Evangelicals battle over agenda, environment

[danarhea]

While evangelical Christians take up the cause of the environment, it seems their leaders are telling them they shouldn't. But why not? Didn't God appoint his creation to be caretakers of the earth? But, then again, leaders of any kind, whether secular or religious, are not obeying God's commandments anyways, so why should devout Christians listen to them at all?

I might not agree with many on the right on some of their stances, but their drift towards accepting their duty to protect God's creation is the right thing to do, and I believe they will be blessed for taking the right side on this issue, which after all IS God's side. I agree with them completely on this.

Article is here.

Note: This thread is not intended to be a discussion of whether one should believe in God or not. That is everyone's choice, and a discussion best suited for another thread. This discussion is about the environment, and the efforts of many on the religious right to take care of it.

 

[1069]

Yes, well... that's because environmental issues are apparently "disheartening" to fundamentalist Christians, as is any other issue besides abortion and gay marriage.
Activism just isn't much fun if you aren't persecuting someone, I suppose, is their theory.

link

 

[tryreading]

Yes, well... that's because environmental issues are apparently "disheartening" to fundamentalist Christians, as is any other issue besides abortion and gay marriage.
Activism just isn't much fun if you aren't persecuting someone, I suppose, is their theory.

link

Well, you guys may be talking heresy. Changing the goals of the popular church from hating to giving and caring might violate whatever gospel the current church is following.


Seriously though, I have a relevant story. A local pastor, Joel Hunter, (local to me in Central Florida) agreed to be the new head of the Christian Coalition last year. He thought that with a couple of changes to their activities at the time the Coalition could be an important, worthwhile organization. But in the end he had to decline the position because the pursuits he wanted the Coalition to back were things like charitable giving and protection of the environment. The Coalition didn't want anything to do with that nonsense, it would interfere with their agenda of abortion and gay marriage politics. So Hunter politely backed out.

Hunter once said (paraphrased) 'Do we just want to tell people what to do, or spend our time doing God's work?' He wanted to do the latter, he said.

I'm nobody who should be preaching, but I really appreciate people like Hunter.

 

[1069]

Well, you guys may be talking heresy. Changing the goals of the popular church from hating to giving and caring might violate whatever gospel the current church is following.


Seriously though, I have a relevant story. A local pastor, Joel Hunter, (local to me in Central Florida) agreed to be the new head of the Christian Coalition last year. He thought that with a couple of changes to their activities at the time the Coalition could be an important, worthwhile organization. But in the end he had to decline the position because the pursuits he wanted the Coalition to back were things like charitable giving and protection of the environment. The Coalition didn't want anything to do with that nonsense, it would interfere with their agenda of abortion and gay marriage politics. So Hunter politely backed out.

Hunter once said (paraphrased) 'Do we just want to tell people what to do, or spend our time doing God's work?' He wanted to do the latter, he said.

I'm nobody who should be preaching, but I really appreciate people like Hunter.

Yes, I remember reading an article about Hunter and the Coalition.
I admire his principles and share his priorities, although I wish he would not, so easily, have backed down.
He really should not permit his religion to be perverted by those with an agenda of hate, if it is within his power to oppose or prevent it.
It's irresponsible, in my opinion, for those with power to decline to use that power in service of what they believe is right.

 

[tryreading]

Yes, I remember reading an article about Hunter and the Coalition.
I admire his principles and share his priorities, although I wish he would not, so easily, have backed down.
He really should not permit his religion to be perverted by those with an agenda of hate, if it is within his power to oppose or prevent it.
It's irresponsible, in my opinion, for those with power to decline to use that power in service of what they believe is right.

I don't hold it against him that he decided not to head the organization because he is a positive type of guy, wanting to practice his religion closer to the source, and there was no way the Coalition was going to spend money on anything but political influence. Hunter couldn't have done any good there.

 

[jfuh]

Yes, well... that's because environmental issues are apparently "disheartening" to fundamentalist Christians, as is any other issue besides abortion and gay marriage.
Activism just isn't much fun if you aren't persecuting someone, I suppose, is their theory.

link

In particular if it turns out to be themselves that they would be persecuting.

 

[1069]

In particular if it turns out to be themselves that they would be persecuting.

Yeah; I don't guess that would be much fun at all...
No wonder they're feeling "demoralized". Poor babies.

 

[ptsdkid]

Since when has it been a Christian ideal/policy to take care of the environment? What exactly does it mean to take care of the environment. This foolishness reminds me of Algore and the scare America first crowd that believes somehow that man is destroying earth. God the male is married to Mother Nature the female, and together they have blessed the earth with eternal life. Nothing that miniscule humans could do would possibly jeopardize God's creation. Many of you need to brush up with your Genesis readings.

 

[Kandahar]

Since when has it been a Christian ideal/policy to take care of the environment? What exactly does it mean to take care of the environment. This foolishness reminds me of Algore and the scare America first crowd that believes somehow that man is destroying earth. God the male is married to Mother Nature the female, and together they have blessed the earth with eternal life. Nothing that miniscule humans could do would possibly jeopardize God's creation. Many of you need to brush up with your Genesis readings.

You aren't real.

 

[Dogger807]

Since when has it been a Christian ideal/policy to take care of the environment? What exactly does it mean to take care of the environment. This foolishness reminds me of Algore and the scare America first crowd that believes somehow that man is destroying earth. God the male is married to Mother Nature the female, and together they have blessed the earth with eternal life. Nothing that miniscule humans could do would possibly jeopardize God's creation. Many of you need to brush up with your Genesis readings.

Oh look... another area where religion is wrong, yet those who believe the superstition are unmoving in their faith despite all evidence to the contrary.

Dude.. the earth is not the center of the universe... deal with it.

 

[ptsdkid]

You aren't real.

***What is real?

 

[ptsdkid]

Oh look... another area where religion is wrong, yet those who believe the superstition are unmoving in their faith despite all evidence to the contrary.

Dude.. the earth is not the center of the universe... deal with it.

***Not following you here. Where is it that religion is wrong?

 

[Hatuey]

***What is real?

Everything else. Except you. You are the creation of a 15 year old. You were created to annoy real people. Your mission should you choose to accept it. Will only make you lonelier and depressed.

This message will self destruct in 3 seconds.

...

...

...

*Poof*

 

[Adrian]

Oh look... another area where religion is wrong, yet those who believe the superstition are unmoving in their faith despite all evidence to the contrary.

Dude.. the earth is not the center of the universe... deal with it.

 

[danarhea]

Since when has it been a Christian ideal/policy to take care of the environment? What exactly does it mean to take care of the environment. This foolishness reminds me of Algore and the scare America first crowd that believes somehow that man is destroying earth. God the male is married to Mother Nature the female, and together they have blessed the earth with eternal life. Nothing that miniscule humans could do would possibly jeopardize God's creation. Many of you need to brush up with your Genesis readings.

The Earth is the Lord, and the fullness thereof, the world, and they that dwell therein.

-- Psalms 24:1

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on Earth, as it is in Heaven.

-- Matthew 6:10

 

[Kandahar]

***What is real?

Someone who isn't a troll. Someone who actually believes the things they say on here. Someone who doesn't make up random background information to give their online persona a fake biography. In other words, not you.

 

[Trajan Octavian Titus]

Oh look... another area where religion is wrong, yet those who believe the superstition are unmoving in their faith despite all evidence to the contrary.

Are you talking about global warming or christianity? I can't tell.

Global Warming as a Religion

 

[Adrian]

Are you talking about global warming or christianity? I can't tell.

Global Warming as a Religion

Would it be fair to assume that Richard Lindzen himself is a religious man?

 

[Trajan Octavian Titus]

Would it be fair to assume that Richard Lindzen himself is a religious man?

What does that have to do with anything?

 

[Adrian]

What does that have to do with anything?

Religious people frequently slap the label of "religion" on pretty much anything they view with doubt, extremely inaccurately, might I add. Two things that frequently find themselves to be the target of "religion" is atheism and evolution, two most decidedly non-religious beliefs. If you have a problem with the science of global warming, that's one thing, but calling it "religion?" Please.

 

[Trajan Octavian Titus]

Religious people frequently slap the label of "religion" on pretty much anything they view with doubt, extremely inaccurately, might I add. Two things that frequently find themselves to be the target of "religion" is atheism and evolution, two most decidedly non-religious beliefs. If you have a problem with the science of global warming, that's one thing, but calling it "religion?" Please.

The guy is an MIT professor and atmospheric studies I have know Idea as to his personal beliefs. And global warming is very much like religion, you have your apocalypse scenario, your prophet Al Gore, and even your indulgences in the form of carbon offsets.

 

[Adrian]

The guy is an MIT professor and atmospheric studies I have know Idea as to his personal beliefs. And global warming is very much like religion, you have your apocalypse scenario, your prophet Al Gore, and even your indulgences in the form of carbon offsets.

I couldn't get through the article, it was so muddled with "alarmist" (even going so far as to use [alarmist] right before "concensus" so as to put words in Lindzen's mouth, replete with religion (in this sense as a pejorative - thus removing any ability to view the matter with a clear head), and other pejorative buzz words that turned the article into a hopelessly muddled political rant of its own. After having his words put through Sorano's wringer, I don't think I'm getting Lindzen's own words here. I'm going to try to get it from the horse's mouth. Then we can discuss this.

By the way, aside from a god, prayers, scripture, and the promise of a saved soul, yes, global warming is just like religion. :roll:

 

[Adrian]

and even your indulgences in the form of carbon offsets.

Don't lay that on me.