agree. potable freshwater is good temporary solution. water wells are one option. companies that go lay claim to land in third world places and block the good flowing water for their own profit…this big problem. so I think wells. water wells are a good option for sustainable and continued drinking water.
2 Chronicles 7:14 ASV
Somehow that’s too abstract and detached from personal sin. Receiving Christ unworthily in Holy Communion is a divide by zero level of injustice.
I don’t think it’s OK for us to wipe out most life on earth due to us not really knowing who our specific victims are or will be out of the perhaps billions being harmed today and well into the future for many millennia by our actions today, most of whom aren’t even born yet.
But then the issue of injustice wakes me up and makes me realize, yes, we must do everything to save lives, esp of the innocent, or rather, to reduce our contributions that are harming and killing them.Don’t worry. The sky isn’t going to fall on us. God won’t leave us to starve.I don’t think it’s OK for us to wipe out most life on earth due to us not really knowing who our specific victims are or will be out of the perhaps billions being harmed today and well into the future for many millennia by our actions today, most of whom aren’t even born yet.
However, God knows the people who are and will be suffering from the effects of our local pollution, acid rain, stratospheric ozone depletion, global warming, dead zones in water bodies, ocean acidification, resource depletion, etc. And he knows who is causing these and who is causing them more.
Cain told God he knew nothing about his brother, but I think God actually did know about Cain’s involvement in Abel’s death. And he knows what we are up to, as well.
Whether these environmental harms are sins, venial or mortal, I don’t know. I’m not a moral theologian. And yes they do seem very diffuse, with many people causing them and many “nameless-to-us” people suffering from them, so as to seem nothing to us personally, a drop in the ocean of harms. My conscience, however, tells me these harms are not only wrong, but also an injustice…that the ones suffering most from the harms are the ones who have benefitted least or will be benefitting least in centuries or millennia to come from the extravagant, profligate & wasteful lifestyles of the people today causing the harms. And I personally think this is an important enough injustice – in the top 5 – to warrant a remedy, if we value life.
Are the remedies easy? It seems daunting, which I think is why people shy away from even considering they may have a role in the problems or that there are any such problems. There is no silver bullet, and there is not a whole lot the government or charitable orgs can do to solve it on their own – tho they also have a role. Mitigation of these serious environmental harms require, as JPII said in 1990, everyone’s participation.
However, what I’ve found is that with God’s gracious help it is a light cross to bear, even a weightless and uplifting cross. To my great surprise, for the most part it also saves money – immediately for some measures, short-term for others, and long-term for others – and also improves one’s health. Not everyone can do everything on the 1000+ item list of mitigation measures, but they can do 1 thing, or maybe 10 or 20 things. It’s worth turning around, admitting we are causing problems and injustices, and taking those first small baby steps. Sort of a 20+ small (some large) step program spanning decades, the rest of our lives. And God is there to help us up when we stumble.
Is life worth saving? Sometimes I wonder, since so many are against doing so
If this can’t be fit in the top five, then I think we need a longer list.
:banghead:
In my books killing innocent people is wrong. Others may interpret the Church, Bible, and Ten Commandments differently. It should be somewhere on the list.
And I would add to that Catholics must be taught that “destruction of the earth” (thereby harming and killing people and others of God’s creation) could also land one in Hell, with those who failed to teach it first in line:
Over drama doesn’t promote comms.
I sorry but I think it is silly to think the Book of Revelations was talking about the Green moment that is so in fashion these days.
Sorry, but I still believe harming and killing innocent people is wrong, whether I do something or nothing about it. So I’ll just continued to do my tiny part all the same.
No, it was talking about those engaged in destroying the earth – which I believe many in the various environmental movements are also concerned about, even if people think they are silly …
It has always been a mortal sin to kill innocent people on purpose. That is called murder. It is not a sin to kill in defense of self or other innocent people when threatened by crime and evilness. Nothing new here.
I believe Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition are the inspired Word of God because of the Holy Catholic Church declares it so.
So you’re saying based on the Bible it is impossible for destruction of earth systems to occur. Or that even if that were to happen, human sin couldn’t have anything to do with it.
The ONLY substantial reason to focus on this topic is if it will save souls…not necessarily lives.So you’re saying based on the Bible it is impossible for destruction of earth systems to occur. Or that even if that were to happen, human sin couldn’t have anything to do with it.
Are you sure you read the entire Bible all the way to the end?
How did you come up with this question given that my post didn’t contain anything about the destruction of the earth? If you quote me then your reply should be about what I actually said.
Blowing up the earth and killing millions will clearly be a mortal sin. I do worry about my soul, I go to church, pray, and beg God for forgiveness of my sins. However, I do not lose any sleep over the destruction of the earth. However, I did enjoy World War Z.
Such a childish insult (stating a fact and not trying to insult your insulting skills), I usually see that insult being used by high school kids and college freshmen. If you are going to insult me then I demand that you do so in a much more sophisticated manner.