Comments on: Would god allow climate change? http://www.sindark.com/2009/08/03/would-god-allow-climate-change/ Temporarily Torontonian Sun, 12 Feb 2012 08:01:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Christians and climate change « the Way? http://www.sindark.com/2009/08/03/would-god-allow-climate-change/#comment-131927 Christians and climate change « the Way? Fri, 05 Aug 2011 03:32:58 +0000 http://www.sindark.com/?p=6101#comment-131927 [...] believe we can disregard climate change as a threat because God wouldn’t allow humans to destroy the earth. I can’t help wondering whether [...] [...] believe we can disregard climate change as a threat because God wouldn’t allow humans to destroy the earth. I can’t help wondering whether [...]

]]> By: Milan http://www.sindark.com/2009/08/03/would-god-allow-climate-change/#comment-124682 Milan Sat, 18 Jun 2011 21:12:11 +0000 http://www.sindark.com/?p=6101#comment-124682 I think this is basically the opposite of true: <a href="http://www.sindark.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/IMG_7210.jpg" rel="nofollow"><img src="http://www.sindark.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/IMG_7210-450x300.jpg" alt="" title="Church sign advertising God's abundance" width="450" height="300" class="aligncenter size-thumbnail wp-image-9873" /></a> I think this is basically the opposite of true:

]]> By: . http://www.sindark.com/2009/08/03/would-god-allow-climate-change/#comment-100815 . Fri, 12 Nov 2010 21:50:08 +0000 http://www.sindark.com/?p=6101#comment-100815 <a href="http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2010/11/in_the_gops_house_god_wont_all.html" rel="nofollow">In the GOP's House, God won't allow global warming?</a> By Stephen Stromberg Just how radical is the Republican House going to be? Part of that depends on the chamber's new committee chairmen. I'm already worried about what Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) might do as the House's chief inquisitor, particularly when it comes to his promise to "investigate" climate science. Now Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.) is campaigning to chair the House Energy and Commerce Committee next year. He's been on the committee since 1997, and he says he's "uniquely qualified" for the job. For example, the Toronto Star reports, Shimkus claimed in 2009 that we don't have to worry about global warming because God promised not to destroy the Earth. No -- really. In the GOP’s House, God won’t allow global warming?
By Stephen Stromberg

Just how radical is the Republican House going to be? Part of that depends on the chamber’s new committee chairmen. I’m already worried about what Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) might do as the House’s chief inquisitor, particularly when it comes to his promise to “investigate” climate science. Now Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.) is campaigning to chair the House Energy and Commerce Committee next year. He’s been on the committee since 1997, and he says he’s “uniquely qualified” for the job. For example, the Toronto Star reports, Shimkus claimed in 2009 that we don’t have to worry about global warming because God promised not to destroy the Earth. No — really.

]]> By: R.K. http://www.sindark.com/2009/08/03/would-god-allow-climate-change/#comment-84151 R.K. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:15:34 +0000 http://www.sindark.com/?p=6101#comment-84151 The Pope is my #1 go-to guy when I need the advice of an abstinent old man who believes that his every word is infallible. The Pope is my #1 go-to guy when I need the advice of an abstinent old man who believes that his every word is infallible.

]]> By: Milan http://www.sindark.com/2009/08/03/would-god-allow-climate-change/#comment-84150 Milan Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:12:45 +0000 http://www.sindark.com/?p=6101#comment-84150 Catholicism is a problem too, insofar as it helps prevent women from making the kind of reproductive choices they want to. Hampering the efforts of governments and NGOs that promote family planning is one of the more objectionable things done by any religious organization. Catholicism is a problem too, insofar as it helps prevent women from making the kind of reproductive choices they want to.

Hampering the efforts of governments and NGOs that promote family planning is one of the more objectionable things done by any religious organization.

]]> By: Tristan http://www.sindark.com/2009/08/03/would-god-allow-climate-change/#comment-84149 Tristan Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:08:08 +0000 http://www.sindark.com/?p=6101#comment-84149 "His remarks emphasized that food should not be treated like any other commodity, especially because “there is no cause and effect relationship between population growth and hunger.” Nobel Prize-winning economic Amartya Sen has long commented that hunger is not a problem of production but one of access." This is just a fallacious string of thought. If population growth increases demand for food, which increases the price, which limits access, then population growth can be a cause of starvation even if it is still true to say the problem is with access rather than production. The real problem, as usual, is capitalism. “His remarks emphasized that food should not be treated like any other commodity, especially because “there is no cause and effect relationship between population growth and hunger.” Nobel Prize-winning economic Amartya Sen has long commented that hunger is not a problem of production but one of access.”

This is just a fallacious string of thought. If population growth increases demand for food, which increases the price, which limits access, then population growth can be a cause of starvation even if it is still true to say the problem is with access rather than production.

The real problem, as usual, is capitalism.

]]> By: Milan http://www.sindark.com/2009/08/03/would-god-allow-climate-change/#comment-84143 Milan Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:26:38 +0000 http://www.sindark.com/?p=6101#comment-84143 Of course, this is a man who believes that condoms are evil, the world was created by a benevolent god who cares about humanity, and that priests actually turn bread and water into flesh and wine. He may not be the best source of information on scientific matters. That said, given the number of members in his church, it is likely that his statements have real consequences in how people live their lives and devote their efforts. Of course, this is a man who believes that condoms are evil, the world was created by a benevolent god who cares about humanity, and that priests actually turn bread and water into flesh and wine. He may not be the best source of information on scientific matters.

That said, given the number of members in his church, it is likely that his statements have real consequences in how people live their lives and devote their efforts.

]]> By: Milan http://www.sindark.com/2009/08/03/would-god-allow-climate-change/#comment-84142 Milan Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:24:46 +0000 http://www.sindark.com/?p=6101#comment-84142 Personally, I think that is a silly and perhaps irresponsible thing for the Pope to say. If we get 6°C or more of warming by 2100, it is quite legitimate to ask how much starvation it would cause. By providing the unjustified perspective that climate change won't cause mass starvation, the Pope may well diminish how much action people take on the issue. Personally, I think that is a silly and perhaps irresponsible thing for the Pope to say.

If we get 6°C or more of warming by 2100, it is quite legitimate to ask how much starvation it would cause. By providing the unjustified perspective that climate change won’t cause mass starvation, the Pope may well diminish how much action people take on the issue.

]]> By: . http://www.sindark.com/2009/08/03/would-god-allow-climate-change/#comment-84139 . Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:16:05 +0000 http://www.sindark.com/?p=6101#comment-84139 <a href="http://globalwarming.change.org/blog/view/pope_global_warming_will_not_starve_the_world" rel="nofollow">Pope: Global Warming Will Not Starve the World</a> by Katherine Gustafson Monday, on the opening day of the World Summit on Food Security, Pope Benedict XVI tried to put the panic about global-warming-induced food crises to rest. According to the UK's Times Online, the Pope said that the Earth can produce enough for everyone despite the ravages climate change might inflict. It is greed, he said, that has driven up prices and increased hunger in the world. His remarks emphasized that food should not be treated like any other commodity, especially because "there is no cause and effect relationship between population growth and hunger." Nobel Prize-winning economic Amartya Sen has long commented that hunger is not a problem of production but one of access. Pope: Global Warming Will Not Starve the World
by Katherine Gustafson

Monday, on the opening day of the World Summit on Food Security, Pope Benedict XVI tried to put the panic about global-warming-induced food crises to rest.

According to the UK’s Times Online, the Pope said that the Earth can produce enough for everyone despite the ravages climate change might inflict. It is greed, he said, that has driven up prices and increased hunger in the world.

His remarks emphasized that food should not be treated like any other commodity, especially because “there is no cause and effect relationship between population growth and hunger.” Nobel Prize-winning economic Amartya Sen has long commented that hunger is not a problem of production but one of access.

]]> By: . http://www.sindark.com/2009/08/03/would-god-allow-climate-change/#comment-83371 . Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:50:04 +0000 http://www.sindark.com/?p=6101#comment-83371 "Asked how he reconciles that realization with the wonkish content of the book, Gore at first seems stymied. But then, when I prompt him, he points to pages on the <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/id/220552/page/2" rel="nofollow">spiritual dimension of climate change, the idea that God gave man stewardship over the earth, and that preserving it for future generations is a sacred obligation</a>. Then he opens his laptop to show a commercial by his Alliance for Climate Protection, in which the Revs. Al Sharpton and Pat Robertson make an odd-couple plea for "taking care of the planet." Gore allows that he's been tailoring the slide-show training he gives to faith-based volunteer groups. "I've done a Christian [-based] training program; I have a Muslim training program and a Jewish training program coming up, also a Hindu program coming up. I trained 200 Christian ministers and lay leaders here in Nashville in a version of the slide show that is filled with scriptural references. It's probably my favorite version, but I don't use it very often because it can come off as proselytizing."" “Asked how he reconciles that realization with the wonkish content of the book, Gore at first seems stymied. But then, when I prompt him, he points to pages on the spiritual dimension of climate change, the idea that God gave man stewardship over the earth, and that preserving it for future generations is a sacred obligation. Then he opens his laptop to show a commercial by his Alliance for Climate Protection, in which the Revs. Al Sharpton and Pat Robertson make an odd-couple plea for “taking care of the planet.” Gore allows that he’s been tailoring the slide-show training he gives to faith-based volunteer groups. “I’ve done a Christian [-based] training program; I have a Muslim training program and a Jewish training program coming up, also a Hindu program coming up. I trained 200 Christian ministers and lay leaders here in Nashville in a version of the slide show that is filled with scriptural references. It’s probably my favorite version, but I don’t use it very often because it can come off as proselytizing.”"

]]> By: . http://www.sindark.com/2009/08/03/would-god-allow-climate-change/#comment-81089 . Sun, 30 Aug 2009 15:18:44 +0000 http://www.sindark.com/?p=6101#comment-81089 <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/gods-verdict-outranks-historys-pm-says/article1269229/" title="‘God's verdict' outranks history's, PM says - The Globe and Mail" rel="nofollow">Stephen Harper says he's more concerned about God's judgment than how history books</a> rate his term in office, telling a Quebec magazine in a markedly personal interview that preserving relationships with family is far more important than worrying about a political legacy. Stephen Harper says he’s more concerned about God’s judgment than how history books rate his term in office, telling a Quebec magazine in a markedly personal interview that preserving relationships with family is far more important than worrying about a political legacy.

]]> By: Antonia http://www.sindark.com/2009/08/03/would-god-allow-climate-change/#comment-80547 Antonia Mon, 10 Aug 2009 09:11:32 +0000 http://www.sindark.com/?p=6101#comment-80547 Nodding @Matt, Milan (fruit warning) and Tristan. 'it is certainly not necessary to assume that the super-natural force, which might just mean the force that you don’t understand, cares about you, or likes you.' My longstanding stance. I've always thought it odd to assume that a being possessed greater understanding and power than us would share our understanding, or even our concepts, of what is good for us, in the unlikely event that it actively wished to do us good. Abrahamic religions assume this only in that they posit God made man in his image, and wants to elevate man, but God didn't make man so close an image as to be equal to God. Obviously so much was left out that nobody can rely on any particular aspect of humans (especially not of individual assessments of 'benefit') as giving a reliable guideline. As for ascribing the hand of careful custodianship to theories of economics etc... even the Gaia theory is now being reinterpreted (by some) as resembling Medea more closely. Nodding @Matt, Milan (fruit warning) and Tristan.
‘it is certainly not necessary to assume that the super-natural force, which might just mean the force that you don’t understand, cares about you, or likes you.’ My longstanding stance. I’ve always thought it odd to assume that a being possessed greater understanding and power than us would share our understanding, or even our concepts, of what is good for us, in the unlikely event that it actively wished to do us good. Abrahamic religions assume this only in that they posit God made man in his image, and wants to elevate man, but God didn’t make man so close an image as to be equal to God. Obviously so much was left out that nobody can rely on any particular aspect of humans (especially not of individual assessments of ‘benefit’) as giving a reliable guideline.

As for ascribing the hand of careful custodianship to theories of economics etc… even the Gaia theory is now being reinterpreted (by some) as resembling Medea more closely.

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