Exploration of the links between extreme Christian fundamentalist ideology, human expansion and destruction of the planet. Opinion piece Newham Recorder 12.9.19<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Pesky\nwasps! They appear as if from nowhere around August each year, spoiling\npicnics, causing panic. They are unloved\nas much as bees are loved. What possible use are they? Interesting how people whip out fly spray to\nkill a wasp who wouldn\u2019t dream of hurting a bee. Yet wasps are also vital\npollinators and keep down \u2018pests\u2019 that destroy our crops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wasps\nare one tiny reminder that the world wasn\u2019t created for the convenience of\nhumans. We are just one species in a complex interdependent web. The web has\nevolved over billions of years on this (probably) unique planet in a tiny\ncorner of the vast universe. But a human centric view of the world persists.\nNot least among some religious fundamentalists who interpret literally the Old\nTestament edict to \u2018Be fruitful, and multiply\u2019 and to \u2018have dominion over every\nliving thing that moveth upon the earth.\u2019 It was only 400 year ago that Galileo was convicted of\nheresy by the Catholic Church for pointing out that the earth isn\u2019t at the\ncentre of the universe. And only 1992 that the Church formally apologised. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is not entirely coincidental that two key world figures spear-heading reckless human destruction of the environment draw support from the extreme Christian right. In the States Trump is suppressing climate change research by NASA while pressing for oil exploration in Alaska. In Brasil his ideological brother, President Bolsinaro, has wasted no time in giving free rein to the destruction of Amazon rainforest vital to all our futures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thankfully there is also a Christian tradition of stewardship of the Earth, shared by adherents to other religions, not least Islam, which incidentally has a proud history of scientific advance in mathematics and astronomy. It is also intrinsic to Humanism. The battle to save the planet is a battle of ideas. It\u2019s not just about recognising the degradation of the environment. It\u2019s also about fighting archaic and irrational beliefs that humans can continue to multiply and plunder the planet without consequence and that God will provide, as long as we have faith. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paul Kaufman
Chair East London Humanists
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