SRP: Saving Us by Katharine Hayhoe Photo-essay by Adriana Guarraggi

Which of Katherine Hayhoe's anecdotes about communicating with people who are/were hostile to the idea of climate change was most relatable for you?

guarraa4 — 2024-08-09 00:24:48 UTC

guarraa4 — 2024-08-09 00:38:50 UTC

One of the many recurring topics discussed in this book was the connection between climate change and religion. Katharine Hayhoe, a devout follower of the Christian faith, shared her struggle when she expressed the severity and seriousness of climate change to her fellow members. Most church members found that intertwining science and religion would cause conflict, whereas Hayhoe found science and religion to complement each other. On numerous occasions, Hayhoe quotes parts of the Bible that directly argue against the ignorance of people who suggest that God is in control.

How does this relate to me?

guarraa4 — 2024-08-09 00:40:24 UTC

I can relate to the urgency Hayhoe expresses as she tries to lead these seasoned members of the Christian church out of ignorance. In today's society, I have seen and experienced many times older, more religiously traditional generations refusing to open their minds to modern concepts and deeper interpretations of older material such as scriptures from the Bible.

Since global warming has never been relevant or posed such a visible issue in our world until now, applying Bible verses to modern conflicts such as climate change seems outlandish. The main argument of non-believers in climate change is that God is in control, which is a bit ironic since the Bible states that God has given humans responsibility over Earth which of course includes its climate. In my experience, communicating with older generations (Baby Boomers and previous generations) many of them dismiss urgent problems by simply stating they aren't concerned since they will most likely not be around to see the effects of some pressing issues our modern world is facing today. Accurate? Absolutely. Admirable? Absolutely not.

This brings me to my last point. Christians are expected to take care of the sick, poor, and hungry. These instructions have no expiration date or require you to be of a certain age. Every follower and believer of the Christian religion is expected to care for those who fall under those categories till the day they die. Coincidentally, the sick, poor, and hungry are the direct human targets of climate change. With that being said, the failure to take care of our climate is a direct correlation to the failure to love thy neighbor, a main pillar of the Christian faith.

One of my biggest takeaways from Hayhoe has been her amazing ability to communicate to a wide audience containing a variety of people and their beliefs. Communication between generations is not easy being that each party has majorly different priorities. However, we must find a way to make our argument powerful and relatable in order for all generations to take action against conflicts that affect all of us.

guarraa4 — 2024-08-14 17:49:00 UTC

"Climate change disproportionately affects the poor, the hungry, and the sick, the very ones the Bible instructs us to care and love... Climate change amplifies hunger and poverty, increasing risks of resource scarcity that can in turn exacerbate political instability and even create or worsen refugee crises." (Hayhoe 18)

guarraa4 — 2024-08-14 17:52:45 UTC

"Failing to care about climate change is a failure to love. What is more Christian than to be a good steward of the planet and love our global neighbor as ourselves? "(Hayhoe 19)

guarraa4 — 2024-08-14 17:56:52 UTC

"One of the most frequent "Christian" arguments I hear is that God is in control, so humans can't affect something as big as the Earth." (Hayhoe 24)