“Magical thinking” on climate change is less Christian than climate science. What psychologists call “magical thinking” is common among children and adults alike, and it does more damage than one might think. In the case of climate change denial, the magical result fantasized is both a wish fulfillment and a
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It’s important to listen to the tone of conversations around climate change and fossil fuel divestment because, increasingly, these discussions are taking place in wholly disparate worlds. On one side, calm and measured voices like MRTI discuss climate change as “a very serious problem,” and speak glowingly of plans for
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“We have lived our lives by the assumption that what was good for us would be good for the world…. We have been wrong. We must change our lives so that it will be possible to live by the contrary assumption, that what is good for the world will be
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Editor’s Note: The editorial staff of Unbound, as well as the members of the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy (ACSWP), are aware of massive energy in the church for taking a stand against fossil fuel pollution. One of the potentially most energetic debates coming before the 223rd General Assembly
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An Outline of Twelve Overtures. In 2018, business before the Environmental Issues Committee of the PC(USA) General Assembly includes: engagement with vs. divestment from fossil fuel polluters, environmental racism, carbon pricing, reducing the use of polystyrene, and adopting the “precautionary principle” toward new technologies and strains of genetically engineered crops
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People of faith must respond to parallel abuses of power at Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and Bears Ears National Monument. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is a staple of God’s creation–a creation of which we humans are the stewards. Its vast and beautiful 19.6 million acres of wilderness are home
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The words “national sacrifice zone” don’t strike me as a way we, as Christians and stewards of God’s Creation, should be characterizing a region of our country. However, in our ecological and social sin, we have tolerated the development of sacrifice zones: places permanently damaged by environmental destruction or economic
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Editor’s Note: The theme of Creation Justice Ministries’ 2018 Earth Day Sunday resource, Sense of Place, dovetails excellently with the Ecumenical Advocacy Days theme for this upcoming weekend: “A World Uprooted”. It is becoming increasingly apparent that creation justice has major human stakes, as well as environmental ones. Next week,
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Along the sidewalks of the Avenida de la Constitución, behind the Capitol of Puerto Rico (a smaller scale replica of the Capitol in Washington, D.C.), is a collection of statues called the “Walkway of the Presidents”. There you can see the statues of the presidents of the United States who
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Connecting back to last issue’s theme, Defending the Common Good, Sue Smith challenges the current position of the church in discussions surrounding issues of climate change, fossil fuels, and financial investment. As with all scenarios of potential divestment, the perceived advantage of “a seat at the table” is weighed against
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