It's growing green

A quiet evening at home last night yielded Moyers On America on PBS, which dedicated an installment to an unlikely environmentalist movement among white Evangelical Christians. Of particular note were the remarks of one Richard Cizik, whose profile is defined by a combination of social conservatism and eco-friendly, pro-regulation policy. Although Cizik never squares off directly with Dr. E. Calvin Beisner, his rival in the program (Moyers questions them separately), their arguments appear in sharp counterpoint. (So sharp, in fact, that Beisner appears to have objected to the program in its entirety.) Beisner wasn't much. He reminded me of the non-scientist who edited environmental reports commissioned by the Bush Administration.

At this point I am happy to see that Evangelicals might consider voting with environmental issues in mind. I wonder how many of them will actually be swayed at the ballot box, and how easily any perceived alliance between eco-conservatives and the green-minded left might fall apart. It seems unlikely that environmentalists of any kind will ever get sufficient support in Idaho to make much of a difference on Election Day, although the scenes in West Virginia may tell a different story. Black well water and ruined mountaintop views go a long way.
[There is a bit of global warming talk among tutors and home-schooled students in Jesus Camp, too, by the way. It can't help matters that anti-environmentalist ideas (as opposed to pro-pollution ideas?) are being drummed into little kids. Then again, some would disagree....]

You would think that sooner or later, deeply religious people would associate the Biblical idea of "tending the garden" with the modern environmental movement. You would think they would consider the ill effects of unfettered capitalism as out of line with the teachings of Jesus. I haven't done any Bible study, so I can't tell you what Christian ideas balance these, exactly, although Beisner interprets the idea of "dominion" over nature as "forceful rule." Yikes.

Regardless, the time has come for conservatives to recognize that conservation isn't just a lefty issue anymore -- it's an American one. If we're really "addicted to oil," can we please re-classify those SUVs now? (Especially now that CNN is running stories like "SUVs Bounce Back!")

Best moment in the show: when Senator Inhofe makes reference to Reverend Haggard. Yes!