Should Christians support climate change?

[Anonymous]

I think many like Pence are determined to quickly usher on the end of times. It’s weird but that’s a cult for you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It should be an extremely high priority for any Christian who sees part of their role as a Christian as serving humanity.

If you think that being a Christian means actively working to bring about the end of days, then hey, light it up.

I'm Christian and it's so painful to know that your second line is common thinking. We are stewards of the earth, and we should be working to end suffering -- which includes suffering (drought, flood, storms, famine, disease, etc.) caused by climate change. Actively working to bring about the end times is not Christian.

[Anonymous]

Climate change doesn't just hard the climate, or make polar bears suffer. Climate change already leads to human suffering - did you know that the conflicts in Nigeria are driven in part by climate change, and the loss of range land for cattle as it gets drier? As sea level rises just a bit parts of island nations will flood more often, leading to death, disease, and suffering in poor countries - not to mention suffering in our own country from stronger storms. This is about human suffering, as well, and Jesus calls on us to comfort and prevent human suffering. So we must act.

[Anonymous]

Climate change is unleashing and will unleash starvation and war on millions of people.

Why?

Because of climate change, agriculture is not possible in parts of the world where it was possible just a few decades ago, leading to economic catastrophe, food insecurity and mass migration to areas that will not welcome more people because it puts their own populations at risk. And that's before we factor in cultural, ethnic and religious clashes between these people. Rising seas will engulf high density areas that cannot easily transfer their people and economic centers of activity elsewhere, leading to more conflict. This is and will be true in many parts of Africa and south Asia, for example.

In the colder parts of the world, rising seas and loss of permafrost make it life-threatening for indigenous people to continue living like their parents and grandparents. I'm thinking of the Saami people herding reindeer in northern Finland, for example, but it's true for all tribes around the Arctic Circle.

And then you have the effect on richer nations: we have the means to displace populations from coastal regions, build hurricane-proof homes, build outside of flood zones and fire zones, even though right now we're not doing much.

Yet consider global trade: this country is currently IMPORTING ITS ANTIBIOTICS (and rare earths critical to electronic circuitry, as well as a whole lot of foodstuffs, like coffee, and products we deem essential to life as we know it). We cannot escape the domino effect. As soon as developing nations economies are crippled by climate change and cannot pursue their usual trade, we will suffer immediately.

This will happen in your children's and grandchildren's lifetime. It started a generation ago, although you didn't know it. This year, hundreds of Americans died because of extreme weather conditions, such as the new type of super-fast, super-hot, uncontrollable wildfires in California. Increased frequency of extreme weather events are part of climate change. You are complicit in the deaths of your fellow countrymen if you don't take action right now.

I hope you understand that unless you believe in chaos, death and destruction, any world religion supports the preservation of life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This topic is mainly for those who are Christian, as this is not for debating people who don’t believe in the Bible, although everyone is welcome
to comment.

But for those who are Christian, how much of a priority should climate change be? The Bible tells us that the earth is going to be destroyed anyway but that we should be stewards of our environment. Should we actively be trying to prevent the Earth’s destruction or just be good stewards of the environment and accept the things we cannot change? Is the destruction of the Earth out of our control? Is it worth spending millions to save?

OP, please point out the portion of the Bible that instructs you to engage in a cost-benefit analysis re your good works.

I don't think you're really being forthright with this question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This topic is mainly for those who are Christian, as this is not for debating people who don’t believe in the Bible, although everyone is welcome
to comment.

But for those who are Christian, how much of a priority should climate change be? The Bible tells us that the earth is going to be destroyed anyway but that we should be stewards of our environment. Should we actively be trying to prevent the Earth’s destruction or just be good stewards of the environment and accept the things we cannot change? Is the destruction of the Earth out of our control? Is it worth spending millions to save?

Yes, yes it is worth it to spend trillions to save. This is the only planet we have. Climate change is going to make the lives of millions miserable and harsh and kill them off faster. That doesn't seem like a very Christian thing to do, to sit by and allow that to happen.

[Anonymous]

Catholics believe we should fight to save the planet.

https://unfccc.int/news/pope-francis-releases-encyclical-on-climate-and-environment

Most climate change is due to greed and selfishness so if Catholics believe that we should not be greedy and selfish they would agree to "save the planet".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This topic is mainly for those who are Christian, as this is not for debating people who don’t believe in the Bible, although everyone is welcome
to comment.

But for those who are Christian, how much of a priority should climate change be? The Bible tells us that the earth is going to be destroyed anyway but that we should be stewards of our environment. Should we actively be trying to prevent the Earth’s destruction or just be good stewards of the environment and accept the things we cannot change? Is the destruction of the Earth out of our control? Is it worth spending millions to save?

I am Jewish and believe (in a non literal way) in the Hebrew bible, though our views of "end times" are different.

There is a famous rabbinic saying - "if you are planting a tree, and someone tells you the messiah has come, finish planting the tree and THEN go to greet the messiah" While its really about skepticism of messianic claims, I think it speaks to your q.

We don't when or how the end of history will come. Meanwhile it is our task to make life liveable, and yes, that means fighting climate change. And making the major changes that any secular cost benefit analysis indicates are needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This topic is mainly for those who are Christian, as this is not for debating people who don’t believe in the Bible, although everyone is welcome
to comment.

But for those who are Christian, how much of a priority should climate change be? The Bible tells us that the earth is going to be destroyed anyway but that we should be stewards of our environment. Should we actively be trying to prevent the Earth’s destruction or just be good stewards of the environment and accept the things we cannot change? Is the destruction of the Earth out of our control? Is it worth spending millions to save?

OP, please point out the portion of the Bible that instructs you to engage in a cost-benefit analysis re your good works.

I don't think you're really being forthright with this question.

actually I think any serious cost benefit analysis suggests doing major things to fight climate change is desirable - but that would take us off topic I guess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think many like Pence are determined to quickly usher on the end of times. It’s weird but that’s a cult for you!

You know literally nothing about Christianity if you write that. Christians know that the end of times (and all else) is in God's control, and He has a timing only He knows. We can't, nor do we want to, hasten anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This topic is mainly for those who are Christian, as this is not for debating people who don’t believe in the Bible, although everyone is welcome
to comment.

But for those who are Christian, how much of a priority should climate change be? The Bible tells us that the earth is going to be destroyed anyway but that we should be stewards of our environment. Should we actively be trying to prevent the Earth’s destruction or just be good stewards of the environment and accept the things we cannot change? Is the destruction of the Earth out of our control? Is it worth spending millions to save?

Passively allowing the destruction of the environment is not being a good steward under any definition of the word. If I make you the steward of my garden, and you see that it is suffering from fires, drought, pests, and floods, and there are steps you could take to prevent some or all of that destruction, you are *not* being a good steward if you just let it happen. You are being a terrible steward, and I am going to be pretty pissed when I get back. A good steward would protect the garden.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely! I’m a science believing Christian, ( I know, I know!) And climate change should absolutely be a priority. God gave us this planet we are morally obligated to take care of it. I don’t understand why so many Christians are anti-climate change. I firmly believe that Christians have rejected it because “liberals” have embraced it.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, it doesn't matter.

I lived in a huge third world country for several years, and the amount of destructive waste I saw there, and the universal disregard and ignorance, have convinced me that whatever the US/West does will be cancelled out by horrific destruction of our oceans and air by Russia, China, India, and multiple other countries.

It's cute that people in the West think they are helping, but they have not seen the extent of the destruction originating among giant populations who don't care at all.

[Anonymous]

Obviously, we are called to be stewards of the Earth and all creatures.

God gave us brains. Anyone with brains can see the threat of climate change, and the threat of human activity on this beautiful planet.

How can you look at the wonders of creation and even think, "Hmm, should I be responsible with this, or trash it?"

What is wrong with you?

[Anonymous]

The Bible says that we should be good stewards of his creation. Not caring about the health of the earth is like abusing your bodies health, both are sin.

The Bible warns against greed and pride in possessions which are at the core of global warming.