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Louisiana Religious Climate Activists Might Want to Check the Data

by E. Calvin Beisner

November 2, 2021

One can’t help admiring the motives of many religious leaders alarmed about human-induced climate change. From the Pope to the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury to leaders of the Islamic, Hindu, Buddhist, and Jewish faiths, many express their angst that climate change is an “existential threat” to humanity, especially the poor, and to all life on Earth.

But sometimes one wishes they would combine some knowledge of basic data with their good intentions.

An AP story published today, “Faith groups increasingly join the fight against climate change,” tells the stories of various religiously motivated people in Louisiana who have teamed up to fight global warming.

The article cites Rev. Kristina Peterson, Pastor of Bayou Blue Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) in Gray, Louisiana, and a former professor of environmental planning at the University of New Orleans, saying of what they’re doing: “It’s saving what we know that’s going to be destroyed from both the change of the heat and the rising of the water.”

One wouldn’t assume that, as a pastor, she would necessarily be aware of hard data on Louisiana’s long-term temperature or sea-level trends. But as a former professor of environmental planning, she ought to know.

First, the apparent rise in sea level along Louisiana’s coast is far more from land subsidence (about 9mm, or 1/3 inch, per year) than from a general global rise in sea level (which averages around 3 mm/year).

Second, as the graph above of data from NOAA/NCEI shows, the average daily maximum temperature for Louisiana has risen for the last 125 years at a rate of about 0.008 degree C (0.014 degree F) per decade—for a total increase of 0.096 degree C (0.168 degree F) in 125 years, an amount far too little for a human to feel and far too little to have any impact on any ecosystem, including Louisiana’s beloved bayous and wetlands.

Louisiana’s religious environmentalists can be applauded for working “to protect sacred sites from coastal erosion, refill canals dug by oil companies that allow for saltwater intrusion.” Though blaming the recent Hurricane Ida on climate change is mistaken, cleaning up and rebuilding after a hurricane is good stewardship, especially helpful to the poor. But fighting climate change needn’t be on their list of major issues.

Dated: November 2, 2021

Tagged With: Bayou Blue Presbyterian Church, Greater New Orleans Interfaith Climate Change Coalition, John Christy, Louisiana Sea Level, Lowlander Center, Pointe-aux-Chenes, Rev. Kristina Peterson, Theresa Dardar
Filed Under: Bridging Humanity and the Environment, Energy Policy, Environmental & Social Justice, Environmental Religion, Featured, Global Warming Science, Religion & Science, Sea Level, Sea Level

About E. Calvin Beisner

Dr. Beisner is Founder and National Spokesman of The Cornwall Alliance; former Associate Professor of Historical Theology & Social Ethics, at Knox Theological Seminary, and of Interdisciplinary Studies, at Covenant College; and author of “Where Garden Meets Wilderness: Evangelical Entry into the Environmental Debate” and “Prospects for Growth: A Biblical View of Population, Resources, and the Future.”

Comments

  1. Jeff says

    November 4, 2021 at 11:43 pm

    Lazy fools all of them and a very real danger to the religious community.
    I am not sure what Bible these folks read from or what God they really serve?
    I wish this were not true.

    Best Regards,

    Jeff Skalla

    Reply
    • George C says

      November 10, 2021 at 4:30 pm

      There is a difference between satire and sarcasm, which isclost on those who are on the leftward end of the political center., Railing about “what bible?” may feel cathartic, but the anger should rightly be directed toward those who mislead. “Figures never lie, but liars always figure.” Just as with Margaret Sanger, who misled black pastors into thinking her motives were compassion, or who may have suborned them in some fashion, climate activists use Christians’ natural interest in being good stewards to hide the true motives of anarchy and hate by ensuring all are poorly educated. Christians trust too seldom, perhaps, but they should also verify more – and a religious leader who welcomes discourse will soon learn that discourse is the activist’s enemy.

      Reply
  2. mr ashley haworth-roberts says

    November 8, 2021 at 11:37 pm

    I’ve been censored for telling the truth. Censored by a professing Christian.

    Reply

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Future Speaking Engagements

May 23, 2025 – Grand Rapids, MI

GR.Church, 4525 Stauffer Avenue Southeast, Grand Rapids, MI 49508

Dr. E. Calvin Beisner, Cornwall Alliance President, and Steve Goreham, Cornwall Alliance Board Member, will hold a symposium on Sustainable Energy, Climate Change, and the costs to YOUR life.  For tickets and more information, click HERE.

June 18-21, 2025–Dallas, TX

Cornwall Alliance will be a host of the Association of Classical Christian Schools’ (ACCS) annual Repairing the Ruins conference in Dallas, TX, and will have an exhibit booth.

Details and registration can be found HERE.

September 19-20–Arlington, VA

Dr Beisner will represent the Cornwall Alliance at the fall meeting of the Philadelphia Society and will have a literature table.

Attendance is for Society members and invited guests only. To inquire about an invitation, email Dr. Cal Beisner: Calvin@cornwallalliance.org.

September 26-27– Lynchburg, VA

Dr. Beisner will be speaking at the Christian Education Initiative Annual Summit, “Advancing Christ’s Kingdom Through Biblical Worldview Education.” 

Details and registration can be found HERE.

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