Why do evangelicals deny global warming/climate change?

Question

Do they have some vested insterest in this that I am overlooking?

Answer 1

Can not answer for Evangelicals, but for me, there is no scientific evidence suggesting we contribute significantly to it.

Answer 2

For those without a political agenda (unlike yourself) the scientific debate is still open. There is no absolute scientific "proof" that the bulk of climate change is caused by man. Most of those who insist so are politically motivated (like yourself) rather than swayed by the scientific facts. I suggest the book Meltdown by Patrick Michaels to get a scientific evaluation of the situation.

Answer 3

I did not realize that such was the case!

Answer 4

What you are overlooking is that AGW has become a competing religion.

We have all sinned by having a carbon footprint, and Earth will become h**l if we don't stop sinning.

People who do not accept your religion are no longer skeptics, they are DENIERS.  

In a few years they will be infidels.  

AWG holds that EVERYONE will be punished if believers do not stop deniers from sinning.  And just like the Catholic Church sold indulgences, you can now buy carbon credits, and so be forgiven for your footprint.

AGW seeks Global Socialism, because Democracy & Capitalism allows deniers to perpetuate the sin of Carbon footprinting.

Though times are ahead because, as has happened many times in the past, Global Temperatures are about to go the opposite direction of CO2 levels. (JFTR the GT stopped rising 8 years ago)

Recite mantras like "Global Warming can cause Global Cooling" & make sure you blame every act of nature on Man.

Satan is Big Oil; his demons are the Capitalists that believe Oil energy equals prosperity.  

And like all other good believers you must ignore the fossil record.  

It does not matter if life on Earth has thrived for hundreds of millions of years at CO2 levels of 1000ppm or 3000ppm.   The current level be it 380ppm or 580ppm, must always be on the cusp of some great environmental apocalypse.

As a Capitalist & a Darwinist I personally believe the free market will naturally shift to Zero Carbon Footprint (ZCF) as we slowly run out of available oil.   Still, I'm touched so many young people have found a faith to give meaning to their lives.

Of course that doesn't mean I won't shoot you when you come for my car.

Great question.  Good Luck.

Answer 5

Could be something to do with toeing the conservative Republican line.

Answer 6

It doesn't really matter, Christians know that Jesus is coming back soon and he'll change the earth to be like it was in the garden of Eden.  Your relationship with God is much more important than global warming.  I would recommend that you read the Bible, start with the New Testament.  If you don't have a bible go to biblegateway.com.

Answer 7

It does not seem that way to me either...and just the other day I was watching the History channel. It described what happened on Earth that made it the way it is currently.... many scientists on the show said what is currently being done on Earth at this moment will have very little impact on global warming if any at all. That at some point of time, the Earth will experience another Ice Age and there is nothing that humans can do to try to stop it... That Global Warming can trigger another Ice Age.

Answer 8

They originally did because they were married to hard right wing ideology which seeks to claim that global warming is a liberal conspiracy perpetrated by godless liberals who want communism and socialism blah blah blah. But more recently some of the big names have got off the short bus and joined the crowd of sane people who aren't lying to themselves to support a political or religious belief system.

Answer 9

I wasn't aware the ever officially denied it.  If they did, it ended last year, when they strongly said it is a serious problem caused by humans.

Answer 10

Many (most?) of them don't.

http://www.christiansandclimate.org/

http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/art...

Answer 11

For the same reasons that many scientists also deny it.

Edit--

Why do some of you think it has anything to do with conservative vs liberal, or evangelical vs atheist????

Some of us have NO agenda and are still not "believers". My only agenda is the money angle from "carbon credits".

Answer 12

Many don't.  "Global warming gap among evangelicals widens."

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/03/14/e...

"A group of 86 evangelical leaders -- including the presidents of 39 colleges, pastors of mega-churches and prominent authors -- have released a statement urging President Bush not only to take note of climate change, but also to take action."

http://www.here-now.org/shows/2006/02/20...

Answer 13

I think it is because environmentalism is a challence to their conservative outlook.

Most Christians, including evangelicals, are concerned about the environment.

See Jim Wallis' writing for an evangelical  alternative to conservative Christianity.

Answer 14

This issue probably has the widest range of those for or against then any issue I have seen.

Answer 15

No one denies climate changes. The reasons for such changes on Earth and other planets has little to do with people's habits, and much more to do with the sun, oceans, currents.  Currently, the temperature is dropping by 7 tenths of a degree.  That is not warming.