U.S. Representative John Shimkus, possible future chairman of the Congressional committee that deals with energy and its attendant environmental concerns, believes that climate change should not concern us since God has already promised not to destroy the Earth.
Shimkus, an evangelical Christian and a Republican member of the House from Illinois, on Tuesday signalled his desire to become chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
The Energy and Commerce committee is among the most powerful in the U.S. Congress, with a wide-ranging purview over legislation touching on energy policy, environmental initiatives and public health.
Shimkus already serves on the committee. During a hearing in 2009, he dismissed the dangers of climate change and the warnings of the scientific community by quoting the Bible.
First, he noted God’s post-Flood promise to Noah in Genesis 8:21-22.
“Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though all inclinations of his heart are evil from childhood and never again will I destroy all living creatures as I have done.
“As long as the earth endures, seed time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, will never cease.”
“I believe that’s the infallible word of God, and that’s the way it’s going to be for his creation,” Shimkus said.
Anyone who thinks cap and trade is going to change the climate is deluding themselves. The only climate it will change is the climate of doing business in America and not for the better.Anyone who is capable of deluding themselves into believing that thousand year old superstitions and a collection of ancient fairy tales is enough to discount any amount of scientific data should not be in any sort of position of power. Especially when such a position requires that one act on such data.
His views are no more ludicrous than those of environmental extremists who talk about Gaia as if the Earth were some kind of sentient goddess...
The verses only say that heat and cold will exist, not that they would be at degrees to sustain human existence.
He also only said that he would not destroy it by flood, no reference as to what humans would do to it.
I believe this planet will exist long after humans are extinct.
When has one of these people every occupied public office and made their views public? Also, unfortunately his views are more mainstream than those of environmental extremists but equally ludicrous.
His views are no more ludicrous than those of environmental extremists who talk about Gaia as if the Earth were some kind of sentient goddess....
He believes what he believes. He was elected to office. Don't like it? Elect someone else next time.
I think what the OP is pointing out, by implication, is that Illinoians ought to do precisely that. Elect someone else, because they elected a crackpot this time.
I think he was elected in 1997.
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