Slow going

Despite all that, and the fact that 90% of us say we believe in God, most Americans appear reluctant to begin making the sacrifices necessary to address global warming. Evangelical Christian leaders in particular seem to be dragging their heels. So, why the hesitation? Why aren't more Christians trading their SUVs for hybrids, turning down the thermostat and writing letters to Congress?

First, our political loyalties get in the way. Evangelical Christians tend to vote Republican, and party leaders such as the president and vice president have been outspoken in their skepticism about the urgency of the global climate crisis.

Then, there's money. In the short run at least, it simply costs more to go green. Hybrid cars, fluorescent bulbs and alternative energy sources don't come cheap. Until substantial government incentives or market forces change that equation, many Americans will opt to save a buck rather than the environment.

There's also the fact that for many Christians, the Bible appears contradictory on the subject of global warming. Didn't Jesus say there would be wars and rumors of wars, famine and earthquakes before he could return? Isn't that exactly what the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is predicting? For millions of Christians, the world's downward spiral into political and ecological chaos may appear a necessary prerequisite to the second coming of Christ.

The problem with this fabled passage from Matthew 24 is that few of us bother to read what comes immediately before it. Jesus was responding to a series of questions. One was about his so-called second coming and the end of the age, but first and foremost was the disciples' inquiry about the destruction of the Jewish temple. Jesus had just shocked the disciples by telling them that soon "there will not be left here one stone standing upon another."

The temple was indeed destroyed after the Jewish rebellion some 40 years later. And, in those chaotic days before the Roman general Titus sacked Jerusalem, most of the things Christians associate with Christ's second coming came to pass. War, famine, messianic pretenders, the whole bit. As for his second coming, Jesus said it would be like a "thief" in the night. Thieves seldom announce their entry.

A moral question

Yet the biggest barrier to energizing people of faith to fight global warming with the same vigor we fought racism is probably moral sloth. Ethical indolence.

Living a moral life is hard work. Just ask your priest or rabbi. Riding the bus takes longer, and that means getting up earlier. Walking to work can get you sweaty or muss your hair. Riding a bike can get you run over. Even writing a letter to your senator can cause you to miss 15 minutes of the ballgame.

Plus, we have some excuses. The science is confusing. Al Gore is a Democrat.

We also have at least one legitimate reason. Much of the problem lies beyond our control. China, for example, will soon surpass the USA as the largest producer of greenhouse gases. The Chinese are building an astonishing number of coal-burning power plants. Nearly 50 per year! Worse yet, the Chinese plants are only half as efficient as their U.S. counterparts. Already, China is burning more coal than the United States, Russia, India and Japan combined.

Instead of throwing up our hands, this should motivate religious people to do more. Aren't Christians, Muslims and Jews all commanded to love our neighbors as ourselves? Consider for a moment that more than 10 million Chinese still have no electricity. Imagine that. Perhaps we should be helping them build nuclear power plants as a clean alternative energy source. Perhaps we should start rebuilding some of our own nuclear plants.

People of faith have been at the forefront of nearly every great social movement in U.S. history, starting with the abolitionist movement. The jury is still out on whether we will rise to the occasion this time. Let's hope we turn out to be smarter than cancer.