This post about Global Warming Causing Global Cooling (yes I know that makes no sense, but that is precisely why we need a sane, rational response to the AlGorisms out there) got me to thinking. Are there any excellent resources out there responding to the usual nonsense about “global warming?” The answer is yes!
The Cornwal Alliance is the newest addition to the blogroll. The Cornwall Alliance is summed up best from their website:
Regarding Cornwall‘s contents, the declaration recognizes “the moral necessity of ecological stewardship has become increasingly clear,” and then seeks to clear up three common misunderstandings that can impede a sound environmental ethic.
First, the document notes that “many people mistakenly view humans as principally consumer and polluters rather than producers and stewards.”
Second, Cornwall takes a critical look at the perception that “nature knows best,” or that “the earth, untouched by human hands is the ideal.”
Third, the declaration points out that while “some environmental concerns are well founded and serious, others are without foundation or greatly exaggerated.” This is of particular concern in developing nations, where basic issues like inadequate sanitation, widespread use of primitive fuels like wood and dung, and primitive agricultural practices go largely unaddressed while more distant and theoretical issues receive the lion’s share of funding and attention.
The Cornwall Declaration further sets forth an articulate and Biblically-grounded set of beliefs and aspirations in which God can be glorified through a world in which “human beings care wisely and humbly for all creatures” and “widespread economic freedom…makes sound ecological stewardship available to ever greater numbers.”
By all accounts, Cornwall provides the philosophical and theological underpinnings upon which a broad environmental ethic can be formulated.
The board of advisors includes many you will recognize from our PCA:
Dr. William L. Anderson, Assistant Professor of Economics, Frostburg State University, Maryland
Dr. Ted Baehr, Chairman, Christian Film and Television Commission
Howard Ball, National Director, ChurchLIFE
David Barton, Founder and President, Wallbuilders
Dr. Michael E. Bauman, Professor of Theology and Culture, Hillsdale College, Michigan
Madre Antonia Becerra, Caritas Charities, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Fr. John Michael Beers, Ph.D., S.S.L., Dean of the Pre-Theologate, Ave Maria University, Florida
Dr. E. Calvin Beisner, National Spokesman, Cornwall Alliance, and Ministerial Assistant, Holy Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC), Broward County, FL
Joel Belz, Founder, WORLD Magazine
Rev. Dennis G. Bennett, Bible Institute of South Africa
Dr. Kenneth Chilton, Director of the Institute for the Study of Economics and the Environment, Lindenwood University, Missouri
Michael Cromartie, Vice President, Ethics and Public Policy Center
Douglas E. Daugherty, Sr., President, Chattanooga Resource Foundation, Tennessee
Fr. Phillip DeVous, Chaplain, Thomas More College, Kentucky
Dr. Colonel V. Doner, Chairman, Children’s Hunger Relief Fund
Dr. Richard Dougherty, Associate Professor, Politics Department, University of Dallas, Texas
Dr. Barrett Duke, Vice President for Public Policy and Research, The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, Southern Baptist Convention
Dr. Charles H. Dunahoo, Coordinator of Christian Education and Publications, Presbyterian Church in America
Dr. J. Ligon Duncan, III, Senior Minister, First Presbyterian Church (PCA), Jackson, Mississippi; President, Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals; and Adjunct Professor, Reformed Theological Seminary
Prof. Alan Gomes, Professor of Historical Theology and Chairman, Department of Theology, Talbot School of Theology, California
Dr. George Grant, Teaching Pastor, Christ Community Church (PCA), Nashville, Tennessee
Dr. Jay Grimstead, Director, Coalition on Revival
Dr. Wayne Grudem, Research Professor of Bible and Theology, Phoenix Seminary, Arizona
Dr. David W. Hall, Senior Minister, Midway Presbyterian Church (PCA), Powder Springs, Georgia
Stephen Hayward, Fellow, American Enterprise Institute
Dr. P.J. Hill, George F. Bennett Chair of Economics, Wheaton College, Illinois
Rev. Irfon Hughes, Pastor, Hillcrest Presbyterian Church (PCA), Volant, Pennsylvania
Gary Kass, President, Reclaiming America for Christ
Rev. Dr. D. James Kennedy (deceased), Senior Minister, Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Dr. George Khushf, Humanities Director, Center for Bioethics, University of South Carolina
John Khushal, Associate Director, Campus Crusade for Christ, North India
Dr. Paul D. Kooistra, Coordinator, Presbyterian Church in America’s Mission to the World
Dr. Henry Krabbendam, Chairman of the Africa Christian Training Institute, Uganda; Professor of Biblical Studies (retired), Covenant College, Georgia
Rabbi Daniel Lapin, President, Toward Tradition
Dr. Kevin Alan Lewis, Assistant Professor of Theology & Law, Biola University, California
Dr. Stephen Livesay, President, Bryan College, Tennessee
Dr. Tracy C. Miller, Associate Professor of Economics, Grove City College, Pennsylvania
Garry J. Moes, Director, Murphys Christian Camp; former political reporter/editor, The Associated Press
Dr. Jeff Myers, Associate Professor, Bryan College, Tennessee
Fr. Richard John Neuhaus, President, Institute on Religion and Public Life
Jerry Newcombe, Senior Producer, Coral Ridge Ministries-TV, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Dr. Marvin Olasky, Editor In Chief, WORLD Magazine; Professor of Journalism, University of Texas, Austin
Dr. Jerry O’Neill, President, Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Pennsylvania
Gretchen Passantino, M.Div. (Apologetics), Director & Co-founder, Answers In Action
Rabbi Gary Perras, Temple Israel, Daytona Beach, Florida
Ron D. Petitte, D.P.A., Director, Honors and Political Science Programs, Bryan College, Tennessee
Dr. Joey Pipa, President, Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, North Carolina
Jay W. Richards, Director of Acton Media, Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty
Rev. Gregory Lee Robertson, Interim Pastor, Loving Savior of the Hills Lutheran Church (LCMS), Chino Hills, California
Dr. Robert Royal, President, Faith and Reason Institute
Dr. Herb Schlossberg, Senior Research Associate, Ethics and Public Policy Center
Rev. Louis P. Sheldon, Chairman, Traditional Values Coalition
Rev. Robert Sirico, President, Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty
Dr. Frank J. Smith, Editor, Presbyterian International News Services
Dr. Roy W. Spencer, Principal Research Scientist, University of Alabama in Huntsville
Dr. Kenneth G. Talbot, President, Whitefield Theological Seminary, Florida
Dr. Timothy Terrell, Associate Professor of Economics, Wofford College, South Carolina
Rev. Dr. Jim Tonkowich, President, Institute on Religion and Democracy
Rev. Ralph Weitz, Stewardship Pastor, Immanuel Bible Church, Springfield, Virginia
Dr. Harry V. Wiant, Jr., Ibberson Chair in Forest Resources, Penn State University
David A. Williams, President, L.D. Advantage, Inc; Former Representative on NAE Social Action Commission
Alan Wisdom, Vice President, Institute on Religion and Democracy
Dennis Oliver Woods, Headmaster, ClassicalFree Virtual Academy
Check the Cornwall Alliance out. Finally a voice of sound reason on environmental issues from a Christian perspective.
I found Bjorn Lomborg’s book, “The Skeptical Environmentalist” to be very informative. It was interesting to see the “academy’s” reaction to his book when it first came out…very similar to the reaction portrayed in Ben Stein’s new movie, “Expelled”.
Out of interest, Les et al, what do you see as a reasonable position on environmental stewardship? My wife and I try our best to recycle, don’t litter, don’t needlessly waste utilities or other resources, don’t worthlessly kill animals, etc, etc. Also, on the positive side, we enjoy God’s creation, seek to make it more beautiful by planting flowers and trees, pick up obvious litter (when feasible), etc. So, is there any glaring area that I’m missing, because I sure do feel pressured that I’m not being “green” enough?
That all sounds reasonable. Besides that, I think it is good to support policy which would help and and not hurt everyone.
For instance, I think we should encourage the government to loosen the restrictions on drilling in Alaska, remove environmentalists obstacles for the building of new refineries, and so forth.
In addition, the ethanol mandate thing is glaring. As we see soaring food prices and shortages with riots to boot, we can see now what a dumb idea that mandate was. Too often the environmentalists “sky is falling” crowd don’t really understand (or don’t care about) the economics of and repercussions of their proposals.