Ever since "An Inconvenient Truth" won its two Oscars(tm), I've been giving a great deal of thought about the significance of that event. I've been frustrated by the attempts to swiftboat Al Gore by the "Tennessee Center for Policy Research." On another website I visit, I had a short but spirited guestbook exchange with someone calling themself "Nicky Cage from Hollywood" about the validity of climate change ("Nicky" couldn't refute any of the statements I made, but simply referred to me as a "global warming fanatic").
But the Oscar(tm) win led me to start thinking about how that might help bring the issue to an even wider audience. I know, I know--to all of us it seems ridiculous to think that such a critical issue as climate change isn't in front of everyone every day, but I really don't think that's the case.
I belong to an ELCA Lutheran church and sing in the choir. We're an extremely liberal outpost in the more-moderate-than-I'd-like Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, so these sorts of issues are addressed daily within our faith community. Our choir director asks for a member of the choir to provide a short devotion at the close of rehearsal each Wednesday night, and last night was my turn. Since I'd been thinking about this issue, I decided that it would be my topic. I wrote the following, and though I might share it with this community for feedback:
An important event occurred Sunday evening, during the Oscars™ telecast. As I’m sure you all know, "An Inconvenient Truth" was named Best Documentary Feature for 2006. Presidential aspirations aside, this was an big development. By receiving prominent placement in one of the largest media events of the year, and the subsequent media coverage, the issue of climate change, and in a larger sense, our stewardship of the Earth, was plopped squarely in the laps of the large segment of the human population who thrive only on pop culture and mass media and never give a second thought to what human beings are doing to our planet. People who reject the notion of the human impact of climate change are not only choosing to ignore scientific reality, but given the fact that a certain percentage of them self-identify as part of the religious right, they are also ignoring the will of God.
This is from the second chapter of Genesis:
Genesis 2
5-7 At the time GOD made Earth and Heaven, before any grasses or shrubs had sprouted from the ground, GOD formed Man out of dirt from the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life. The Man came alive—a living soul!
8-9 Then GOD planted a garden in Eden, in the east. He put the Man he had just made in it. GOD made all kinds of trees grow from the ground, trees beautiful to look at and good to eat.
15 GOD took the Man and set him down in the Garden of Eden to work the ground and keep it in order.
"And keep it in order." That’s what we’re supposed to do. It says so right there. Now, of course, the Genesis account of creation is certainly allegorical (and I, personally, have no problem reconciling theology with evolution—what we call "evolution" is simply the physical process by which creation occurs), but the intent of God in placing humans on the earth is clearly to care for it and "keep it in order." By ignoring that, we place everything we know in jeopardy. We need to take the warnings seriously and work now to ensure that there even is an Earth to "keep in order."
Let us pray.
Creator God, instill in all humankind a deep and abiding respect for all of your creation, and help us do what is right to ensure its continued health and well-being for ourselves and all generations to come. Hear our prayer in the name of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Any thoughts? Does anyone else think that the Oscar(tm) win will help?
(Note--this is my very first diary.)