Science, Religion, and Society

April 21, 2013


Science

Perhaps for the purposes of this argument I have them in the wrong order.  I've just finished watching a Bill Moyers segment, (http://billmoyers.com/video/ The Toxic Assault on Our Children), featuring an admirable biologist, activist, and concerned mother, Sandra Steingraber, and her protest against what she calls Toxic Trespass.

Although fracking in that state is currently under a moratorium, the fracking companies are attempting to deposit byproducts of their operations (propane, butane) under pressure in salt formations near one of the Fingerlakes on which over 100,000 of her neighbor New Yorkers depend for fresh water. The danger of contamination is so likely as to be a certainty.

Along with eleven other activists she blockaded an entrance for a truck loaded with those toxic byproducts and was arrested for breaking the law. Others of the group paid the $375 fine but she chose to extend her protest by going to jail for fifteen days.

I could restate her positions or relate her justifications but I'm certain I could not capture the fire of her conviction or do any justice to her adamance. Watching her confront the politicians refusing to answer her questions is a witness that has to be witnessed. Would that I were so profoundly principled.


Religion 

Earlier today our church held an adult education session on Earth Day and Green Church Mission which featured a presentation by a biologist who specialized in soil study. Beginning with a basic review of the evidence for--oh, let's just go ahead and call it what it is--global warming and its attendant degradation of the environment, the speaker moved into descriptions of "wedge solutions"--basically, those policies and practices we could adopt at least to halt the further accumulation of CO2 and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

A wedge solution is one that, while alone cannot solve the whole problem--could contribute with other wedges to stop the rush to disaster--one wedge, nuclear power; another, substitution of natural gas for coal; another, burning renewables, etc. If you suspect I was not impressed with the wedges either individually or in sum, you're right. Because while all these wedges are begun and expanded to curb the greenhouse garbage our societies are hurling into the formerly blue sky, our population of deep consumers (Americans and western countries) would continue on their merry trek of expanded consumption inherent in a growth economy, joined by the newly industrialized nations who have come to envy our materialism through the entertainment we so casually, widely, and profitably distributed.

One of those wedges is euphemistically known as conservation. Though I am loathe to undermine the effectiveness of that choice, realistically it will require far more than a change to efficient lightbulbs. Is anyone ready to give up automobile ownership? to move in with relatives, or strangers? How about living close enough to work so as to be able to walk there?

Will industries foreswear flying and only use videoconferencing? How about phasing out schools for courses on the internet verified by individual testing for certification? How about not floating crap in from China to fill Wal-Marts, etc. I'm sure the Chinese need to produce goods for their own people and would welcome concentrating on those needs directly (that is, if they didn't need our debt to keep them above water).

No. The conservation we need to mitigate (we're beyond averting) the coming climate disaster will look a lot like depopulation. And the life simplification we need to change matters will look a lot like poverty. If we're going to change, it'll have to be serious.


Society

If we don't slow the processes already at work in the atmosphere, the foreseeable consequences affecting diminished water supply alone will restrict our ability to produce enough food, as well as many other similarly distressing shortages which will embroil the peoples of the earth in wars over the shrinking remainders--which wars also will speed the climate's worsening.

Far be it from me to conclude that doom is inevitable.  After all, we've been here before--remember nuclear winter? Yeah, with all the hope that comes from solving those problems we can concentrate on the new demons. Or we can leave it up to God to save our collective asses as some congressman recently pointed out. His bible assures him that God will not let mankind be destroyed--atomic wars, jihads, errant asteroids, whatever--it's a promise.

If the Senate vote this week against even taking a vote on the gun restrictions proposed since Newtown is any indication of the best our society can do to improve our circumstances, we should probably head for the hills with one of those assault rifles, extended magazines, and our "A" rating from the NRA and get ready for Armageddon.

Of course, it's not. While the Senate vote is nothing to cheer about, we as a society are getting our heads in order about guns--or 90% of the electorate would not have favored the spurned revisions. There's some hope.


Science, Society, and Religion

"What a fine mess you've gotten us into again, Ollie," we could conclude. The Science is against us. Society doesn't appear willing in any way. And if your Religion is not one of surprising hope in God's sustaining love, you might just stop reading here. The hills await.

But our religion is. We don't count on God to clean up our mess. We believe we have the power to overcome in disaster, however foreboding. "Yea, though I walk through the Valley of Death . . . ," must again be our cry.

I have no idea whether Ms. Steingraber is a believer or practitioner of any religion but she surely embodies the hope and confidence I would expect as the hallmark of a Christian in this conflict. In a point, that's why I want you to see her in action. Very inspiring.

Maybe you are not called to be an activist of any sort. Fine. You have other gifts. No one is let off the hook in the Body of Christ. But if you feel called to be an activist--against war, against fracking, whatever, Ms. Steingraber is an excellent model for us all.

J. S. Manista