Is the Catholic Church drifting into eco-spirituality?

[Ignatius]

The environmental movement has taken on religious dimensions as Messianic Environmentalism is becoming the stance of many in the climate alarmist camp.

However Robert B. Laughlin, Nobel Prize-winning Stanford University physicist and former research scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory concludes the evidence indicates that: “The Earth will heal itself. Climate is beyond our power to control. . . . Earth doesn’t care about governments or their legislation. You can’t find much actual global warming in present-day weather observations. Climate change is a matter of geologic time, something that the earth routinely does on its own without asking anyone’s permission or explaining itself.”

An article that details this eco-spirituality is on cal-catholic.com/?p=18808

 

[Neofight]

The environmental movement has taken on religious dimensions as Messianic Environmentalism is becoming the stance of many in the climate alarmist camp.

However Robert B. Laughlin, Nobel Prize-winning Stanford University physicist and former research scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory concludes the evidence indicates that: “The Earth will heal itself. Climate is beyond our power to control. . . . Earth doesn’t care about governments or their legislation. You can’t find much actual global warming in present-day weather observations. Climate change is a matter of geologic time, something that the earth routinely does on its own without asking anyone’s permission or explaining itself.”

An article that details this eco-spirituality is on cal-catholic.com/?p=18808

Its interesting that there is as much speculation as to what the Holy Father’s intents are in his yet to be released encyclical from both sides of the issue within the Church.

As many within the Church are already claiming to know what the Pope means, as those outside the Church.

A more interesting question might be: Is the Catholic Church drifting into politico-spirituality?

Peace and all Good!

 

[ProdglArchitect]

No, we are not.

Pope Francis is only reiterating the fact that we have an obligation to protect and care for our world. If he views global warming as an issue then it is his right to address that issue, but doing so will have no affect on the faith.

 

[Joie_de_Vivre]

The environmental movement has taken on religious dimensions as Messianic Environmentalism is becoming the stance of many in the climate alarmist camp.

However Robert B. Laughlin, Nobel Prize-winning Stanford University physicist and former research scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory concludes the evidence indicates that: “The Earth will heal itself. Climate is beyond our power to control. . . . Earth doesn’t care about governments or their legislation. You can’t find much actual global warming in present-day weather observations. Climate change is a matter of geologic time, something that the earth routinely does on its own without asking anyone’s permission or explaining itself.”

An article that details this eco-spirituality is on cal-catholic.com/?p=18808

The Earth will eventually heal itself mostly likely, but the question is, what will happen to man as his cities flood, the rain he depends upon to grow his crops becomes more erratic and other things as a consequence of his poor stewardship?

 

[Ridgerunner]

The Earth will eventually heal itself mostly likely, but the question is, what will happen to man as his cities flood, the rain he depends upon to grow his crops becomes more erratic and other things as a consequence of his poor stewardship?

There really isn’t persuasive evidence that any of that will happen because of fossil fuels. One thing that is pretty clear, however, is that poor agricultural practices have desertified a good portion of the earth. In my opinion, that deserves a lot more attention than a rather speculative “global warming” that hasn’t actually happened for some 18 years now.

I recall a recent letter from Cdl Turkson of Ghana in which he expresses alarm at environmental degradation. And well he should, since 1/3 of Ghana has been desertified by poor use of the soil, and a lot of it has been poisoned with heavy metals due to bad mining practices.

 

[Church_Militant]

Hardly…the church has always taught that we are to be good stewards of God’s creation which we have not done.

 

[Micosil]

No, we are not.

Pope Francis is only reiterating the fact that we have an obligation to protect and care for our world. If he views global warming as an issue then it is his right to address that issue, but doing so will have no affect on the faith.

Hardly…the church has always taught that we are to be good stewards of God’s creation which we have not done.

Well said.

 

[DakiniArtist]

Well said.

Agreed!

 

[friardchips]

The environmental movement has taken on religious dimensions as Messianic Environmentalism is becoming the stance of many in the climate alarmist camp.

However Robert B. Laughlin, Nobel Prize-winning Stanford University physicist and former research scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory concludes the evidence indicates that: “The Earth will heal itself. Climate is beyond our power to control. . . . Earth doesn’t care about governments or their legislation. You can’t find much actual global warming in present-day weather observations. Climate change is a matter of geologic time, something that the earth routinely does on its own without asking anyone’s permission or explaining itself.”

An article that details this eco-spirituality is on cal-catholic.com/?p=18808

The Pope was a apparently, or so I read, a Chemical Engineer, so I think he is pretty capable of guiding us through what we need to know and what not. On top of being the Pope. He can guide us in theology and in certain expertise gained from such professionalism before (even it this is at minimum being able to look at all the facts). He also has plenty of spiritual wisdom to boot.

The very first Creation account tells of the blessing of life and the responsiblity that comes with it (I was taught this and it stuck) so all this environmental concern could always have done with being more considered.

We do need to watch out for, IMO, what you described as ‘Messianic Environmentalism’ because I think this is (excuse the pun) rooted a lot deeper and connects to a lot more problems. Some I think might be linked with New Age threats to the life and the Church; again, this is not really ‘new’ at all.

The Global Warming/Climate Change hype does tend to overshadow real environmental issues and not sure the idea that the causes of ‘warming’ being man-made haven’t already been disproved.

Ultimately, we might as well just trust the Church, as I think this is what we’re called to do.

 

[Linusthe2nd]

The environmental movement has taken on religious dimensions as Messianic Environmentalism is becoming the stance of many in the climate alarmist camp.

However Robert B. Laughlin, Nobel Prize-winning Stanford University physicist and former research scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory concludes the evidence indicates that: “The Earth will heal itself. Climate is beyond our power to control. . . . Earth doesn’t care about governments or their legislation. You can’t find much actual global warming in present-day weather observations. Climate change is a matter of geologic time, something that the earth routinely does on its own without asking anyone’s permission or explaining itself.”

An article that details this eco-spirituality is on cal-catholic.com/?p=18808

Oh, I suppose man’s life style does have some effect on climate, but there is no proof of it nor of its extent. And yes, it would be nice if we had a cheap, ultra clean, reliable source of energy. But none is likely to be available soon. It certainly isn’t solar or wind. There are seven billion people in the world to feed and house and care for. You can’t do that without ample use of fossil fuels. If you try, you will have massive starvation.

Linus2nd

 

[Ignatius]

Ignatius;13016066:

The environmental movement has taken on religious dimensions as Messianic Environmentalism is becoming the stance of many in the climate alarmist camp.

However Robert B. Laughlin, Nobel Prize-winning Stanford University physicist and former research scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory concludes the evidence indicates that: “The Earth will heal itself. Climate is beyond our power to control. . . . Earth doesn’t care about governments or their legislation. You can’t find much actual global warming in present-day weather observations. Climate change is a matter of geologic time, something that the earth routinely does on its own without asking anyone’s permission or explaining itself.”

An article that details this eco-spirituality is on cal-catholic.com/?p=18808

Its interesting that there is as much speculation as to what the Holy Father’s intents are in his yet to be released encyclical from both sides of the issue within the Church.

As many within the Church are already claiming to know what the Pope means, as those outside the Church.

Peace and all Good!

Um, Most of the information in the article predates the news about the Popes encyclical. The picture caption is “Catholic nuns plant trees in a field, symbolizing a deforested area, during a program marking World Environment Day in Manila, Philippines, June 5, 2007.”

I think you’re assuming too much and consequently jumping at the wrong conclusions. Did you read the article?

 

[Ignatius]

Hardly…the church has always taught that we are to be good stewards of God’s creation which we have not done.

Yup, Good Stewardship, not worshiping mother earth and climate alarmism.

 

[Mystical_Seeker]

All scientific studies are paid for by someone. Few who fund scientific studies do not have an interest in the outcome. Regardless of the honesty and integrity of the study, by the time it gets through legal advice, ethics boards, and marketing, what becomes widely reported and eventually “common knowledge” is going to be that which the funders fund and promote; seldom do they self-promote unless they are sensationalist – which too many studies on climate are since that’s the Hot Topic of the Day.

Eventually the whole world will be civilized at some level or another and we’re going to go through it as a Body of Christ, whether each part of the body realizes it’s part or not. Good and bad conscience, strategy, study practices, etc are going to all be covered by at least one part of the body so expect it. Doing “meta-study” especially of conflicting reports can give a bigger insight into the field of possibilities, but only once in a while can one determine which is correct. Sometimes I can be pretty confident one is faulty, but truth does not conform itself to a vote – only the “commonly understood version” of truth is, by definition.

 

[friardchips]

All scientific studies are paid for by someone. Few who fund scientific studies do not have an interest in the outcome. Regardless of the honesty and integrity of the study, by the time it gets through legal advice, ethics boards, and marketing, what becomes widely reported and eventually “common knowledge” is going to be that which the funders fund and promote; seldom do they self-promote unless they are sensationalist – which too many studies on climate are since that’s the Hot Topic of the Day.

I’d hope (and I believe) that Vatican involvement in this area has not come to pass with the exception of honesty and integrity in their studies.

 

[Ignatius]

Just to make it clear that this isn’t about the upcoming encyclical because so many assumed it was, here is an article on what authentic stewardship of the environment looks like by Fr. William Watson of the Napa Institute.

St. John Paul II in a homily at Zamosc, Poland said: “Destruction of the environment harms the good of creation given to man by God the Creator as something indispensable for his life and his development"

Fr. Watson’s address to the Napa Institute later this year will be on the Holy Father’s Encyclical will seek to set its themes in the larger context of Church documents.

napa-institute.org/papal-encyclical-on-the-environment-the-new-heavens/

 

[Rosebud77]

Religious orders here in Ireland and the UK… we have one eco order of Nuns and the Stanbrook Benedictines who moved to Wass now lecture on rush bed sewage works etc.