Environmentalism and the Religious Right

I stumbled across an interview on public radio with Richard Cizik, the spokesperson for the National Association of Evangelicals. I had heard about the leadership of the Christian Conservative movement branching it's social concerns from abortion and marriage issues to also include fighting AIDS, third world debt relief, and environmental issues, but I hadn't looked into it very much. I must say, after listening to this guy and reading the stuff on the NAE's website, I'm very impressed. They're really working to make this world a better place for all people, and they're doing it by crossing boundaries and forging unusual alliances while maintaining an exclusively Christian viewpoint. Check out these things they've been working on Stopping sex trafficking (partnered with a coalition of feminists) Preventing and aiding AIDS/HIV victims in Africa (partnered with gay rights groups) Enacting prison abuse reform (partnered with American Civil Liberties Union) Stopping emission of green house gases (partnered with environmentalist groups) This is really exciting stuff, because not only is this group refusing to be held hostage to the GOP (or any party), it seems to me that they're keeping the focus on true religion, i.e., care for the poorest among us (James 1:27).

According to Cizik, all morality starts with people honoring the sanctity of life...and everything else follows from that. So abortion is still seen as probably the biggest moral problem of our time...but these other issues are also seen as very important and must be addressed by those who call themselves followers of Christ. If we don't, the poor will continue to suffer the consequences of our actions (or inaction). And especially on environmental issues, where if we don't do something now to stop of rampant world-wide consumerism, the world of our children and grandchildren may be torn apart by war as people fight for resources to survive.

Check out the podcast of the interview. It's really good. And here's a link to Bono's keynote address at this year's National Prayer Breakfast...it's pretty inspiring.