Evangelical environmentalism
Evangelical environmentalism is an
Some Evangelical groups have allied with environmentalists in teaching knowledge and developing awareness of
Overview
Evangelical environmentalists are based on the Bible, particularly on Genesis 2:15,[1] to take care of God's Creation: "And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it."[2]
From an Evangelical environmentalist perspective, the response to the ecological crisis involves the restoration of correct doctrine, the restoration of Christianity as guide, and a balancing of the Bible and biology. It is important to Evangelical environmentalists that they are not seen as worshiping nature; they feel obligated to the stewardship of creation because of their focus on the creator of nature.[3]
In Green Like God: Unlocking the Divine Plan for Our Planet Merritt states the Merritt continues from Gen 2:15 ...
- "Cultivate it and keep it" New American Standard Bible
- "Tend it and watch over it" New Living Translation
- "Work it and keep it" English Standard Version
- "Take care of it and to look after it" Holman Christian Standard Bible
- "Till it and watch keep it" Revised Standard Version[5]
- "Work the ground and keep it in order" The Message (Bible)
Evangelical organizations
International Evangelical Environmental Network
The International Evangelical Environmental Network was founded in 1992 by the World Evangelical Alliance.[6] In 2021, the Network has engaged in a number of candlelight vigils throughout the United States.[7][8][9][10]
Young Evangelicals for Climate Action (YECA) was founded as youth ministry by the Evangelical Environmental Network.[11][12] Members of Young Evangelicals for Climate Action participated in the September 2019 climate strikes at about a dozen colleges and universities, with a message of creation care and a faith-based approach to "speaking up for people's right to clean air and water and a stable climate."[13]
Evangelical Climate Initiative
The
Creation Care Task Force
The Creation Care Task Force was founded in 2012 by the World Evangelical Alliance.[15] In 2019, it established a Sustainability Center in Bonn, Germany.[16]
Criticism
In January 2006, a group of evangelicals opposed the Evangelical Climate Initiative's stance and issued a letter to the NAE which stated that "global warming is not a consensus issue, and our love for the Creator and respect for His Creation does not require us to take a position [supporting a cap and trade tax increase]". In 2007 the New York Times reported, "leaders of the conservative Christian wing of the Republican Party, including James Dobson, Gary Bauer and Paul Weyrich, told the policy director of the NAE, the Rev. Richard Cizik, to shut up already about global warming".[17]
In November 2022, a survey conducted by the
See also
- Anthropogenic hazard
- Christian views on environmentalism
- Cornwall Alliance
- Bill Moyers
- Public opinion on global warming
- The Green Bible
References
- ^ 2:15
- ^ Katharine K. Wilkinson, Between God and Green: How Evangelicals Are Cultivating a Middle Ground on Climate Change, OUP USA, 2012, p. 15
- ^ Kearns, L. 1997. Noah's Ark Goes to Washington: A Profile of Evangelical Environmentalism. Social Compass, 44:349-366.
- ISBN 978-0-446-55725-2)
- ^ "Bible, Revised Standard Version". quod.lib.umich.edu.
- ^ Roger S. Gottlieb, The Oxford Handbook of Religion and Ecology, Oxford University Press, USA, 2006, p. 569
- ^ Morris, Alex (2021-08-08). "Could Prayer Make People Take Climate Change Seriously?". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
- ^ Luis Andres Henao and Jessie Wardarski (November 2, 2021). "Faith groups increasingly join fight against climate change". apnews.com.
- ^ "Grand Rapids candlelight vigils bring awareness to climate change". WXMI. November 7, 2021.
- ^ Kyle Meyaard-Schaap (November 5, 2021). "I'm lighting a candle for #ClimateVigil on Nov. 6. You can, too". religionnews.com. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
- ^ a b Subramaniam, Meera (2018-11-21). "Generation Climate: Can Young Evangelicals Change the Climate Debate?". InsideClimate News. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
- ^ Jaradat, Mya (6 November 2021). "How does Gen Z do religion? How do young people feel about church?". Deseret News. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
- ^ Tigue, Kristoffer; Gustin, Georgina (2019-09-20). "'We See Your Greed': Global Climate Strike Draws Millions Demanding Action". InsideClimate News. Retrieved 2019-09-21.
- ^ Brian Steensland, Philip Goff, The New Evangelical Social Engagement, Oxford University Press USA, USA, 2014, p. 163
- ^ Jayson Casper, Evangelicals Endorse Unprecedented Ecumenical Plea for the Environment, christianitytoday.com, USA, September 16, 2021
- ^ EVANGELICAL FOCUS, World Evangelical Alliance establishes Sustainability Center in Bonn, evangelicalfocus.com, USA, 15 April 2019
- ^ "Evangelical Environmentalism". The New York Times. 10 March 2007.
- ^ "Ann Coulter - Wikiquote". en.wikiquote.org.
- ^ Becka A. Alper, Religious groups’ views on climate change, pewresearch.org, USA, consulté le November 17, 2022
Further reading
- Allen, R. S., E. Castano, and P. D. Allen. 2007. "Conservatism and concern for the environment". Quarterly Journal of Ideology 30(3/4):1–25.
- Brown, Edward R. 2008. Our Father's World: Mobilizing the Church to Care for Creation (InterVarsity Press).
- Guth, J. L., J. C. Green, L. A. Kellstedt, and C. E. Smidt. 1995. "Faith and the environment: religious beliefs and attitudes on environmental policy". American Journal of Political Science 39:364–382.
- Konisky, D. M., J. Milyo, and L. E. Richardson, Jr. 2008. "Environmental policy attitudes: issues, geographic scale, and political trust". Social Science Quarterly 89:1066–1085.
- McCright, A. M., and R. E. Dunlap. 2003. "Defeating Kyoto: the conservative movement's impact on U.S. climate change policy". Social Problems 50:348–373.
- Merritt, Jonathan (2010) Green Like God: Unlocking the Divine Plan for Our Planet ISBN 978-0-446-55725-2
- Peterson, M. N., and J. Liu. 2008. "Impacts of religion on environmental worldviews: the Teton Valley case". Society and Natural Resources 21:704–718.
- Schultz, P. W., L. Zelezny, and N. J. Dalrymple. 2000. "A multinational perspective on the relation between Judeo-Christian religious beliefs and attitudes of environmental concern". Environment and Behavior 32:576–591.
- Sherkat, D. E., and C. G. Ellison. 2007. "Structuring the religion-environment connection: identifying religious influences on environmental concern and activism". Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 46:71–85.
- Snyder, Howard A., and Joel Scandrett. 2011. Salvation Means Creation Healed: The Ecology of Sin and Grace (Cascade Books).
- Wilkinson, Katharine K. 2012. Between God & Green: How Evangelicals Are Cultivating a Middle Ground on Climate Change (Oxford University Press).