October 1st, 2008 · 1 Comment

“Yet, even in the absence of perfect knowledge or unanimity, we have to make informed decisions about the future. This will mean we have to take a position of prudence based partly on science that is inevitably changing. We do not believe unanimity is necessary for prudent action. We can make wise decisions even in the absence of infallible evidence.”

The ECI includes a broader group of evangelicals and tends to be more political. It believes mandatory carbon limits are necessary to solve the global warming problem.

Richard Cizik, vice president for governmental affairs at the National Association of Evangelicals, has noted that until recently the majority of evangelicals have been absent from the climate change discussion. But with their large numbers, they have the ability to help make climate change a political priority.

MINDING GOD’S EARTH

Religion and concern for the environment do seem to go hand in hand. In many religions, being good stewards of the earth is considered part of the faith.

In 2006, the Catholics launched the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change which provides a forum to look at the faith implications of climate change. Since being selected two years ago, Pope Benedict XVI has said that Christians need to embrace the biblical message of caring for the earth and that means fighting climate change. In an article earlier this year, Newsday reported that the Pope is “taking on the climate issue from a pulpit no one in the world can match — leader of the 1.1 billion member Catholic Church.”

His support, says a spokesperson for the Sierra Club, “could really tip the balance in world action. He’s really not mincing words. He’s walking the walk.”

Likewise, the spiritual leader of the Eastern Orthodox Church, Patriarch Bartholomew I calls environmentalism a “spiritual responsibility.” Last September at the Third European Ecumenical Assembly, the patriarch said, “We are concerned about God’s creation, which is constantly and shamelessly rendered the object of abuse. We are concerned about the elementary climate and other conditions — quite literally, about the air and oxygen breathed by modern man and which future generations, as we fear, will seek in vain. We are, finally, concerned about humanity’s mere survival on this continent and our planet.”

Beyond Christians, the Jewish Climate Initiative, started in late 2007, states that Jews have an obligation to take global action to avoid the threats of climate change.

Pages: 1 2 3 4