The creators of the Creation Museum have produced another response to popular science-backed claims on an issue that has greatly divided Christians in the United States.
“Global Warming: A Scientific and Biblical Expos of Climate Change” was released by Answers in Genesis and Coral Ridge Ministries on DVD last week in an effort to counter Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth,” which asserts that that global warming is real, potentially catastrophic, and human-caused.
While the new documentary confirms evidence of global warming, it emphasizes that the phenomenon is “minute in scale,” and reassures audiences that the Earth is not headed for catastrophic flooding as predicted by former vice-president Gore.
“I think Christians need to have a balanced view of global warming,” said Answers in Genesis staff astrophysicist Dr. Jason, who is among those who lent their expertise to the discussion. “On the one hand, it is something that we should be interested in and concerned about, because God has given us dominion over this Earth and we are to be good stewards of it. At the same time, we know that God takes care of the Earth as well, and it is something that is self-maintaining to some extent.”
In recent years, Christians have become a growing force in the climate change debate with many prominent leaders supporting the idea that global warming is mainly human caused and urging the U.S. government to pass laws to reduce greenhouse gases. They argue that "creation care" is a biblical mandate and some, like the Rev. Richard Cizik of the National Association of Evangelicals, equate the issue with the sanctity of life in importance and urgency.
Opponents of the popular global warming view, however, say that until all scientists can agree that global warming is as severe as some claim and that it is mainly human-induced, they are against any policies that would raise energy costs because they could put the lives of millions in jeopardy based on uncertain or debatable scientific evidence.
“We need to not buy into the viewpoint just because of the intensity of the argument,” claims Institute for Creation Research meteorologist Dr. Larry Vardiman.
While not a scientist, Dr. Richard Land with the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission also weighed in on the climate change issue for “Global Warming,” agreeing with the idea that humans are to care for the Earth. But the influential evangelical leader also said it is important not to elevate the creation above the Creator.
A similar sentiment is shared by supporters of the “We Get It!” campaign, who argue that humans are responsible for looking out for the environment but first and foremost for their fellow man, which is the jewel of God’s creation.
In addition to investigating possible causes of climate change, the “Global Warming” documentary considers what the appropriate response should be for humans worried about their environment. Topics include greenhouse gases and CO2 levels, and whether or not their impact on global warming is significant or even something that needs to be addressed. Other possible causes, such as solar emissions, are considered as well.
The DVD also reminds audiences of the overreaction in the 1970s to Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring, which purported that DDT, one of the best known synthetic pesticides, caused cancer and other mortal ills far more dangerous than the malaria-infested mosquitoes it killed.
“Malaria had almost been eradicated, but as a result of the response to this book, DDT use was halted,” promoters of “Global Warming” note. “Since then, it has been determined that DDT was not nearly as harmful as Carson stated, and now malaria kills over one million people a year.”
Last year, Answers in Genesis drew media attention nationwide when it opened the doors to its 60,000 square-foot Creation Museum, which features the Bible’s literal account of creation as aligned with natural history.
The museum’s opening in Petersburg, Ky., also revived the creation and evolution debate among Young Earth creationists, Old Earth creationists, anti-creationism evolutionists, and theistic evolutionists.
