"God and global warming"

[G_j]

interesting...

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/10/15/Opinion/God_and_global_warming.shtml

God and global warming
A Times Editorial
Published October 15, 2005

--------------------------------------------------

Science and religion may differ on how we got here, but increasingly there is little disagreement on where we are headed if we don't begin to address the causes of climate change. Scientists have long warned of the dangers of global warming attributed to our profligate use of fossil fuels. Now, one of the nation's most influential religious groups is delivering the same message, if based on an alternative standard of proof.

"I had a conversion experience on the climate issue not unlike my conversion to Christ," Richard Cizik, vice president for governmental affairs at the National Association of Evangelicals, told the environmental magazine Grist. "I was at a conference in Oxford where Sir John Houghton, an evangelical scientist, was presenting evidence of shrinking ice caps, temperatures tracked for millennia through ice-core data, increasing hurricane intensity, drought patterns, and so on. I realized all at once, with sudden awe, that climate change is a phenomenon of truly biblical proportions."

The 30-million-member association, which Cizik says is one of the strongest voices in the Republican Party, isn't just talking about global warming. It is taking action. Calling the doctrine "creation care," the association is conducting a scripture-based campaign to convince its members that they are "commissioned by God the Almighty to be stewards of the earth."

Cizik doesn't rule out formal collaboration with secular environmental groups such as the Sierra Club. And the association is preparing a position paper on global warming policy.

<snip>

[Deja Q]

1. Let's make this simple:

If there's no profit in it, fixing it will not occur.

Let us bake cake.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

2. WTF

THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF EVANGELICALS HAS 30 MILLION MEMBERS?


OMG
OMG
OMG
OMG
OMG


Nice they are coming around, though. Guess that Rapture thing didn't work out.

[opihimoimoi]

3. WTF...these guys are so full of shit its pathetic

If they really wanna help in fixing the Planet...Vote BLUE...not RED

[DrRang]

7. They're probably exaggerating.

I worked for a state organization that promoted renewable energy to fight global warming, a really good group sponsored by the state's Conference of Churches. The talking point was that the group represented 600,000 people, that being the total number of people in denominations represented by the Conference of Churches, but I doubt that 599,500 of those people had ever heard of our group.

[Democrats_win]

4. But..but just yesterday on CBS Morning Show Falwell said GW is a myth.

Bill Nye the science guy was there too and he said we can debate the cause (as the article above suggests) but global warming is occuring.

Harry Smith and the CBS weatherman were practically laughing at Fallwell while the other guests were polite.

[BlacknBlue in Red NC]

5. An 'evangelical scientist' isn't that an oxymoron?

Just wondering...

[Viking12]

6. The US Catholic Bishops have spoken out too...

Global Climate Change: A Plea for Dialogue, Prudence, and the Common Good

As people of faith, we are convinced that "the earth is the Lord's and all it holds" (Ps 24:1). Our Creator has given us the gift of creation: the air we breathe, the water that sustains life, the fruits of the land that nourish us, and the entire web of life without which human life cannot flourish. All of this God created and found "very good." We believe our response to global climate change should be a sign of our respect for God's creation.

The continuing debate about how the United States is responding to questions and challenges surrounding global climate change is a test and an opportunity for our nation and the entire Catholic community. As bishops, we are not scientists or public policymakers. We enter this debate not to embrace a particular treaty, nor to urge particular technical solutions, but to call for a different kind of national discussion. Much of the debate on global climate change seems polarized and partisan. Science is too often used as a weapon, not as a source of wisdom. Various interests use the airwaves and political process to minimize or exaggerate the challenges we face. The search for the common good and the voices of poor people and poor countries sometimes are neglected.

At its core, global climate change is not about economic theory or political platforms, nor about partisan advantage or interest group pressures. It is about the future of God's creation and the one human family. It is about protecting both "the human environment" and the natural environment.1 It is about our human stewardship of God's creation and our responsibility to those who come after us. With these reflections, we seek to offer a word of caution and a plea for genuine dialogue as the United States and other nations face decisions about how best to respond to the challenges of global climate change.

The dialogue and our response to the challenge of climate change must be rooted in the virtue of prudence. While some uncertainty remains, most experts agree that something significant is happening to the atmosphere. Human behavior and activity are, according to the most recent findings of the international scientific bodies charged with assessing climate change, contributing to a warming of the earth's climate. Although debate continues about the extent and impact of this warming, it could be quite serious (see the sidebar "The Science of Global Climate Change"). Consequently, it seems prudent not only to continue to research and monitor this phenomenon, but to take steps now to mitigate possible negative effects in the future.

-more-

http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/international/globalclimate.htm#introduction

[FreedomAngel82]

8. At least they are recognizing it

That's the first step. I wish others would wake up and know what's going on. I've had this discussion at least once with my dad a few weeks ago and his reply was basically what to do about it. So at least now we're sort of going forward. And we've ignored the earth so much and now we're paying for it. In the Bible as Christians we're told to take care of the earth since this is our only planet. We're God's eyes, ears, feet, hands etc. If we don't take care of the earth nobody else will.