, I would just like to quote my good 16th century buddy Montaigne; "we must lay aside the imaginary kingship (read, ruthless despotism) over other animals that is attributed to us" and offer the "kindness and gentleness to beasts... even to trees and plants."

In peace,

-Justin

 

[Kris_J]

We know about continental drift. We know when certain parts of certain continents were in the Arctic and Antarctic regions (and most of the regions that are within the Arctic and Antarctic circles were there during the era of the dinos). We know from fossils that there were dinosaurs and flowering plants above what would have been the Arctic circle in the dinosaur era.

As for polar bears starving, not as long as there are garbage cans.

And since there seems to be a very strong correlation between solar activity and Earth's weather and temperature, how do you propose handling that?

Thats a very interesting way of seeing God's very first command to mankind.

genesis 1:28And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

...now what have you decided "dominion" means?

 

[zoziw]

Should Christians be leading the way in protecting "God's Creations" - ie. animals, humans & our environment - from global warming?

It seems that the pro-gay, Green movement is more concerned about God's Creations than Christians.

There are many Christians already heavily involved with the Green movement through the many environmental lobby groups that already exist.

The World Council of Churches (representing 400 million Christians) has been very active in this area:

http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/ecology.html

As have Evangelicals

http://www.creationcare.org/welcome.php

The big problem we face is that the media is so transfixed on social issues (more than most of us are in my experience) that they seldom, if ever, cover the other things we do.

 

[Kris_J]

There are many Christians already heavily involved with the Green movement through the many environmental lobby groups that already exist.

The World Council of Churches (representing 400 million Christians) has been very active in this area:

http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/ecology.html

As have Evangelicals

http://www.creationcare.org/welcome.php

The big problem we face is that the media is so transfixed on social issues (more than most of us are in my experience) that they seldom, if ever, cover the other things we do.

Its a bit too easy to blame the media isn't it? Pastors have plenty of opportunity to speak on this issue in church. I have yet to hear one.

One thing I do know is that the Catholic Church does not invest in companies who do not have a high standard on environmental protection.

 

[FadingWhispers3]

Methinks the parable of the talents is appropriate here. To those who are faithful with what is given to them, more will be entrusted. To those who are irresponsible with what is given to them, it will be taken away and given to those who will take good care of it.

 

[Beoga]

Methinks the parable of the talents is appropriate here. To those who are faithful with what is given to them, more will be entrusted. To those who are irresponsible with what is given to them, it will be taken away and given to those who will take good care of it.

yeah, but not everyone has been entrsted with the "talents" of environment, though everyone has a certain responisbility to take care of it.

 

[zoziw]

Kris_J

I have heard many sermons on environmental issues, if the church(es) you attend don't address this issue speak with the pastor about it or if the issue is very important to you find a church that puts more emphasis on it.

 

[Buzz Dixon]

Thats a very interesting way of seeing God's very first command to mankind.

genesis 1:28And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

...now what have you decided "dominion" means?

Dominion means we are in charge, but that doesn't mean we control every aspect of it.

We can't alter the planet's orbit, for instance. Does that relenquish our right to do with it as we see fit within God's charter to us? Not in the slightest.

The last ice age started and stopped without significant human cause. In fact, a typical large volcano eruption will pump more waste heat and pollutants into the atmosphere than all of humanity has in its entire history.

So whooze zoomin' who?

 

[Kris_J]

Dominion means we are in charge, but that doesn't mean we control every aspect of it.

We can't alter the planet's orbit, for instance. Does that relenquish our right to do with it as we see fit within God's charter to us? Not in the slightest.

The last ice age started and stopped without significant human cause. In fact, a typical large volcano eruption will pump more waste heat and pollutants into the atmosphere than all of humanity has in its entire history.

So whooze zoomin' who?

If you do not believe in the values outlined in genesis regarding the environment, then just say so.

 

[Buzz Dixon]

If you do not believe in the values outlined in genesis regarding the environment, then just say so.

Ever do any gardening? Sometimes ya gotta chop up and kill old plants and re-arrange the landscaping in order for things to work better.

 

[Kris_J]

Ever do any gardening? Sometimes ya gotta chop up and kill old plants and re-arrange the landscaping in order for things to work better.

"for things to work better". SO you are saying either it is to our benefit that we have global warming, & We or God (or whoever you think the gardener is working for) are responsible? So according to you global warming is good?