Climate justice: Some reading suggestions

The Evangelical Alliance is running a seminar at Ridley College on climate change this weekend. (See here for details.)

I am slowly working through Romans 8 (and hence Genesis 1) and try to make sense on this issue from a biblical perspective. I find this issue exceedingly complex because it cuts across several disciplines: Bible, theology, economics, climate science, and indeed politics.

The following are some suggested readings (especially for those from an evangelical tradition, and most of my friends are in that tradition).

• Creation in Crisis edited by Robert S White. I haven't read this yet. But I have read Robert White's Cambridge Paper at The Jubilee Centre in the UK about a Christian view on creation care. I think it's of very good value. The contributors to the book include scientists, theologians, and development practitioners from different continents. They include C Rene Padilla, Michael Northcott, Richard Bauckham, Douglas Moo and his son Jonathan Moo.

• Christopher J H Wright's Old Testament Ethics and the Mission of God both have a chapter on the issue. I find Christopher Wright a gentle and careful scholar who can communicate at a popular level.

• My former colleague Brett Parris has written a list of Responses to Questions and Objections to Climate Change. Brett has degrees in geology, theology (BTh from ACT, I think) and a PhD in economics. He is a good thinking and a fine Christian. Click here for the link.

Book notice: Another Way to Love

Here are what people say about the book (Another Way to Love: Christian Social Reform and Global Poverty) I mentioned earlier. It should be available at the book stores soon. Click here for more information.

"Jesus once told a moving story of a wealthy person who ended up in hell, not because he was wealthy, but because he ignored a poor man named Lazarus who lived right at his gate. In our global village, there are many people just like Lazarus living at our gate. The authors of this excellent book seek to stir us afresh with God’s heart for the poor and needy. With theological insight, historical perspective, and contemporary case studies, they seek to move us to action in addressing the critical social issues of our time."
MARK CONNER, Senior Minister Melbourne City Life Church

“The real question is not whether religious faith should influence a society and its politics, but how? Another Way to Love helps to answer this question. It provides the biblical foundation for social engagement as well as practical examples grounded in World Vision’s long experience opposing poverty and injustice around the world. This is a valuable book that brings together Christian thought and action.”
JIM WALLIS, Author, speaker and founder of Sojourners USA

"Can any theme be more important today than finding a new way to love people in a world that suffers and hurts because of poverty and injustice? This remarkable compilation enables some of the most thoughtful and committed Christians to share their insights and experiences with us in ways that not only inspire and inform, but also encourage us to find our own ways not to miss out in joining what is on God’s heart today. This is a must read for any follower of Jesus who wants to be both relevant to the needs facing our planet and be faithful to our Lord."
ASH BARKER, Director of Urban Neighbours Of Hope and author of Make Poverty Personal.

Here are the chapters in the book:

Don't Trade Lives - Child Slavery by Tim Costello (CEO of World Vision Australia)
A Passion for Hope and Justice by Tim Costello (World Vision)
Climate Change by Dr Brett Parris (World Vision)
A Theological Approach to Social Reform, Advocacy and Engagement by Dr Andrew Cameron (Moore College)
The Nature of Poverty and Development by Dr Jayakumar Christian (National Director of World Vision Inida)
Fair Trade by Rod Yule and Peter Weston (World Vision)
Make Poverty History - Trade, Aide and Debt Relief by Rev Angus McLeay (Anglican minister) and Fiona McLeay (World Vision)
Micah Challenge - Voices for Justice by Amanda Jackson (Micah Challenge)
Voice to the Voiceless by Bill Walker (World Vision)
Christianity and Social Reform by Dr Mark Hutchinson (Southern Cross College)
The Old Testament and Christian Social Engagement by Dr Andrew Sloan (Morling College)
Good News to the Poor by Siu Fung Wu (World Vision)

Climate Change Day Conference

A day conference on climate change will be held at St Hilary's Anglican Church in Kew, Vic. One of the speakers is Dr Brett Parris, who holds a Bachelor degree in Theology and a PhD in Economics. He is the Chief Economist at World Vision. I think the conference will be good. Click here for the church website for more information, and here for a brochure.