Originally Posted By friendofdd Read a reference to this in a church paper and looked it up. It is released by the National Association of Evangelicals. Haven't seen or heard it on the news, but perhaps I simply missed it. >>>Evangelical, Scientific Leaders Launch Effort to Protect Creation (January 17, 2007) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 17, 2007 CONTACTS: Heather Gonzales 202-789-1011 Evangelical, Scientific Leaders Launch Effort to Protect Creation WASHINGTON, DC - In a first-of-its-kind collaboration, evangelical and scientific leaders announced today a joint effort to protect the environment. Speaking at a news conference in Washington, DC, a dozen leaders of the coalition shared concerns about human-caused threats to Creation - including climate change, habitat destruction, pollution, species extinction, the spread of human infectious diseases, and other dangers to the well-being of societies. The coalition released an “Urgent Call to Action†statement signed by 28 evangelical and scientific leaders. The statement - sent to President George W. Bush, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, bipartisan congressional leaders, and national evangelical and scientific organizations - urges “fundamental change in values, lifestyles, and public policies required to address these worsening problems before it is too late. Business as usual cannot continue yet one more day.†The group pledged to “work together toward a responsible care for Creation and call with one voice†to the religious, scientific, business, political and educational arenas to join them in this historic initiative. “There is no such thing as a Republican or Democrat, a liberal or conservative, a religious or secular environment. We all breathe the same air and drink the same water. Scientists and evangelicals share a deep moral commitment to preserve this precious gift we have all been given,†said Dr. Eric Chivian, Nobel laureate and Director of the Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Medical School. “Great scientists are people of imagination. So are people of great faith. We dare to imagine a world in which science and religion work together to reverse the degradation of Creation. We will not allow it to be progressively destroyed by human folly,†added Rev. Richard Cizik, Vice President for Governmental Affairs of the National Association of Evangelicals. Stressing that their effort is just beginning, coalition members spoke about some of the immediate next steps they will be taking, including holding meetings with Congressional leaders from both parties to inform them of this unprecedented effort and encourage their attention to environmental issues. They also plan to hold a Summit on the Creation and will develop outreach tools, such as a Creation Care Bible study guide and environmental curricula. “If current deterioration of the environment by human activity continues unabated, best estimates are that half of Earth's surviving species of plants and animals will be extinguished or critically endangered by the end of the century. The price for future generations will be paid in economic opportunity, environmental security, and spiritual fulfillment. The saving of the living environment is therefore an issue appropriately addressed jointly by science and religion,†said Pulitzer Prize-winning author Dr. Edward O. Wilson. One of the imperatives of the group will be to advance the dialogue and influence policy in regards to global warming. “In order to avoid clear and substantial dangers...it will be necessary to substantially reduce CO2 emissions during the next few decades, and perhaps by 80 percent or more before the end of the century,†said Dr. James Hansen, the leading U.S. climate change scientist. The coalition vowed to expand their collaboration and encourage action from all sectors of society. “We are glad to be partnering with our friends in the scientific community. They have the facts we need to present to our congregations; we have the numbers of activists that will work through churches, government, and the business community to make a significant impact,†said Dr. Joel Hunter, Senior Pastor of Northland Church in Orlando, Florida. The unique collaboration, 28-members strong and growing, was spearheaded by leaders from the Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Medical School and the National Association of Evangelicals. During a retreat held last November 30 to December 2nd in Thomasville, Georgia, the group agreed that science proves that the natural world is imperiled by human behaviors and policies, particularly by the unsustainable burning of fossil fuels and degradation of living systems. They decided to embark on a continuing collaboration and authored the “Urgent Call to Action†statement.<<<
Originally Posted By jonvn I think this is great. It strikes me that if you are of a religious bent, that you would WANT to take care of the things god gave you, and not trash them. I mean, your parents give you something, and what do you do? Do you trash it like a spoiled child, or do you take care of it and appreciate the fact that it was given to you? Anyone who truly believes that we have been given a gift by god of this planet should have as a matter of moral principle the care and stewardship of this gift. This is the sort of thing that gives religion a good name. Not those running around telling other people how they are sinning in the eyes of god. Frankly, unless religion aligns itself with science, it will become totally obsolete. It must continue to evolve as we learn more about the nature of things all around us. Because as the understanding of how nature works grows, the understanding of how god's creation works must also grow. They are the same thing.
Originally Posted By DlandJB Sorry, Fodd, I missed this thread when it came up. I'm not going to bash evangelicals, as I consider myself one to a degree, but I will say that I am saddened by public figures in clerical guise who use the pulpit only to advance political causes. And worse, who criticize fellow Christians when they step out of the political track and into (heave help us) a biblical one that is not so narrowly focused.
Originally Posted By gadzuux I'm suspicious. A lifetime of witnessing duplicity from evangelical christian leadership makes me want to have this proclamation more thoroughly vetted before I congratulate them on their sudden awareness. For one thing, I wonder if they're angling for federal tax dollars as an incentive to kickstart their newfound environmental activism.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 "Evangelicals" is a pretty broad term these days. And I know people who consider themselves evangelicals who are absolutely legitimate environmentalists, gadzuux.
Originally Posted By DlandJB For one thing, I wonder if they're angling for federal tax dollars as an incentive to kickstart their newfound environmental activism.>>> That is kind of harsh, but given that the media loves to play up the polarizing factions in the evangelical churches, I suppose it is understandable. All you hear about are the ones that are talking the talk but not walking the walk. What I have witnessed, at least in our church with our pastor, is a genuine desire to be proper stewards of creation. It isn't about politics or tax breaks or anything other than it is what we are called to do. I was genuinely surprised when I started attending this church that politics and current events are rarely discussed. I expected it to be all Falwellian and Robertsonian -- and I've seen evidence of neither. I think it is safe to say that that the (revival) tent has gotten large enough that there are actually broad factions of different political persuasions in among the "traditionals"
Originally Posted By BlueDevilSF What will they do next? How about this guy: "The president of the leading Southern Baptist seminary has incurred sharp attacks from both the left and right by suggesting that a biological basis for homosexuality may be proven, and that prenatal treatment to reverse gay orientation would be biblically justified." <a href="http://news.aol.com/topnews/articles/_a/furor-over-baptists-gay-baby-article/20070315023809990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001" target="_blank">http://news.aol.com/topnews/ar ticles/_a/furor-over-baptists-gay-baby-article/20070315023809990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001</a>
Originally Posted By jonvn Gee. Maybe they'll turn out to be decent human beings after all. That'd be a shock.
Originally Posted By gadzuux So much for "red and yellow black and white - they are precious in his sight" - the song never said anything about gay.
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 On the environmental issue, I think that's great and about time. Growing up as an evangelical, the environment was something to take advantage of, despite being left by God with it's care. I've said this before, but I have known some people that didn't care what happened to the planet because the rapture was going to happen soon anyway, so why bother. Not everyone thinks that way, and it's great to see leaders stepping up and getting ready to actively make the planet a little better. On the other issue just brought up, it's just disturbing. I have to say though, that I knew something like this would happen someday. My fear was that when the "gay gene" was found, and there were ways to alter DNA in fetuses, that people would edit the genes. This guy just proves that people would be willing to do just that. So, abortion is wrong and all life is sacred...unless it's gay or deformed? Genetic manipulation to change one of God's creatures is perfectly acceptible? Boy, the values are screwed up there!
Originally Posted By jonvn If you can cure a birth defect through genetic manipulation, I don't see what is wrong with that.
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 But being gay will be considered a birth defect? What other kinds of things will get manipulated to fit an image? Yeah, things that might present a health risk for your baby might be tweaked, but changing things just to fit a moral standerd is just way over the ethical line.
Originally Posted By jonvn Well, is it a birth defect? Seems like it to me. It's not a moral standard if it's a biological problem. There is nothing moral or immoral about being homosexual. There's an interesting thing that is going on in deaf communities. Seems that some forms of deafness are inherited. And science is coming up with ways to fix some types. But you know what? The parents, who are also deaf, don't want their children to hear. They say being able to hear would wreck their community. This, to me, is the exact same thing, only with another problem people can be born with. I would think that it's a lot more plainly seen that deafness is something you'd want fixed. And for a lot of people, homosexuals included, so would homosexuality. I know homosexuals who have children. I've asked them about it, and they would hate for their kids to be like that, because it's a lot of suffering in many different ways. I really don't see anything wrong with being able to change a sexual orientation if it is possible to reduce suffering.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< But being gay will be considered a birth defect? What other kinds of things will get manipulated to fit an image? >>> I wonder what Michael Savage, a radio commentator that certain folks around hear use as a primary source of opinion and information, and author of the book "Liberalism Is A Mental Disorder" would think?
Originally Posted By gadzuux Why not make everybody have blue eyes and blonde hair? A 28" waistline? "Big ones"? Where does it stop?
Originally Posted By jonvn What if you don't like blue eyes and blonde hair? What if you do? What's wrong with having a kid with blue eyes and blonde hair if you want one?
