The environment was made for man, not man for the environment.
Of course, taking care of our environment is a good thing. God’s creation should be taken care of well and preserved as best we can. We should be working to reduce our carbon footprint by all reasonable means. What becomes reasonable in this discussion is defined by whether environmentalism is a means to an end or an end in itself. If our environment is the ultimate thing, then all extreme measures are necessary. Anyone who questions in any way our reaction to the earth warming is considered a bad person. We should remember that history teaches us that until recently truth has always been determined through both scientific and theological/philosophical means. St. Augustine said, “the book of nature and the book of Scripture were both written by the same author, and will not be in conflict when properly read and understood.” Pope John Paul II, said in 1987: “Science can purify religion from error and superstition; Religion can purify science from idolatry and false absolutes.” Only time will tell which one of these correctives are needed most today concerning the global warming debate.
Often we take good things and make them into absolutes. When we take a legitimate issue and make into an ultimate one, we are practicing idolatry. In this country and around the world we are dangerously close to bowing down to the idol of environmentalism.
Of course, taking care of our environment is a good thing. God’s creation should be taken care of well and preserved as best we can. We should be working to reduce our carbon footprint by all reasonable means. What becomes reasonable in this discussion is defined by whether environmentalism is a means to an end or an end in itself. If our environment is the ultimate thing, then all extreme measures are necessary. Anyone who questions in any way our reaction to the earth warming is considered a bad person. We should remember that history teaches us that until recently truth has always been determined through both scientific and theological/philosophical means. St. Augustine said, “the book of nature and the book of Scripture were both written by the same author, and will not be in conflict when properly read and understood.” Pope John Paul II, said in 1987: “Science can purify religion from error and superstition; Religion can purify science from idolatry and false absolutes.” Only time will tell which one of these correctives are needed most today concerning the global warming debate.
The disparaging of a sacred cow can only explain the reaction to President Trump pulling out of the Paris Climate Accord. The dishonoring of Jesus and Muhammad brought the same response. A disagreement over a policy does invoke this kind of invective. Everyone has a God. It is what we value the most or the thing to which we give our greatest allegiance. Unfortunately, mankind started to worship the creation rather than the God who created it. In effect, we exchanged good for the best. The argument today about global warming should not be about good and evil but about reasonable and unreasonable. God has given man dominion over the earth to enjoy and to care for lovingly, but never to worship. When we move away from sound reason and follow a false God, it always leads us away from the truth.
Image source--https://lad.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dosya:Ecologia.jpg
Ken
Barnes the author of “The Chicken Farm and Other Sacred Places” YWAM Publishing
Email: kenbarnes737@gmail.com
website: https://sites.google.com/site/kenbarnesbooksite/
Email: kenbarnes737@gmail.com
website: https://sites.google.com/site/kenbarnesbooksite/
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