The reason of "climate-religion": a theological-ethical critique of climate skeptical arguments/Die ratio der "klima-religion": eine theologisch-ethische auseinandersetzung mit klimaskeptischen argumenten

Climate skeptics put forth many arguments against climate protection. Among them, two are particularly interesting from a theological point of view: First, climate protection is described as a new, secular religion, with dogmas and declared heretics and with a system of purchasable indulgence analog...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Gaia (Heidelberg, Germany) Germany), 2014-05, Vol.23 (2), p.93
Main Author: Rosenberger, Michael
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Climatic changes
Ethical aspects
Human beings
Influence on nature
Religious aspects
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Climate skeptics put forth many arguments against climate protection. Among them, two are particularly interesting from a theological point of view: First, climate protection is described as a new, secular religion, with dogmas and declared heretics and with a system of purchasable indulgence analogous to medieval Catholicism. Second, this "climate-religion" gains its power largely from inducing fear -fear of apocalyptic catastrophes coming soon if people won't change their lifestyles fundamentally. The article, written in a perspective of theological ethics, does not deny the skeptics' analysis of climate protection as religion. It rejects, however, the underlying negative evaluation of any religion as behind the times and as lacking any rationality, providing evidence for the reasonability of "climate religion". Keywords apocalypse, climate skeptics, fear, hope, religion, sustainability, timescale
ISSN:0940-5550
DOI:10.14512/gaia.23.2.6