Churches Filling Pews by -Gasp!- Preaching Environmentalism!

Older, mainline churches approach to environmental issues are attracting younger Americans.

In a Declaration on the Environment entitled “We are still betraying the Mandate God has given us” , Pope John Paul II points out, in part, “We are also concerned about the negative consequences for humanity and for all creation resulting from the degradation of some of the basic natural resources such as water, air and land, brought about by an economic and technological progress which does not recognize and take into account its limits.”

Pope Benedict XVI continues the theme by saying:

“All of creation represents an enormous gift from God to humanity, so people have a responsibility to protect this treasure and dedicate themselves against an indiscriminate use of the earth’s resources,”

He went on to say “Environmental degradation can only be stopped by spreading an appropriate culture of behavior that includes more sober lifestyles.”

He finished by saying “Learning to respect the environment also teaches respect for others and for ourselves.”

Thanks Pope Ben!  I’ve been listening to good Christians using the “Dominion over the earth” argument, for far too long.

Al Gore recently wrote:

The environmental and religious communities have long been allies in the fight to save our planet. This trend is increasing in the Northwest where churches are finding environmentalism can help fill their pews:

“A study released in December by the Barna Group, which more typically studies trends among evangelicals, said that older, mainline churches faced many challenges but that their approach to environmental issues was among several areas that “position those churches well for attracting younger Americans.”"

“”We actually encourage it as a way to get people into the churches,” said Lee Anne Beres, the executive director of Earth Ministry, a Seattle group founded in 1992 that has guided many area congregations through environmental upgrades over the past decade but has recently emphasized more direct political action for pastors and parishioners. “That is what people are interested in, and I don’t see anything Machiavellian in that.”"

“It’s fertile ground,” Ms. Beres said, “and these are issues that people are predisposed to care about here in the Northwest.”

This is all fine and good, but why is the church finally gaining notoriety for teaching something that it has taught all along? It seems to me that one of the main tenants of Religion is “Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.”

Would you have polluters fill your water system with poison? Would you let your children eat corn that has weed and pest killer genetically bred into it in a lab? Would you eat a pound of ground beef from the local grocery that has the meat from over 1,000 cows that have shot up with antibiotics from birth in an effort to keep them alive long enough to make it to slaughter?

No? Well most of you (us) do! How can you care for others (Part of Gods message) if you don’t care for yourselves? How can you love, cherish and protect Gods flock if you destroy the one thing God gave us to survive?

Environmentalism is not a religion any more than love, charity, empathy or caring is a religion. But Environmentalism is a part of it.

photo credit: timsamoff

Related posts:

1. Pope Benedicts 2010 Message to the World: Environmentalism
2. What is Environmentalism?
3. Pope Says – Environmental Degradation Ends by Living Ethically