How then do we live as humans in a way that honours rather than endangers the life of our planet? Or, to put it slightly differently, ‘How do we live in a way that shows an understanding that we genuinely live in a shared world, not one that simply belongs to us?’ This would be a good question even if we were not faced with the threats associated with global warming, with the reduction of biodiversity, with desertification and deforestation, with fuel and food shortages. We should be asking the question whether or not it happens to be urgent, just because it is a question about how we live humanly, how we live in such a way as to show that we understand and respect that we are only one species within creation. The nature of our crisis is such that we can easily fall back on a position that says it isn’t worth trying to change our patterns of behaviour, notably our patterns of consumption, because it’s already too late to arrest the pace of global warming. But the question of exactly how late it is isn’t the only one, and concentrating only on this can blind us to a more basic point. If we are locked into a way of life that does not honour who and what we are because it does not honour life itself and our calling to nourish it, we are not even going to know where to start in addressing the environmental challenge.
Alastair McIntosh in his splendid book, Hell and High Water. Climate Change, Hope and the Human Condition, speaks of what he calls our current ‘ecocidal’ patterns of consumption as addictive and self-destructive. Living like this is living at a less than properly human level: McIntosh suggests we may need therapy, what he describes as a ‘cultural psychotherapy’ (chapter 9) to liberate us. That liberation may or may not be enough to avert disaster. We simply don’t know, though it would be a very foolish person who took that to mean that it might be all right after all. What we do know ”“ or should know ”“ is that we are living inhumanly.
Start from here and the significance of small changes is obvious. If I ask what’s the point of my undertaking a modest amount of recycling my rubbish or scaling down my air travel, the answer is not that this will unquestionably save the world within six months, but in the first place that it’s a step towards liberation from a cycle of behaviour that is keeping me, indeed most of us, in a dangerous state ”“ dangerous, that is, to our human dignity and self-respect.
The Al Gore of archbishops. Does he really spend more time talking about environmental issues than Christ, or is this simply the reporting bias of T19 and StandFirm?
Trim them eyebrows, bishop! Next year for having done as little this year as last and the year before that, you’re a shoe-in for the same prize Al Gore got! It might even be a dead heat; Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople also specializes in doing little and talking up the compost and low mileage cars.
One thing that he says which is true:
“That liberation may or may not be enough to avert disaster. We simply don’t know…”
How does one expound at such a length as he on that which he admits he does not know is beyond shame.
Don
The ABC really could save on CO2 production by cutting every other word! Alternatively, breathe on every other breath, or cut the gassing on the AC.
Archbishop Williams seems to have forgotten his proper role (granted he isn’t alone, but his position gives him greater responsibility for doing so). Paul’s counsel in Titus 1 is where we derive our authority to critique him without fear from those who cry, “Who are you to judge?” as soon as someone points out their doctrinal errors. Note Verses 7-9: “For an overseer [episkopos], as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.”
Obviously, the hope is to resolve differences quietly, but that isn’t the ultimate objective as the ABC seems to believe in his “Peace at any price” approach.
Rowan Williams, Joel Osteen, the Prosperity preachers, and others are living specimens of what Paul was predicting when he gave this instruction in 2 Timothy 4:1-4: “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.” Myths like Gaia, one assumes.
But the Body of Christ has weathered worse storms and will weather this one as well, although not necessarily without pain along the way.