IU professor, David Haberman said this is because religion is ambiguous and can be used to argue for or against climate change.
The religious studies professor addressed the matter and discussed the various religious movements focused on climate change at Green Drinks Wednesday night. Green Drinks is a monthly meeting at Upland Brewery Co.’s Banquet Facility where Bloomington residents meet to eat, drink and talk about environmental issues.
“A crime against the natural world is a crime against ourselves and a crime against God,” Haberman said, quoting Pope Francis, who was also a topic of discussion.
Haberman spoke about one of the pope’s encyclicals, which urged people to reconsider how they’re living, and how it affects the earth.
Population control, the use of fossil fuels, human consumption and animal habitat destruction were among the points of conversation. People chewed on celery and hummus and indulged in Upland Brewery’s beer as they listened to Haberman’s presentation. Afterward several asked questions to further the conversation.
Haberman said how one views divinity affects how one sees the value of saving the planet, and “non-humans.”
“There’s a shift in global theological narrative toward a return to imminence,” he said, adding that cultural changes are needed to take environmental crises more seriously.
For some Bloomington residents, caring for the Earth and going to church intersect. Kathleen Boggess, a member of St. Thomas Lutheran Church, said she’s interested in fighting climate change because it affects everyone on Earth. She said she believes humans are responsible.
“I feel like what’s happening in Bloomington with the churches on the more liberal end of the scale, they’re really concerned about climate change and believe we have caused what’s happening with the climate, and they’re trying to actively do things,” she said.
Boggess’ church, along with 20 others, is involved with Earth Care, an organization that focuses on educating people and putting ideas about saving the earth to action. Earth Care, which began in 2007, is the Bloomington affiliate of Hoosier Interfaith Power and Light, a larger Indiana-wide faith group with the same mission.
Earth Care teaches congregations how to conserve energy, hosts workshops about cutting down energy bills and has a carpool program, among other initiatives. A 2015 grant to the group allowed four Bloomington churches to install solar panels.
First Presbyterian Church member Allan Edmonds, who was involved in Earth Care’s creation, said the Earth is hugely complicated, and people don’t know all the ways it could be affected if climate changes continue. He said initiatives like Earth Care are making a positive impact, especially in Bloomington.
Boggess agreed that Monroe County is “doing a good job.”
“But ... I have friends who go to more of your very conservative churches ... that are still in denial that climate change even exists, or that we have any responsibility for that,” she said. “That bothers me. I don’t get that.”
For Boggess, Allan and Allan’s wife, Ann Edmonds, trying to save the earth makes sense — they said they want their future families to live comfortably. Allan said he’s concerned about the millions of people in the future who will have to deal with the effects of what humans are doing right now.
“The Bible says ‘love thy neighbor,’” Ann said. “Doesn’t it?”
