A Theological Examination of Radical Environmentalism

Most Christians haven't considered seriously the issue of environmentalism from a Biblical viewpoint. Sadly, as a result, many are being led to embrace an environmentalist agenda as defined by Post-Modern and Leftist forces at odds with the traditional Christian worldview. As churches are increasingly given to the anti-Christ ideologies of Modernity (the world), they seek to become “culturally relevant”, which is at its core an inverted perspective on evangelism- the world reaches inside the Church, rather than the Church reaching out to the world with its mission to save souls out of it. If the educated, informed Christian dares question the many pseudo-religious dogmas touted as scientific fact by the militant Marxist forces of the radical environmentalist movement, they're looked upon as "Alt Right" (a term currently being stretched far out of its true context in accurately describing the various racial idolaters), and often find their morality and ethics (not to mention sanity) called into question. In fact, former United States Attorney General Lynch considered charging climate change “deniers” with what amounts to thought crimes. According to a report in the Daily Signal she "referred it to the FBI to consider whether or not it meets the criteria for which we could take action." Again, this literally criminalizes thought and discerning, critical opinion. It is outlawing logical and reasonable dissent while fallaciously claiming a moral high ground.

We may legitimately ask then, from what source has this radical Marxist environmental movement gained it's "moral" position and it's ability to criminalize (even if only rhetorically at the moment) its critics? Could it be that the radical environmentalist movement is part of a pseudo-religion, and thus can attempt to assert moral positions?

The radical environmentalist movement does possess a neo-pagan mythology that goes something like this: the foul inventions and aspirations of humanity, influenced by Christian values, moving the people away from respect for the planet, have destroyed our natural world, assaulting Gaia- the Great Mother. This Gaia was once a paradise (an Eden if you will) until the greed and parasitic presence of Man poisoned her. In essence we are witnessing the results of our species based sins, our wounding of the Great Mother Gaia with pollution, deforestation, and ultimately climate change, threatening the existence of all life on the planet.

This mythology implies a moral and a religious message, though many of these radical environmentalists would likely bristle at being referred to as an animistic/pantheistic cult. They much prefer to redefine paganism with a new vocabulary of more political and scientific import, calling themselves "Progressive Environmentalists," rather than pantheists or panentheists, which is what they truly are. As usual, this particular spoke in the wheel of Modernity is heavily promoted by the media- the "prophets" of the modern world. Given the Marxist leanings of the film industry in particular, it is no surprise we have seen this sort of propaganda surface in media with more frequency. For example, we see it in films and television programs such as Star Trek, Doctor Who, and the blockbuster film Avatar. Avatar itself is essentially a modern pagan myth promoting the agenda of the radical environmentalists. The film is filled with the caricatures we've come to expect from the Marxist media propaganda machine, depicting evil business men and government officials, all exploiting the planet.

The political world too promotes this neo-Darwinian pantheism and politically Marxist movement. A good example is former President George Bush, who campaigned in 1988 as the country's environmental president. In fact, each and every president in recent memory has stated their deep commitment to the environmentalist cause, such is the attention they command. Legislation has been introduced and often passed to control emissions, so-called "man-made" climate change, deforestation, and other "Gaia friendly" laws and regulations. We are even seeing the promotion of so-called “carbon credits”. Oddly enough, even while implementing the agenda of the Marxist Environmentalists, the government has taken serious steps to stop the production of non-GMO seeds, organic food products and natural herbal remedies. Some states have seen the police and other federal law enforcement agencies literally raid and arrest people selling farm raised fruits and vegetables at farmers markets. Private individuals have been arrested and fined for growing vegetable gardens on their property, or for collecting rainwater. Even the Amish have been raided by the FBI merely for selling farm fresh milk. This tells us that the central issue for government backing of environmental laws and regulations has little to do with preserving the planet and everything to do with increasing the scope of control- in this case the production of food.

Historical Perspective

The modern environmentalist movement began in the 1960's as an ecological panic promoted by Marxist organizations. Its historical roots however can be found in the earlier Conservationist movement which arose at the turn of the century. Conservationists like Theodore Roosevelt were "conservative" only in the sense that they were slower about enacting their deeply held radical convictions, keeping them somewhat hidden from public scrutiny. Like most Progressives, who are in reality Marxist authoritarians, they believed that the federal government should be managing land and natural resources because the people were ignorant, and were going to destroy them. The more current brand of radical environmentalists no longer hide the Marxism of their agenda, and the goal of state regulation and control, even if that means the destruction of jobs, the economy, homes, etc. A good example is former President Barack Hussein Obama's closing down of coal plants, which in turn closed down mining, and has had a very negative impact on both the economy and power production. In pursuit of the Globalist tyranny they have managed to gain control of environmental and economic regulatory agencies and U.S. federal courts in order to force society to submit to their Marxist agenda. One of the central problems with this movement's aims is that it is based somewhat on the philosophical presupposition that any problems with society and culture are the result of a faulty social system that doesn't understand the interconnection of humanity and planet, animals and humanity. In the minds of the most radical of this movement, humans are evil enemies of the animal kingdom. Some have even advocated a reduction in human population to allow animals more living space.

Lest we think the church is safe, it too has been touched by the efforts of the radical environmentalists.

Pope John Paul II wrote:

“I wrote that man cannot 'make arbitrary use of the earth, subjecting it without restraint to his will, as though it did not have its own requisites and a prior God-given purpose, which man can indeed develop but must not betray'. For Brazil, environmental protection is most of all the right to protection of life.” 

He has also referred to the Earth as our Mother in his encyclical Evangelium Vitae, decrying its use in human development. 

“Nature itself, from being "mater" (mother), is now reduced to being "matter", and is subjected to every kind of manipulation.”

The Georgia Guidestones, and the teachings of the current Roman Catholic pope, Francis I, reflect this Marxist ideology. For a clear example I refer my reader to the papal encyclical, Laudato Si, penned by this, the most Leftist pope in history.

Churches all over the country are engaging in “Green ministries”, designed to wed the gospel to the social justice platform of Marxism. As Rod Dreher wrote in "The Benedict Option":

"A church that looks, and talks, and sounds just like the world has no reason to exist."

Many of the radicals in the movement blame Christianity for the destruction of the planet. This comes as no surprise considering this movement is at its core anti-Christian. The ultimate end of such philosophy is the destruction of humanity itself. An example of this is the aforementioned Georgia Guidestones, which states that the goal of the Globalist is to:

“Maintain humanity under 500,000,000 in perpetual balance with nature.”

What You Must Know

It is important that Christians recognize and understand the political and spiritual nature of this movement and respond to it appropriately. The Fall of Man is intimately connected to the earth itself. Before the Fall, we did not have to work for our food. The earth produced its fruits of its own accord. However, after the Fall, Sacred Scripture informs us in the Book of Genesis that the earth and our relationship thereto changed.

The Church Father, Ireanaeus, writing on this topic, expressed it this way:

"But man received, as the punishment for his transgression, the toilsome task of tilling the earth, to eat bread in the sweat of his face, and to return to the dust from where he was taken."

The Fall of Man had a negative impact not just on the human race, but on the planet (indeed the cosmos) as well. What had been a paradise now produced thorns and thistles. Essentially the earth began to degenerate along with humanity. Justin Martyr wrote:

"God ordained that, if man kept this (the command not to eat the fruit), he would partake of immortal existence. However, if he transgressed it, his lot would be just the opposite. Having been made in this manner (with moral agency), man soon went toward transgression. And so he naturally became subject to corruption. Therefore, corruption became inherent in nature."

When Adam fell he took the entire human race, and the entirety of creation with him. However, just as God provided for Man the atonement in and through Christ, that atonement will eventually redeem the cosmos as well. The future restoration of the earth is assured through Christ. (Rev. 21:1)

When Christ returns to establish His Earthly Kingdom, the entire cosmos will be redeemed to Himself; created anew, its paradisaical nature restored.

What Do We Do?

So what should we do in the meantime? We can and should certainly care for our environment, but not through radical Marxist or neo-pagan pogroms, nor through political activism, but by using common sense approaches, realizing the planet is fallen and will be restored under Christ's dominion, not ours. This does not, however, relieve us of any responsibility to the environment. The soil is a sacred trust. If we understand that we are the custodians of the earth, and this given to us by the Almighty Sovereign, then we can clearly see the importance of the preservation of this precious gift. Our ancestors were born on this soil, took their sustenance from the fruits of this soil, grew on this soil, as do we. The forests speak to us of our Creator, the fields of His provision, and the beauty in flowers and fauna as a reflection of the beauty of God. In times past, our cultures understood this, as they were predominantly agrarian, and so appreciated the careful balance of all life. I would also agree with the radical environmentalist that, for example, the Industrial Revolution, for all its pluses, has contributed more to the destruction of our natural environment than any other invention or idea of Man. They key is balance- something we have lost as our cultures shifted away from small village life, with local farms and markets, to the factories and artificially processed foods and supermarkets of Modernity.

By way of mitigating a finite portion of this loss of connection to the soil, I strongly encourage Christians to begin to plant vegetable gardens with your children, fostering in them a love of the Creator and connection with, and appreciation for, His Creation. At the very least you will have food in times of trouble provided by nature, so as to better appreciate such a blessing. It is also a wonderful way to bond with your children and share the Genesis account of creation. I would also suggest that Christians take seriously the "Benedict Option", and begin to seriously work toward cooperative villages, far removed from industrial centers and large metropolises. This would be, in my opinion, the best alternative to an existence in our present dying civilization.