Religion and Energy Policy
Earlier today we had a very interesting guest-post on Religion and Renewable Energy, in which the author, Brian McGowan, begins:
Recently the subject of religion has come up several times. I try not to discuss it but it keeps coming up and it is hard to avoid.
I respond:
Thanks for this very interesting post. Yes, I try to avoid the subject as well, for fear of coming off as disrespectful to people’s beliefs. Having said that, someone needs to say something when we have elected representatives using a religious platform from which to make important decisions that fly in the teeth of science. For example, last year, Illinois Congressman John Shimkus, who aspires to be chairman of the super-powerful House Committee on Energy and Commerce, quoted the bible (the books of Genesis and Matthew) as reason not to act on climate change, reading:
And He will send his angels with a loud trumpet call and they will gather his elect from the four winds from one end of the heavens to the other. The Earth will end only when God declares it is time for it to be over. Man will not destroy this Earth.
Shimkus continued, asserting, “There is a theological debate that this is in fact a carbon-starved planet, not that we have too much carbon.”
I can’t imagine what this latter remark could possibly mean, but again, I hesitate to challenge anyone’s faith. Yet I don’t hesitate for a second in recommending against electing lawmakers whose decision-making process so clearly and aggressively flouts critically relevant scientific discoveries. Our civilization simply must come up with a better way in dealing with the lethally important challenges we face.
Thanks for the post, Brian.
There is a nation-wide organization called Interfaith Power and Light. It is not limited to any one denomination or religion. Its main principal is that religious people should be concerned about the welfare of others and that that concern requires us to deal with the pollution problems, including climate change, resulting from the use of fossil fuels. Currently it is mainly concerned with improving energy efficiency.
Regardless of to what religion, if any, one embraces, we should be able to understand that to a significant degree, we are responsible for how our actions affect other people. Surely it is reasonable to encourage religious people to accept that responsibility. Doing so does not require addressing any other aspects of various religions, so it should be possible to avoid religious arguments and controversy.
Here is a link to Interfaith Power and Light:
http://interfaithpowerandlight.org/
The Middle East is riddled with Religious Wars, conflict and has been for hundreds/thousands of yrs. Blending Religion with Sustainable Energy will be a total step backwards. Leaders that get religious are not as effective as would be w/o.
Greg Chick, A Pagan Sun Worshiper.
I have seen Churches sold & bought. “Men of God” are as human as I. I have made judgement errors, as have most honest people. Divide and conquer is a method used to create weakness. I see nothing but trouble in a symbiotic relationship between Church and Oil.
Greg Chick Oil is not to be trusted, for it is slippery.