Janus
9th February 2006, 01:29
Source: BBC News
A group of more than 80 powerful evangelical leaders(86) have defied the Bush White House and called for federal legislation to curb global warming.
The statement marks the first time that leading evangelicals have taken up the green issue.
And it has caused splits within the religious right.
They have embraced the environment in recent years, most notably with a "What Would Jesus Drive?" campaign against sports utility vehicles.
But this is a new departure.
The statement - signed by mega-church pastors like Rick Warren, author of the bestseller The Purpose-Driven Life, heads of Christian colleges and missionary organisations - puts saving "God's green earth" on a par with traditional evangelical concerns like abortion and gay marriage.
Market-based approach
The leaders pledge to pray and work together to stop global warming and call on congress to enact legislation similar to parts of the Kyoto accords which President Bush rejected.
The US accounts for a quarter of the world's greenhouse gas emissions
They advocate a market-based approach to curb carbon dioxide emissions through a cap-and-trade bill.
Evangelicals helped elect President Bush and they have the power to shift political debate.
But this move has prompted a backlash from some of the most influential conservative Christians - James Dobson's Focus on the Family called it a "distraction" from abortion and family values.
Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention, the biggest Christian denomination in the US, and a friend of President Bush, says the science remains inconclusive.
Dismay at retreat
"You have to be careful that you don't speak for a consensus before a consensus is formed," he said.
"Among American evangelicals there is no consensus about the causes of global warming, severity of global warming, or the solutions to global warming."
He was among those who sent a letter to the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) - which claims to represent 30 million Christians - calling on it to distance itself from this campaign.
Though leading figures have signed up, the NAE appears to have retreated, prompting dismay from those who believe it could have done a lot to help influence the White House.
Still the campaign goes forward with plans to launch national TV and newspaper advertisements to call Christians up for action.
What would Jesus drive? I think that he would drive a cart pulled by his ignorant and blind followers. :lol:
It seems somewhat paradoxical that evangelists would recognize global warming before evolution.
But seriously, what are your thoughts on this "alliance". After all religion does have an impact on US politics to say the least.
A group of more than 80 powerful evangelical leaders(86) have defied the Bush White House and called for federal legislation to curb global warming.
The statement marks the first time that leading evangelicals have taken up the green issue.
And it has caused splits within the religious right.
They have embraced the environment in recent years, most notably with a "What Would Jesus Drive?" campaign against sports utility vehicles.
But this is a new departure.
The statement - signed by mega-church pastors like Rick Warren, author of the bestseller The Purpose-Driven Life, heads of Christian colleges and missionary organisations - puts saving "God's green earth" on a par with traditional evangelical concerns like abortion and gay marriage.
Market-based approach
The leaders pledge to pray and work together to stop global warming and call on congress to enact legislation similar to parts of the Kyoto accords which President Bush rejected.
The US accounts for a quarter of the world's greenhouse gas emissions
They advocate a market-based approach to curb carbon dioxide emissions through a cap-and-trade bill.
Evangelicals helped elect President Bush and they have the power to shift political debate.
But this move has prompted a backlash from some of the most influential conservative Christians - James Dobson's Focus on the Family called it a "distraction" from abortion and family values.
Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention, the biggest Christian denomination in the US, and a friend of President Bush, says the science remains inconclusive.
Dismay at retreat
"You have to be careful that you don't speak for a consensus before a consensus is formed," he said.
"Among American evangelicals there is no consensus about the causes of global warming, severity of global warming, or the solutions to global warming."
He was among those who sent a letter to the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) - which claims to represent 30 million Christians - calling on it to distance itself from this campaign.
Though leading figures have signed up, the NAE appears to have retreated, prompting dismay from those who believe it could have done a lot to help influence the White House.
Still the campaign goes forward with plans to launch national TV and newspaper advertisements to call Christians up for action.
What would Jesus drive? I think that he would drive a cart pulled by his ignorant and blind followers. :lol:
It seems somewhat paradoxical that evangelists would recognize global warming before evolution.
But seriously, what are your thoughts on this "alliance". After all religion does have an impact on US politics to say the least.