We need to trust in Jesus

[AldoLeopold]

That's what a co-worker told me here in Hot Springs, Arkansas when I directed her to this World Bank report:

http://climatechange.worldbank.org/content/climate-change-report-warns-dramatically-warmer-world-century

which was released on the 18th of November and with I'm sure you're all familiar.

Her tone was one of resignation and apathy. I also think her pastor repeatedly tells his congregation that there is no climate change at all - much less caused by humans.

As a bit of background on this, I am finishing my degree in Environmental Science (graduate in 10 days) and while doing so have been working at my former employer who hired me back part time. I'm working at an unnamed office here in Hot Springs - a fairly well paying job in my former career. My boss is a good man and holds similar opinions to the office and the above mentioned woman. He, like everyone else in the office (except yours truly), are Republicans. None of my co-workers are "bad" people. They are, however, living in another world entirely.

This isn't an anti-Christianity thread. I want to make that clear. I'm simply wondering what the link is between Christianity and climate denial - or denial of many things. This is terrifying to me, and she is not alone in her opinion.

My co-worker's opinion is not isolated - it is shared by my entire office. Trust in Jesus. I was asked by her:

"Why does this bother you so much?"

and told

"The Lord will take care of us."


This is a nice person I'm referring to - but its also the same person who two days ago started babbling about how the Affordable Care Act allows the guvment to put tracking chip implants in all of us. I politely advised her that the "implants" she was referring to (apparently her entire family believes this) refer to artificial organs and other medical implants and that a tracking system is to be employed in order to make sure these devices are not reused or abused, etc. She's not a political person and she's not necessarily stupid, though I don't think she was ever given basic reasoning skills. She is massively, massively uneducated, however.

I tried to explain to her the catastrophic nature of a 4 C mean rise, but she wouldn't listen and that it might be avoided by the drastic reduction in the combustion of fossil fuels. She even admitted that she had no idea what I was talking about, but that it will all be as it will be and that we should just live our lives and be happy.

So basically, this terrified me. Honestly terrified me. I actuall felt my bowels loosen a bit. I knew this was the general opinion here, but I'd never witnessed it first hand.

I guess I just wanted to share this story and get some feedback from the community here as to how they think those in my coming profession might be able to reach out to people like this in order to convince them. I'm at a loss. Will the ultimate solutions to this problem involve less...democratic means? How can we include these people in the dialogue when the alternative is so devastating? I am seeking answers from the wise community here.

[NYC_SKP]

1. There have been a number of breakthroughs for the Christian faith communities regarding the Climate.

I sense that many if not most parishes are not in denial when it comes to a responsibility that we leave the planet in better condition for our kids and their kids, and that Jesus wants it that way.

There are, however, a very vocal minority who seem oblivious or who are corrupted.

no links.

[AldoLeopold]

6. I've heard tell of those congregations

But they're definitely not here in AR.

[NYC_SKP]

7. There are pockets of hope, and there are pockets of sadness. Be strong, here's a link:

or two:

http://christiansandclimate.org/signatories/

http://catholicclimatecovenant.org/

http://www.nae.net/lovingtheleastofthese

[AldoLeopold]

21. I never knew there were so many

[MynameisBlarney]

2. I would not be able

to talk to someone like that without harshly ridiculing them and laughing at them.
My tolerance for willfully ignorant people is zero.

[newfie11]

3. Couple of things come to mind

God helps those who help themselves


And



Lambs to slaughter ( as in gullible )

[AldoLeopold]

5. I tried the God helps those who help themselves

and got a blank look

[oldhippydude]

4. in the end when all is said and done...

when they must accept or perish... their answer will be "God fixed it"

[socialindependocrat]

8. I'd start with education - early education

I've often wondered why we don't teach subjects that give people the training to live life.

Some classes that they reserve for "college" (I think) should be taught, at least, in high school.
I think psychology/sociology and some form of economics and even logic/ethics.

We seem to shelter kids from psychology and then let them watch TV shows that introduce
dysfunctional behavior so they have a conflict for the show.

I grew up in a time when kids were taught to respect our elders and anyone in a position of authority.
We have just realized, in the past 15 years, that the general public is getting screwed by people in
power and that we have a government that fights to give the wealthy more and more money and
does not have the intelligence to keep the wealthy and the banks from driving us into a recession.

To answer your question: I think that teaching young people how to think logically and to see how
to use logic to find answers to questions (science), to understand how our economy works and to
get an idea of how politics works in it's dysfunctional, distorted fact and pay to play environment
will get kids thinking in a manner that questions what is being fed to them by their parents and the
church and the government.

I bang my head and continually try to figure out how Lyin' Ryan can say they wanted to take $713B
and give it to the wealthy and still people in the middle class vote Repuke! I believe it is because a lack
of training in critical thinking. We need to teach kids how to determined when they are being scammed
especially in these days when people are susceptible to on-line scams and identity theft.

We need to teach our kids some logical self-defense and I believe we need to teach them before college.
What we teach kids right up thru high school is how to follow the rules - we never teach them how to think
before we send them off to college and out into the world to fend for themselves.

[MynameisBlarney]

9. +1000!

Excellent post!

[AldoLeopold]

11. I couldn't agree with you more

And this will be good for the next generation and I hope that it comes to pass, and I do think that it will significantly change the political landscape if we follow your wise suggestion, but in the meantime we have a 4 C rise by 2060. We have nearly two generations lost due to Every Child Left Behind, and you're right - they at least appear to completely lack information dissemination skills. Even those my age (38) have been left with little idea as to how to navigate the complex web of information and disinformation on the internet.

[socialindependocrat]

14. 2 concerns

I worked in research for 35 years and I found that people 10 years behind me (in their 50s now)
would say - you can't fight city hall and "They are to ones in power and we are the peons / they
make the rules. this flabbergasted me because I grew up in the 60s with marches and riots and
walk-outs and revolts. Now, I see the next generation doesn't want to rock the boat. I'm not sure
but a lot of these people were republicants - I am not sure how many were Dems

As for the 1st concern you have - global warming

This will be like asking people to stop driving cars.

I think that the world goes thru temperature cycles. Never-the-less, we are seeing weather changes and
the increase in storm intensity - SO - no matter if it is a cycle or global warming something needs to be done!
the wealthy and the repukes seem to always vote to help the rich and destroy the world - why?

One reason may be that they believe in this "rapture" thing and figure If the world is going to blow up then
they may as well get rich until it does. Another philosophy may be that they will get theirs and that science will
find a way to solve the problem and if it doesn't then too bad for the people who are still around but this generation
will probably be dead and buried.

We need a group of respected scientists to come up with a convincing theory and a solution that doesn't
"inconvenience" people too much.

When I see how many people voted Repuke I am amazed by how many people will vote against their own well being.
This also makes me feel that saving the planet will be a very, very tough battle.
If we hit them with enough logical/convincing arguments we will probably be able to swat people over time but
I do think it is going to take a long time.
Look at the members of congress who vote for the wealthy to get more money when it is killing the economy AND'
look at the members of congress who follow religious beliefs and want to impose those beliefs on others
AND look at the SCOTUS who vote politically instead of basing their decisions on the law of the land.
We need to vote in a congress who is "for the people" not "by and for the wealthy".

[AldoLeopold]

17. I'd say it will exactly be like asking people to stop driving their cars

Or at least cars with internal combustion engines.

We do have cycles, but by Mr. Melankovitch's reckoning, we should be cooling down, not heating up. Nevertheless, we are going to have to take a clever path here. It's either that or simply declare martial law and begin forcing these changes. Pie in the sky, of course.

I've been in favor of more scientists in the legislature, but as you full well know, most aren't very well suited for that sort of thing. Departmental/institutional politics, yes, but not national or statewide, etc.

There must be a middle ground though - a path. I made this post seeking it and what I mostly observed was people bitching and complaining.

[socialindependocrat]

19. I think the logic for change is already there

We are probably just fighting the repubs and wealthy who have a vested interest in
making more money, faster and do not want to think that they are destroying the earth.

Yes, some changes now and some more long-term.

Electric cars (wish they were sold at a lower price)
Improve public trans
Our idiots decided to have Sunday bus routes and they use the 44 seat buses for off times, too.
I say they should use the para transit shuttles for off-times
People need to realize they need to be closer to work
but large corporations have adopted the theory that it is better to keep people for short periods
rather than for full careers (this needs to chenge)
Smaller cars for commuting
Car manufacturers want to keep cars at $16K and above. they need to produce small - commuter
cars at low prices to save gas now. People say that they are small and people will get hurt in accidents.
I say that the most vulnerable vehicle is a motorcycle and plenty of people still drive them without incident.
Plus, the more small (commuter) cars on the road the safer it will become. this also, includes small electric
cars.
More jobs that allow work-from-home
I was in customer service at a large corp and I found that no matter what level you are they don't trust you
to stay at home and not goof off.

anyway, just thoughts

[wtmusic]

10. The task is compounded when you hear the same sentiments in Congress.

"Rep. John Shimkus is standing by a controversial comment that global warming isn't something to worry about because God said he wouldn't destroy the Earth after Noah's flood."

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1110/44958.html#ixzz2ENpE5PNg

[pscot]

20. There's a lot of unpleasantness

That stops well short of destroying the earth.

[cilla4progress]

12. huge huge problem

excuse to do nothing

If that's how they want to manage their own lives, that is their prerogative. I HUGELY resent their screwing things up for our children and the other species who share our planet based on their delusions.

[cilla4progress]

13. Karl Marx was right

Religion is the opiate of the masses!

[NoOneMan]

15. I think Climate Change would of scared Jesus Christ shitless

Imagine all the fish he wouldn't of caught for his buddies. Water into wine implies having access to water first.

[FedUpWithIt All]

16. Most Christians i know believe in the rapture.

They believe everything happening is foretold and that they will be swept away to safety before the worst of it.

This type of thinking is dangerous in the extreme because there is no need to consider behavior because consequences will not be felt.

They are unaware that the pre-tribulation rapture idea is fairly new and not exactly Biblically accurate.

[XemaSab]

18. word

n/t