1 hr 7 min
Christian Environmentalism: Science, Faith, Climate, and Care w/Dorothy Boorse & Brian Webb Via Media
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- Spirituality
The ecological crisis that we call climate change is upon us and populations around the world are suffering devastating loss, forced migration, and death. And persistent scientific analysis for almost a century has left no doubt that human activity is the cause.
Evangelical Christians, as a substantive population in American politics do not have a great reputation when it comes to the climate crisis. But the reason for this is a complicated story and requires nuance and explanation. Recently, the National Evangelical Association published a report entitled Loving The Least of These: Addressing a Changing Environment. This document encourages and equips Christians to care about the environment as core and central to the Evangelical call to love one’s neighbor. It is a comprehensive report providing theological, scientific, philosophical, and strategic perspectives needed to generate action.
Dorothy Boorse is a professor of Biology at Gordon College and the lead author of the report. Brian Webb is an Environmental Studies professor at Houghton College and co-directs the Christian Climate Observers Program, a program that trains Christian leaders to attend the United Nations annual Conference on Climate Change. In this conversation we discuss why white evangelicals are the least likely group to agree that human caused climate change is real, why this report from the National Association of Evangelicals matters, what strategies we should consider when having conversations on this topic, and the challenges of living in a polarized political climate. All of this so we can find a better way forward in this urgent and critical issue.
The ecological crisis that we call climate change is upon us and populations around the world are suffering devastating loss, forced migration, and death. And persistent scientific analysis for almost a century has left no doubt that human activity is the cause.
Evangelical Christians, as a substantive population in American politics do not have a great reputation when it comes to the climate crisis. But the reason for this is a complicated story and requires nuance and explanation. Recently, the National Evangelical Association published a report entitled Loving The Least of These: Addressing a Changing Environment. This document encourages and equips Christians to care about the environment as core and central to the Evangelical call to love one’s neighbor. It is a comprehensive report providing theological, scientific, philosophical, and strategic perspectives needed to generate action.
Dorothy Boorse is a professor of Biology at Gordon College and the lead author of the report. Brian Webb is an Environmental Studies professor at Houghton College and co-directs the Christian Climate Observers Program, a program that trains Christian leaders to attend the United Nations annual Conference on Climate Change. In this conversation we discuss why white evangelicals are the least likely group to agree that human caused climate change is real, why this report from the National Association of Evangelicals matters, what strategies we should consider when having conversations on this topic, and the challenges of living in a polarized political climate. All of this so we can find a better way forward in this urgent and critical issue.
1 hr 7 min