What does global warming have to do with Christianity? Have James Dobson & friends finally gone whacko?!?

Question

This is from an AP article about disagreements within the "Christian" right wing political movement:

"Just this month, Focus on the Family founder James
Dobson and 24 other top Christian conservatives pressured
the National Association of Evangelicals to silence its
Washington director, the Rev. Rich Cizik. The reason: Cizik
tried to convince evangelicals that global warming is real."

I can understand Christians expressing concerns about things they think are immoral like abortion, homosexuality, even evolution.

But why should "religious" leaders be so vehemently against the possibility of global warming? Did the Bible say anything about global warming? Did Christ preach against it?

Or is this another example of so-called Christian leaders trying to flex their muscle, force their world-view upon all of us, denounce science, and most important, protect their own economic interests (or those of their friends)?

What other reason could there be?

The article's headline is: Christian Right at Crossroads" The full article can be read at:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070319/ap_on_re_us/religious_right_1

mamasquirrel: God wouldn't let global warming happen? Like he didn't let the plague happen? Or the Crusades? Or the holocaust? Why wouldn't he let global warming happen?

Bibleproph... gimme a break...

Cheryl ... You're right, Christians should be discussing global warming, as should everyone. What I don't understand is why a Christian leader (Dobson) is so hell-bent on convincing people that global warming is a fallacy, when any reputable scientist agrees that it is a fact. Shades of the evolution - creationism debate? What exactly its causes are is still not completely known or understood, but we do know that fossle fuel consumption contributes significantly to it.

But even if he/she denies scientific evidence and consensus, why is it so important to them to teach, preach, and convince their followers that it is false? Is that what Jesus tells his followers to preach, or was it the gospel of Christ? Am I remembering my scripture wrong?

Why's it so important to them? Couldn't be for political reasons, could it? To protect republican-supporting big business concerns from the costs of implementing cleaner and more environmentally friendly procedures?

Why else?

Answer 1

Those who were called evangelicals in the 19th century fought for a number of social reforms, such as child labor reform, the end of the slave trade, etc. Often, this movement is known as the "Social Gospel" Movement.

The late 20th century saw an upswing in right-wing religious activism, focusing on fighting the cold war, opposing abortion rights, and the women's liberation movement in the 70s.

Fortunately, a number of evangelicals are beginning to re-claim the activist zeal of the 19th century, fighting against sex trafficking, genocide in Sudan, right wing economic policies, the war in Iraq, and yes, even Global Warming.

Fascists like Dobson and Falwell prefer to keep the agenda focused on issues like abortion and same-sex marriage, as they do not accept mainstream science, and they all have some serious investment in right wing economic policies. If they do not directly benefit from such econ. policies, their wealthy, conservative backers and donors certainly do.

I probably wouldn't see eye to eye on theology with Cizik or Jim Wallis, another prominent liberal evangelical, but I applaud their work.

Folks like Dobson make me sick.

Unfortunately, those who are considered evangelical

Answer 2

Well, I guess Christian leaders reason that God created the heavens and earth and mankind seems bent on destroying earth's resources, THEREFORE, it is a topic that Christians should discuss. Also, a lot of people have strong feelings about global warming because it is a complex issue so it keeps followers interested in the sermons and extraneous rhetoric.

Reading the popular media can lead a person to conclude that "global warming" is:
o- either a hoax to promote business opportunities, politicians agenda and scientists grant money.....
OR
o- a problem related to overpopulation, industrialization and fossil fuels whose solution options lie in solar power, wind power, geothermal power and nuclear fusion....

However, the correct answer may be altogether different:

NASA has released never-before-seen images that show the sun's magnetic field is much more turbulent and dynamic than previously known. The international spacecraft Hinode, formerly known as Solar B, took the images. Hinode was launched Sept. 23 to study the sun's magnetic field and its explosive energy. National Aeronautics and Space Administration scientists said the spacecraft's uninterrupted high-resolution observations of the sun are expected to have an impact on solar physics comparable to the Hubble Space Telescope's impact on astronomy. "For the first time, we are now able to make out tiny granules of hot gas that rise and fall in the sun's magnetized atmosphere," said Dick Fisher, director of NASA's Heliophyics Division. "These images will open a new era of study on some of the sun's processes that effect Earth, astronauts, orbiting satellites and the solar system." Hinode is a collaborative mission led by
the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and includes the European Space Agency and Britain's Particle Physics Astronomy Research
Council. NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., managed the development of the Hinode's scientific instrumentation provided by industry and federal agencies.

>>> as regards alternative energy methods, I favor development of the technology for nuclear fusion using lunar Helium 3

Answer 3

Well if Global Warming has nothing to do with Christianity there is no need for the National Association of Evangelicals to worry about it.

Answer 4

Judging from man's first job in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 2:15), I would say that cultivating and keeping the land was important.

So I see no disconnect in a Christian wanting to take part in preserving the earth and the environment by helping stop man-made pollutions that do have an affect globally on the land which we live.

Answer 5

I never liked Dobson. There are people that think his time is over.
He was big about 20 years ago.
He has taken the side of certain other denominations that the evangelicals don't believe in.
I think he should be focusing on Jesus, not he family.
He was of the time of all you had to do was put the word christian in front of it and you were in.
Christan car sales, Christan magician, christian psychologist.
I don't care what he has to say.
Goody by by is what I say.

Answer 6

Well, in Genesis 1 people were commanded to subdue the earth and rule over it. Now, I don't think we should be vehemently against telling people about global warming, howewver, I do believe that moral issues deserve more focus. Global warming doesn't exactly happen in the blink of an eye, but death does, and with death comes either eternal seperation from God or eternal union with God. Therefore, I say Christians should not oppose getting the word out about taking care of the environment, it shouldn't be ignored, but it shouldn't be the full focus of our efforts unless called by God to do so...

As for Dr. James Dobson's reason for being "vehemently against it", I guess you would just need to search a bit deeper into why they hushed that guy.

Answer 7

These people make me sick. Of course they are goin to use the "we need to focus on our morals" bs before they give any thought to the world itself. they don't care about the future. they care about the money they can fill into their pockets at present time. and if the big corporations can use the evangelicals as their puppets to subdue a mass amount of people into thinking that global warming is a hoax, and to go about life as normal (well normal for the past 50 yrs), no decrease in profit!

Answer 8

I wondered this same thing a few weeks ago.
It's a strange coalition of ideas that seem to be popular with evangelical christians. ProLife, ProWar, pro-death penalty. Anti-environment, Pro-big Business (???), anti-liberties, pro-big government, Pro-National Debt,

Are they all just following their leader, Bush?
or did Karl Rove create Bush's platform based on the innermost values of evangelical christians???

Answer 9

“We don't have to protect the environment, the Second Coming is at hand.”
James Watt, Secretary of the Interior under Ronald Reagan. Washington Post, May 24, 1981.

Answer 10

Oh, honey, Dobson is a wacko from the get-go.

"...is this another example of so-called Christian leaders trying to flex their muscle, force their world-view upon all of us, denounce science, and most important, protect their own economic interests (or those of their friends)?"

I do believe you got it in one.