A few days ago, I had a discussion about how some people are reacting to this whole global warming issue and Al Gore’s book and movie in particular. I heard about the hotel in California that was going “green” and was replacing the Gideon Bible with Al Gore’s book. I made the comment then that Global Warming has become the new religion of the left. Today I read a blog posting that talked about one of Al Gore’s recent speeches in San Antonio. The actual quote that caught my attention was
“It’s in part a spiritual crisis,†he said. “It’s a crisis of our own self-definition — who we are.
That is just amazing to me. To equate Global Warming with spirituality? Maybe I wasn’t so far off in my supposition.
I suppose, to continue the analogy, Al Gore is the prophet – Proclaiming – the end of the world is near!
I wonder who their messiah will be? Bill Clinton?
I don’t think he was equating the event of Global Warming to spirituality. Rather he was saying that how we approach the crisis, reflects on how we see ourselves and how we see our relationship to the planet. Also, as you quote above, he says it is “in part” a spiritual crisis not that it is a religion or a totally spiritual thing. As I read it, the “Spiritual” part is the shifting concept of ourselves and our relationship to the planet.
My main point in my commentary is to illustrate the fervor that some people have about global warming. Regardless of what Al Gore says, the science of global warming and it’s cause and effect isn’t settled. I do believe that to say that how we view global warming is in part a “spiritual crisis”, is taking it a little far.
Thanks for commenting Tom.
I suppose it’s up to us as believers to take hold of the enthusiasm for saving the planet and connect it to true spirituality.
We should agree that caring for the environment is important and the reason that it’s important is that this planet has been entrusted to us by a loving, caring God. God does care for the environment and he cares for each one of us. He wants to build relationship, through Christ.
If people care for the world around them we need to applaud that then help direct them to worship the creator, not his creation.
Paul did a similar thing when he talked about the ‘unknown god’. He took something that his listeners already knew and then used it to connect them to Jesus.
Rodney –
Thanks for the comment. I agree that as followers of Christ, we need to find ways to connect what people already know to Jesus. As an example, the message series we are currently on in the church that I attend is entitled, Creation and Science, often shows how science and the Bible are complementary. It’s a fun and educational series that has fomented some interesting discussions.
Thanks again.
David