This is an interesting turn of events:
Despite opposition from some of their colleagues, 86 evangelical Christian leaders have decided to back a major initiative to fight global warming, saying “millions of people could die in this century because of climate change, most of them our poorest global neighbors.”
Among signers of the statement, which will be released in Washington on Wednesday, are the presidents of 39 evangelical colleges, leaders of aid groups and churches, like the Salvation Army, and pastors of megachurches, including Rick Warren, author of the best seller “The Purpose-Driven Life.”
“For most of us, until recently this has not been treated as a pressing issue or major priority,” the statement said. “Indeed, many of us have required considerable convincing before becoming persuaded that climate change is a real problem and that it ought to matter to us as Christians. But now we have seen and heard enough.”
The statement calls for federal legislation that would require reductions in carbon dioxide emissions through “cost-effective, market-based mechanisms” — a phrase lifted from a Senate resolution last year and one that could appeal to evangelicals, who tend to be pro-business. The statement, to be announced in Washington, is only the first stage of an “Evangelical Climate Initiative” including television and radio spots in states with influential legislators, informational campaigns in churches, and educational events at Christian colleges.
Should be interesting to see who the Republicans will listen to- big business or big religion.
Stormy70
They should be preparing for the coming ice age. I have my wool cardigans put away, just in case.
Vladi G
This was on NPR this morning. Of course, the nutjobs who aren’t supporting this find support for their lack or support, where else, in the bible. “It also says that man is superior and other things tack a back seat to man” was the argument.
Ya know, when you’re basing everything you do on a book that’s multiple thousands of pages long, and was written second and third hand by people multiple thousands of years ago, you can pretty much find support for just about anything.
ScottC
It be interesting if this is the straw that breaks the Elephant’s back.
Marcus Wellby
John, I hope that is a rhetorical question. The Republicans will do what they always do — listen to big business and as elections loom closer thrown some meat to the base (pretend they are againt abortion or just bash them so homos)*
*Pretty much the Democrat strategy too, though we seldom get real red meat thrown are way. Maybe just some dry leftover chicken that nobody wants anyway.
Marcus Wellby
Egads — so many typos, so little cofee
Stormy70
Hee, hee.
Marcus Wellby
Stormy, I caught that one myself after posting. D’oh!
zzyzx
Another post misfiled as sports I see ;)
Krista
Yeah, my money (all $2.98 of it) is on big business. If the Republicans ever extricate themselves from the mutual doglock they have with big business, I will be one surprised girlie.
Jay C
Heh – and just what about this Administration would make anyone think that they would “listen to” (i.e. actually DO anything suggested by) any group whatsoever, if it didn’t suit their purposes?
Christian groups come out in favor of an environmental issue?
Great – a swell opportunity for lots of photo-ops: President Bush can meet with them all on the (organically fertilized) White House lawn: spout “green” platitudes like Ralph Nader on crack; praise them for their “enlightened sense of the stewardship of God’s Earth” or whatever cliches his writers can concoct: and send them on their way home with smiles and souvenirs.
And then do absolutely nothing about the underlying issues or concerns (except to exploit the groups’ concerns for political gain, of course).
This is the Adminstration of George W. Bush, after all: a prime example of that grand old American tradition: “The Best Administration That Money Can Buy”
bud
Why should “religious leaders” be left out? They’ve got as much right as every other group out there to pontificate on a subject that they know nothing about – this description, of course, covers about 97% of all writing on “global warming”.
SeesThroughIt
This will be interesting. Like the others here, my money’s on big business being the favorite son, but they’ve got to find out a way to not cause ripples among big religion as well, so we could be in for some fascinating political acrobatics.
Tequila
Big business wins, hands down. Besides having bigger clout anyway, this is a far bigger issue to them than global warming is to the evangelicals, who are more concerned about school prayer, keeping the gays down, abortion, etc.
Barry
Yes – the way I’d put it is that this isn’t ‘big religion’, yet. It’s got miles to go before it’s anything but a passing fad.
stickler
They’ll listen to both. They’ll say nice things about both to both.
Watch what the Republicans do. And if anyone here is in any doubt which way their actions will turn out, then you simply haven’t been paying attention the last five years. Medicare prescription drug benefit is your reading assignment.
Pb
Oh man. Speaking of climate change, guess who forgot to get flood insurance on his front porch, and is now suing State Farm for the money. Comedy gold.
Steve
It’s not so much that the Republicans will do a 180 on their business-friendly agenda, but that this will make it harder for them to continue openly disdaining global-warming activists as envirokooks. You know, Al Gore warned about climate change, so therefore all partisan Republicans are required to be against it. The issue is too serious to be inappropriately politicized – but then again, so are most of the issues we inappropriately politicize.
waddayaknow
Quick, send those guys a dozen copies of Gore’s books…
Tho’ they may not know how to read them, being convinced that the world is flat, the earth is only 8000 yrs old, and Jesus spoke in King James’ english….
Don Surber
“millions of people could die in this century because of climate change, most of them our poorest global neighbors”
That is about as scientific as Intelligent Design
The 86 are the liberal answer to Pat Robertson
Hey, let’s replace NASA with the World Council Of Churches
LMAO. More liberal hypocrisy at play. Pick and choose which religious “scientists” to trot out
PS: I still loved the King funeral. Rev. Lowery’s eloquence puts Kos-Malkin-PJM to shame