After Naomi Klein’s disquieting and yet inspiring film on climate change, we split up into groups to share our afterthoughts. The rest of the evening revolved around the three questions outlined below (all of the unedited responses are found at the bottom of this post). 1// As the film portrays, many groups are trying to motivate people to make lifestyle changes and to pressure governments and other organizations to take decisive steps towards halting and reversing climate change. What could be some reasons why Christ-followers should be even more concerned about climate change? 2// Describe some ways – if any – in which our witness to Jesus might be compromised if Christ-followers are not seen to be among those acting against climate change and for climate justice? 3// What are some responses to climate change that would be unique to Christians (acting either individually or as members of Christian organizations)? ‘God’, ‘earth’, ‘people’, ‘love’, ‘care’, ‘called’ – a clear message emerged. The biblical call to “have dominion” is one that has been distorted and decontextualized as part of Christianity’s unintended complicity with the modern project of dominion over nature – a project whose story was fueled to an important extent by Descartes, Francis Bacon, and other thinkers of the Enlightenment (endarkenment?). As we seek to reverse this trend by recovering the noble sense of “dominion” exemplified to us by Jesus, the temptation is to remain on a level of generality. However, the divine summons outlined in Genesis 2 to be “keepers” of creation requires concrete expressions in everyday life. “By their fruit you will recognize them…” (Mt. 7) Aware that we are called to translate our faith into good works, three clear levels of response arose out of Friday’s discussion: ‘personal/household’, ‘church/community’, and ‘civic/political’. So tapping into what Earthkeepers has been discerning since 2014, we are now putting forward this open crowdsourcing voting forum which will funnel all of our insights to identify broadly-supported avenues of response. Sign up in one quick step and engage with what others are saying – it’s a fun, transparent way to focus our collective energy into meaningful next steps. (Participants will enter a draw to win a free copy of An Altar in the Wilderness, a book on Christian spiritual ecology written by Earthkeeper’s friend and Eastern Orthodox priest Kaleeg Hainsworth. Short, but really good read!) Questions and unedited responses 1// As the film portrays, many groups are trying to motivate people to make lifestyle changes and to pressure governments and other organizations to take decisive steps towards halting and reversing climate change. What could be some reasons why Christ-followers should be even more concerned about climate change? 2// Describe some ways – if any – in which our witness to Jesus might be compromised if Christ-followers are not seen to be among those acting against climate change and for climate justice? 3// What are some responses to climate change that would be unique to Christians (acting either individually or as members of Christian organizations)? What are some of the roadblocks that might prevent the church from responding vigorously to the challenge of climate change? Barriers to act as Christians individuals or as church communities
Images say more than a thousand words. And here’s one put together after last weekend’s round-table discussion on faith-based responses to the challenges of climate justice.
