Climate change

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Climate change

Climate change is the mainstream scientific view that changes in temperature and weather are due to human causes. Religion has a wide range of responses to this view, ranging from environmentalism to denialism. Evangelical Christians are generally more skeptical about climate change or accept climate change but doubt that it caused by humans. This stance is possibly shifting to a greater acceptance of human caused climate change.

One verse used to argue against the existence of climite change is:

"As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease"

— Genesis 8:22 

"[T]his is what a lot of alarmists forget: God is still up there, and He promised to maintain the seasons and that cold and heat would never cease as long as the earth remains. [Genesis 8:22] is so conclusive that it's simply outrageous that scientists continue to address the matter. "

Religious views reduces responsibility

The belief in religion may undermine the urgency of believers to take actions to combat climate change. The idea that humans can positively influence the climate was seen as a competing idea to spiritual salvation. The belief in an afterlife is a safety net in which people could live even if the Earth is uninhabitable.

Many religious, including Christianity, teach that people should not be concerned with worldly concerns. (Not to mention that the Bible says evil should not be resisted. Matthew 5:39 ) What issue could be more worldly than climate change?

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever."

— 1 John 2:15-17 

Religious fatalism

Main Article: Fatalism

The belief we live in a fallen world means attempting to mitigate climate problems is against God's plan. In Christian eschatology, the Earth is devastated and then restored by God; attempts to influence or resist these prophesied events are contrary to God's plan.

"Climate change may or may not be real, and may or may not be human-caused. What we can know for certain is that God is good and sovereign, and that Planet Earth will be our habitat for as long as God desires it to be. Psalm 46:2-3  "

Since these events are supposedly certain to happen, it is pointless attempting to try to mitigate climate change.

Extreme weather is a sign of the end times

Extreme weather events are interpreted by some Christians to be a sign of the end times. Therefore, Christians should look forward to extreme weather events.

"After almost a half of a century spent studying and teaching on the prophecies of the second coming of Christ I can say with absolute confidence that this world does not end because of global warming or man-made climate change. It does not play into the prophecies of the last days at all. "

Natural disasters are sometimes used as evidence of the existence of God.

Religious environmentalism

Some believers accept the reality of climate change and work to preserve the environment. Some major Christian denominations are beginning to speak out against climate change and divesting their portfolios from fossil fuels. See pro-environmental verses Revelation 11:18  Jeremiah 2:7 .

In 2015, Pope Francis of the Catholic Church released an official statement saying climate change was real and should be addressed as a matter of social justice.

"Climate change is a global problem with grave implications: environmental, social, economic, political and for the distribution of goods. It represents one of the principal challenges facing humanity in our day. Its worst impact will probably be felt by developing countries in coming decades."

However, this is arguably an unviable position without also employing population control, including contraception, which the Catholic Church has opposed.