Evangelical environmentalism

Evangelical environmentalism is an environmental movement in which some Evangelical Christian organizations have emphasized biblical mandates concerning humanity's role as steward and subsequent responsibility for the care taking of Creation. While the movement has focused on different environmental issues, it is best known for its focus of addressing climate action from a biblically-grounded theological perspective.

Some Evangelical groups have allied with environmentalists in teaching knowledge and developing awareness of global warming.

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 Noah Covenant is God entering a Covenant with all the Earth by citing Gen 9:9-10.[4] Merritt continues from Gen 2:15 ...

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 Evangelical Climate Initiative was launched in February 2006 by the National Association of Evangelicals in the United States.[14] The initiative aims to campaign for environmental reform, calling on all Christians to push for federal legislation that would reduce carbon dioxide emissions in an effort to stem global warming.[11]

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]

Ann Coulter focuses on Genesis 1:27-28 which gives dominion to humanity over nature. Ann Coulter claims: "God gave us the earth. We have dominion over the plants, the animals, the trees. God said, 'Earth is yours. Take it. Rape it. It's yours.'"[18] Lynn White (1967) implies that this is a common view among Christians, but the accuracy of this statement is debatable.

In November 2022, a survey conducted by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, found that evangelicals were the most skeptical religious group regarding global warming.[19] 17% of Evangelical did not believe that there is solid evidence showing that the Earth is warming. 32% of Evangelical did believe that there was evidence because of human activity, but 36% did believe that warming was due to natural patterns. 53% of the total U.S. population does believe that the Earth is warming because of human influences and 66% of unaffiliated Americans believe that global warming due to human impacts is real.

See also

References

  1. ^ 2:15
  2. ^ Katharine K. Wilkinson, Between God and Green: How Evangelicals Are Cultivating a Middle Ground on Climate Change, OUP USA, 2012, p. 15
  3. ^ Kearns, L. 1997. Noah's Ark Goes to Washington: A Profile of Evangelical Environmentalism. Social Compass, 44:349-366.
  4. ^ Merritt, Jonathan (2010) Green Like God: Unlocking the Divine Plan for Our Planet page 59 (ISBN 978-0-446-55725-2)
  5. ^ "Bible, Revised Standard Version". quod.lib.umich.edu.
  6. ^ Roger S. Gottlieb, The Oxford Handbook of Religion and Ecology, Oxford University Press, USA, 2006, p. 569
  7. ^ Morris, Alex (2021-08-08). "Could Prayer Make People Take Climate Change Seriously?". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
  8. ^ Luis Andres Henao and Jessie Wardarski (November 2, 2021). "Faith groups increasingly join fight against climate change". apnews.com.
  9. ^ "Grand Rapids candlelight vigils bring awareness to climate change". WXMI. November 7, 2021.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ a b Subramaniam, Meera (2018-11-21). "Generation Climate: Can Young Evangelicals Change the Climate Debate?". InsideClimate News. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
  12. ^ Jaradat, Mya (6 November 2021). "How does Gen Z do religion? How do young people feel about church?". Deseret News. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
  13. ^ Tigue, Kristoffer; Gustin, Georgina (2019-09-20). "'We See Your Greed': Global Climate Strike Draws Millions Demanding Action". InsideClimate News. Retrieved 2019-09-21.
  14. ^ Brian Steensland, Philip Goff, The New Evangelical Social Engagement, Oxford University Press USA, USA, 2014, p. 163
  15. ^ Jayson Casper, Evangelicals Endorse Unprecedented Ecumenical Plea for the Environment, christianitytoday.com, USA, September 16, 2021
  16. ^ EVANGELICAL FOCUS, World Evangelical Alliance establishes Sustainability Center in Bonn, evangelicalfocus.com, USA, 15 April 2019
  17. ^ "Evangelical Environmentalism". The New York Times. 10 March 2007.
  18. ^ "Ann Coulter - Wikiquote". en.wikiquote.org.
  19. ^ 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).