Overview

Welcome to the Spiritual Energy page of EB.  In this section we will present information, news and dialogue on the intersection between energy issues and our own spiritual energy. Our goal here is to share ideas, both old and new, and to provide a broader perspective on the efforts underway around the world to protect our planet.  Towards that end please share your own good news about efforts in your community or church to protect and preserve our planet.  We welcome news on any and all environmentally related projects, from litter clean up campaigns to using alternative energy in your churches or schools.  This section also provides a number of references on the topics of the environment, energy and religion.  Please help us keep this section up to date by letting us know about articles or books you may have come across which our readers should be aware of.  Write to us at editor@energybible.com.   Thanks in advance for your support!

Dan Daniel, Editor

Spiritual News

Southern Baptist Group Signs Declaration on Global Warming

In a major shift, a group of Southern Baptist leaders said their denomination has been "too timid" on environmental issues and has a biblical duty to stop global warming. The declaration, signed by the president of the Southern Baptist Convention among others and released Monday, shows a growing urgency about climate change even within groups that once dismissed claims of an overheating planet as a liberal ruse. The conservative denomination has 16.3 million members and is the largest Protestant group in the U.S. The signers of "A Southern Baptist Declaration on the Environment and Climate Change" acknowledged that not all Christians accept the science behind global warming. They said they do not expect fellow believers to back any proposed solutions that would violate Scripture, such as advocating population control through abortion. However, the leaders said that current evidence of global warming is "substantial," and that the threat is too grave to wait for perfect knowledge about whether, or how much, people contribute to the trend.

"We believe our current denominational resolutions and engagement with these issues have often been too timid," according to the statement. "Our cautious response to these issues in the face of mounting evidence may be seen by the world as uncaring, reckless and ill-informed. We can do better." No one speaks on behalf of all Southern Baptists, who leave decision-making to local churches. Yet, the signatories represent some of the top figures in the convention. Among them are the denomination's president, the Rev. Frank Page of South Carolina; two former presidents, the Rev. James Merritt of Georgia and the Rev. Jack Graham of Texas. Supporters plan to collect more signatures for the declaration through baptistcreationcare.org and encourage congregations to advocate for environmental protection.

The Rev. Rich Cizik, Washington director of the National Association of Evangelicals, has became a prominent environmental advocate, trying to persuade conservative Christians that global warming is real. Polls of younger evangelicals found they considered environmental protection a priority. But many of the most conservative Christians, including some Southern Baptist leaders, remained skeptical, and vigorously challenged evangelical environmentalists.  ... from Environmental News Service

Cutting Down on Carbon for Lent

The Church of England is urging people to cut down on carbon, rather than chocolate, for Lent this year. Two senior bishops within the church are joining with development agency Tearfund in calling for a cut in personal carbon use for each of the 40 days of Lent, which begins tomorrow. The Bishop of Liverpool, James Jones, who is also vice-president of Tearfund, and the Bishop of London, Richard Charters, have launched the "carbon fast" in response to what they say is an "urgent need" to reduce carbon emissions, and to protect poor communities around the world that are "already suffering from the ravages of climate change".

The 40-day plan lists simple energy-saving actions that can lead towards a lighter carbon footprint, including snubbing plastic bags, giving the dishwasher a day off, insulating the hot-water tank and checking the house for drafts. Participants are asked to begin the carbon fast by removing one light bulb from a prominent place in the home and live without it for 40 days, as a constant visual reminder during Lent of the need to cut energy. On the final day of the fast, people are encouraged to replace the missing bulb with an energy-saving bulb. Jones said: "Traditionally people have given up things for Lent. This year we are inviting people to join us in a carbon fast. It is the poor who are already suffering the effects of climate change. To carry on regardless of their plight is to fly in the face of Christian teaching. "The tragedy is that those with the power to do something about it are least affected, whilst those who are most affected are powerless to bring about change," he added. "There's a moral imperative on those of us who emit more than our fair share of carbon to rein in our consumption."

There has been a rising chorus on climate change from churches in recent years. The Church of England has already committed itself to reducing carbon emissions by 60% by 2050 through its Shrinking the Footprint initiative. Charters, the 132nd Bishop of London and the Church of England's third most senior figure after the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, has previously said that Christians have a moral duty to save the planet. In 2006 he pledged not to fly for a year, saying that "making selfish choices such as flying on holiday or buying a large car" were a "symptom of sin". Last year, the Vatican also hosted a conference on climate change, where Pope Benedict urged bishops, scientists and politicians to "respect creation" while "focusing on the needs of sustainable development". ... from The Guardian News and Media