Author: Wolfgang Rehfus

Date: Easter Sunday, 12.4.2020

1. chapter: 12.4.2020
2. chapter: 4.8.2020
3. chapter: 18.10.2021
4. chapter: 4.8.2020
5. chapter: 3.3.2023

Updated: Easter Sunday, 9.4.2023
 

Each year Easter Sunday, Resurrection Sunday, is a good opportunity to ponder, to follow the resurrection of Jesus Christ and to rise as well into a new life, filled with the love of God and in the consciousness of the beginning.

 ●  Reflections on Corona and Easter

 ●  In the Beginning ...  A thorough and comprehensive Bible study on the beginning

1. Take care of the paradise

2. Eat grains, plants and fruits as provided by nature

3. Don't attempt to know everything

The first three commandments in the bible

 ●  The Blessing ...  The Blessing Aotearoa, nation of peace, global and local views

 ●  Laudato Si’ ...  "LAUDATO SI’, mi’ Signore" – "Praise be to you, my Lord"

 ●  You are Guardians ...  Golden Bay High School, World Day of Prayer 2023, Eco Church NZ

 ●  PS ...

Pakawau Beach Park,

Easter Sunday, 12.4.2020

Corona-Easter

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Reflections on Corona and Easter  ¹⁾

Here at Pakawau Beach Park during the Corona Lockdown at the beach, the full moon rises in the evening and the sun rises in the morning, birds singing in the air, the tide is coming and going perfectly, not too low and not too high, the earth is breathing peacefully and heavenly, the air is wonderful fresh and clean (even above some large cities around the world) and it feels to me like God’s creation is starting to heal during these quiet and humble days. Besides all the troubles, there is so much to be grateful, joyful and also humbled for.

Is it possible, that we overlook the larger picture of a world coming to rest, a world coming to sleep and hopefully to heal? Had we not been way over-busy lately, for quite long actually? Had we not been running our ‘engines’ too long, too loud and too dirty, all around the world? Is this Corona caused Easter break not really a heavenly gift for the world to heal, somehow for God's Creation to heal?

Why a corona, why putting the world on rest and do self-isolation exactly over Easter? At the beginning Jesus went into the desert, into self-isolation to talk with his Father and to resist the temptations. Are we following Him and trying to do likewise, are we using this break consciously similar? On Good Friday they had put a crown of thorns, kind of a corona, onto His head. The events over Easter 2000 years ago finally served the overwhelming purpose of cleansing and healing. The crown of thorns, the corona, was not the purpose, not the issue, it was only a part of and the beginning on the path to cleansing and healing. 2000 years ago, all of this had been overlooked and was not understood by most. This year a Corona had been put onto mankind all around the world and we might ask what could be our task during and after this prolonged Easter in self-isolation? Is there a greater purpose or opportunity for cleansing and healing once again?

Some voices already proclaim to return and to reopen the economy and businesses as quickly as possible or as I read in the news for example to increase dairy to fill the losses in tourism.

I wonder what comes out of it, I wonder whether we will continue or even increase our destructive, pollutive and unhealthy activities or whether we will start to focus and build on our good, positive and healthy activities?

I wonder whether we should remember the book of Genesis with the first instruction regarding to take care of the paradise we share and live in and the second instruction regarding our food (seed-bearing plants, grains from the fields and fruits from the trees)? ^{2) and 3)}

And I wonder whether the world in general and New Zealand in particular might use this Corona-Easter as an opportunity and start to live truly sustainable and in harmony with nature, which means in harmony with God's Creation and therefore with God Himself, and to build up a so-called green economy? ³⁾

«My Father ... may your will be done.» - Amen

¹⁾ A first version of these reflections was published in the Pastoral Letter during Level 4 (Covid-19 Lockdown) by Knox Church, Christchurch, New Zealand, 14.4.2020 KnoxChurch.co.nz. Later this article had been mentioned and linked in their Pastoral Newsletter, 10.9.2020.

The first paragraph is also published in Animal Tales of Golden Bay, written and illustrated during lockdown by Claire Rose (published August 2020), to expand this creative educational children’s book with the question: «What kind of world do we want to leave to those who come after us, to children who are now growing up?» ²¹⁾

Claire Rose writes in her book: «To our amazing God, who created all the incredibly diverse creatures for us to look after and enjoy, and who gifted all of us with our individual talents.»

²⁾ cf. «Then God said ... “Have many children, so that your descendents will live all over the earth and bring it under their control.» (Good News Translation) or «Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it.» (New Living Bible), Genesis 1:28

«God, the Lord, brought thus humans into the garden Eden. He transferred them the task to maintain and protect the garden.», Genesis 2:15

cf. «Then God said ... “I have provided all kinds of grain and all kinds of fruit for you to eat".» (Good News Translation) or «Then God said, “Behold, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit contains seed. They will be yours for food.», Genesis 1:29

³⁾ see further below the chapters In the beginning ... and Laudato Si’ ...

see also When it comes to peace today ...,

"When it comes to peace today, it is not only about military disarmament, but also about peace with nature – because we are already waging the third world war against nature and thus against ourselves and against our children.

We are a part of nature. Today, every day we exterminate 180 animal and plant species, lose 80,000 tons of fertile soil, increase deserts by an additional 50,000 hectares, and blow 150 million tons of greenhouse gases into the air. Every day!

The planet cannot withstand this in the long term...",

The future belongs to renewables (German original: Die Zukunft gehört den Erneuerbaren), Dr. Franz Alt, 19.11.2022

In the Beginning

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«The Creation» ⁵⁾

In the Beginning ...

«God, the Lord, brought thus humans into the garden Eden. He transferred them the task to maintain and protect the garden.» ^{4), 5)}

«No word of destruction was in God's speech! The creation history in the Old Testament is enormous and impressive. God created the light, separated the country from the water, let it become day and night, until he finally created life - plants, animals, humans.» ⁵⁾

A monk once said «Without faith in God every activity for environmental protection is ineffective, because the meaning is missing.» ⁶⁾ and we might ponder about it. However, let's start at the beginning and see what scripture tells.

The following is not intended to be all-explaining or all-knowing. It is intended to provide a basis for study, talk, thinking and understanding. It might help to recognise what God wants us to do, to recognise what is truly good for us, and it might be taken into account whenever we are called to make a decision, be it a political vote, a business decision or for example a private purchase.

In addition, the following is intended to bridge over and bring together those who have faith, but possibly don't seriously care for God's Creation, and those who stay away from churches (their private faith or belief not being questioned), but are engaged in caring and protecting our environment and nature.

The so-called «Ten Commandments» are fairly well known. ⁷⁾ However, often overlooked are the very first commandments or instructions provided by the bible in the book of Genesis.
 

⁴⁾ cf. Genesis 2:15

⁵⁾ cf. The book of pictures «The Creation» by Franz Alt with photos by Helfried Weyer is a special spirituell meditative journey (Franz Alt "Die Schöpfung", engl. "The Creation", Gütersloher Verlagshaus, ISBN: 978-3-579-06897-8).

⁶⁾ cf. Max Thürkauf - A prophet in the nuclear age, 8.4.2011 (link no longer available)

⁷⁾ cf. Exodus 20:1-17 and «The Sermon on the Mount ...», Matthew 5, 6, 7

1. Take care of the paradise

Why are you here?  Why are we here?

It is interesting to see, that the bible offers a very clear answer. It is the first task given by God, firstly as God’s intention and very purpose to create mankind at all, and then, after God created mankind, in the actual mandate to take care of the paradise.

God’s intention and purpose to create mankind:

«Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”» ^{Genesis 1:26 (New International Version)}

«Let us make mankind in our image, to be like us. Let them be masters over the fish in the ocean, the birds that fly, the livestock, everything that crawls on the earth, and over the earth itself!» ^{Genesis 1:26 (International Standard Version)}

God’s mandate given to humans to take care of the paradise:

«And God blessed them, and said, “Have many children, so that your descendents will live all over the earth and bring it under their control. I am putting you in charge of the fish, the birds, and all the wild animals.» ^{Genesis 1:28 (Good News Translation)}

 «Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”» ^{Genesis 1:28 (New Living Bible)}

This was the very first commandment in the beginning.

This mandate is explained a few verses later with «work, care, maintain, protect, cultivate and guard» and can be summarised as "Take care of the paradise".

«The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.» ^{Genesis 2:15 (New International Version) and 8)}

«The LORD God took the man and placed him in the orchard in Eden to care for it and to maintain it.» ^{Genesis 2:15 (NET Bible) and 8)}

«Then the LORD God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to cultivate (To work, to serve, till, enslave) and keep it (To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to).» ^{Genesis 2:15 (Commentaries Hebrew) and 8)}

«Then the Lord God placed the man in the garden of Eden to cultivate it and guard it.» ^{Genesis 2:15 (Good News Translation) and 8)}

God's great love for the world, the created paradise, is also reflected later in the famous words:

«For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son...»  ^{John 3:16 (Good News Translation)}, and we should emphasis this clearly «For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son...» which provides us with every reason to try doing similar in loving and caring.

This great love of God for the world, for God's created paradise, is truly important for us and for our consciousness, and it is necessary within us to carry out our God given vocation to "Take care of the paradise". This God given love is a natural part of the human heart (unless we are tempted by egoism and greed), it is very visible for example among young children observing and caring for a tiny little insect on the table (unless already taught by adults to simply wipe it off the table), and besides in the bible it is found in many other religions, spiritual traditions and books as well.

A lovely example is a book by the Dalai Lama «Heart to Heart: A Conversation on Love and Hope for Our Precious Planet». This book tells nicely how we can carry out our vocation as God-image-bearing humans ^{(see Genesis 1:26)} to "Take care of the paradise" ^{(see Genesis 1:28, Genesis 2:15 and reference 19 further below)}. The text in the following illustration, "True change in the world will come through a change of the heart alone.", refers to God's great love for the world, which God wrote into our hearts ^{(see «The new covenant...» in reference 18 further below)} and which we all are called to share.

See the German translation «Dalai Lama „Von Herz zu Herz“, Eine Geschichte von Hoffnung und Liebe zu unserer Erde – Der Dalai Lama und ein Panda erzählen, wie wir unsere Erde achten und schützen können.» on Sonnenseite.com, 8.4.2023

See «Heart to Heart: A Conversation on Love and Hope for Our Precious Planet», The Dalai Lama and a panda tell how we can respect and protect our Earth, «Complemented by charming illustrations, this book’s uplifting message is clear: while the planet’s forecast may be dire, each individual is able — and obligated — to harness personal power to help save it. This would make a life-affirming gift for people of all ages.», Publishers Weekly

⁸⁾ see further below in Laudato Si’ ... the paragraph 67 in "CHAPTER TWO: GOSPEL OF CREATION" on page 49 in the Pdf-copy of the encyclical (184 pages, 1 MB)

see also "When it comes to peace today, it is not only about military disarmament, but also about peace with nature – because we are already waging the third world war against nature and thus against ourselves and against our children.
We are a part of nature. Today, every day we exterminate 180 animal and plant species, lose 80,000 tons of fertile soil, increase deserts by an additional 50,000 hectares, and blow 150 million tons of greenhouse gases into the air. Every day!
The planet cannot withstand this in the long term...", The future belongs to renewables (German original: Die Zukunft gehört den Erneuerbaren), Dr. Franz Alt, 19.11.2022

Animal Tales of Golden Bay
"Colouring Edition", a beautifully illustrated educational children’s book by Claire Rose with animals telling their own stories and drawings for the children to colour, including a short annex with the «Reflections on Corona and Easter» above. Suitable for school, Sunday school and home education. See Publishing-Flyer (with sample page) and Cover pages of the above displayed "Colouring Edition".

Animal Tales of Golden Bay,
"Photo Edition", with the animal stories, drawings and photos. See Publishing-Flyer (with sample page) and Cover pages of the above displayed "Photo Edition".

An other Golden Bay animal tale:  Click the painting by Cath Welsh to see youtube video riding her wild horse swimming with a wild dolphin in Onekaka, Golden Bay, NZ, 1991

2. Eat grains, plants and fruits as provided by nature

After creating mankind and giving them the task to take care of the paradise, God expressed his love for all humans:

«Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.» ^{Genesis 1:29 (New International Version)}

«I have provided all kinds of grain and all kinds of fruit for you to eat;» ^{Genesis 1:29 (Good News Translation)}

This was the second commandment in the beginning.

God gave the food to be eaten as He provided it «for you to eat», which means fresh from the fields and fresh from the trees. In modern times however, most of our food is processed and refined for the purpose of storing it for an extended time, which is a prerequisite to run large scale food businesses. This processing and refining of the natural God-given food results in the loss of vital substances, causing health issues. The resulting so-called civilisation illnesses are especially caused by fabricated sugars, refined flours, fabricated fats and all the products containing those. In the beginning thousands of years ago and also 2000 years ago at the time of Jesus all this processing and refining of the natural food was simply not possible, as the technologies had not yet been invented. So it appears to be a good idea to look a little deeper into this, to stay away from these processed and refined food products and to eat healthy food as much as possible in the way it is provided by nature. ⁹⁾

It is interesting to see, that it was a very long time after the beginning, just after the flood, that the bible confirms a priority to eat grains, plants and fruits by declaring «As long as the world exists, there will be a time for planting and a time for harvest» ¹⁰⁾ and thereafter in God's Covenant with Noah that «All the animals ... Now you can eat them, as well as green plants...» ¹⁰⁾

The preference for a vegetarian diet remained and was highlighted in the first book of Daniel:

«But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or wine. So he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself. ... Please test your servants for ten days. Let us be given only vegetables to eat and water to drink. ... And at the end of ten days, they looked healthier and better nourished than all the young men who were eating the king’s food. ... To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding in every kind of literature and wisdom. And Daniel had insight into all kinds of visions and dreams. ... In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom. And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.» ¹⁰⁾

⁹⁾ see i.e. the short brochure GGB Healthy through the right food (original LVA brochure), updated English original,

... or directly the free older copy GGB Healthy through the right food (older copy, 10 MB PDF) ,

... both published by the Society for Health Advice GGB (Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsberatung e. V., GGB),

Wholemeal Bread Recipes:

1. Wholemeal Bread - simple, good & tasty

2. Wholemeal Psyllium Bread - simple, soft & moist

See more food and health information and links in the section Our Health and here (Vollwertig), including interesting information and links on some other health-related topics such as «5G-Internet», «Artificial intelligence (AI)» and electronically generated bass-amplified «boom-boom-boom» noise (bass-culture).

¹⁰⁾ cf. «As long as the world exists, there will be a time for planting and a time for harvest», Genesis 8:22, and thereafter «All the animals, birds, and fish will live in fear of you. They are all placed under your power. Now you can eat them, as well as green plants; I give them all to you for food. The one thing you must not eat is meat with blood still in it ... because the life is in the blood.», Genesis 9:2, 9:3, 9:4 (Good News Translation)

cf. «But Daniel made up his mind ... Let us be given only vegetables to eat and water to drink. ... they looked healthier and better nourished ... God gave knowledge and understanding in every kind of literature and wisdom. And Daniel had insight into all kinds of visions and dreams. ...», Daniel 1:8-21

see also «Moving to a more plant-based diet is one of the biggest ways to cut your personal carbon emissions, but some people find cutting out meat altogether tricky» in «The people living ultra low-carbon lifestyles», Future Planet | Climate, BBC, 5th May 2023

and «Another large-scale change in a two-tonne world would be to our diets – especially moving to plant-based diets, says Julia Steinberger, professor of ecological economics at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland. "These are often cheaper as well. They require a bit of experimentation and a learning curve – cooking based on lentils, beans, tofu and other forms of plant protein, rather than meat or dairy – but are achievable by all."» in The people living ultra low-carbon lifestyles, Future Planet | Climate, BBC, 5th May 2023

and i.e. The climate benefits of veganism and vegetarianism, BBC, 29.4.2022

3. Don't attempt to know everything

After creating mankind, giving them the task to take care of the paradise and providing food for all humans, God has set a restriction:

«You may eat the fruit of any tree in the garden ^{Genesis 2:16}, except the tree that gives knowledge of what is good and what is bad.» ^{Genesis 2:17 (Good News Translation)}

«..., but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil» ^{Genesis 2:17 (New International Version)}

«..., except the one that has the power to let you know the difference between right and wrong.» ^{Genesis 2:17 (Contemporary English Version)}

«..., except the tree that gives knowledge of everything». ^{Genesis 2:17 (Good News Translation Footnote 2.17), see also i.e. "Tree of the knowledge of good and evil", Wikipedia}

This was the third commandment in the beginning.

This third commandment might be reflected upon regarding various activities and sciences of modern times.

More than ever, we attempt to know everything. But we are not God, we are humans, therefore we couldn't even handle to know everything, could we? Possibly we already achieved way too much knowledge, possibly we were and still are 'eating' too much from the tree of knowledge, and it appears that we sort of know too much and are not wise enough to handle that in a responsible way.

Examples are genetically engineering, agro chemistry (i.e. Glyphosat, Roundup, ...), nuclear technologies (nuclear energy and weapons) and the immense consumption of fossil energies, but also industrially produced and highly processed food, exaggerations regarding Internet, artificial intelligence (AI) and global 5G networks, or electronically generated bass-amplified «boom-boom-boom» noise (still called music by some). ⁹⁾

These might be examples of destructive human activities, some with uncontrollable or unknown consequences or effects on God's Creation, nature, health or wellbeing. However, quite often the consequences are very well known, but ignored for short term business profits (i.e. the polluting and peace-threatening effects of fossil and nuclear energies, or the health issues caused by processed and refined food such as fabricated sugar, refined flour and fabricated fats and all products containing those). ⁹⁾

This third commandment might also be reflected upon in the context of spiritual and religious claims by some who think to know the truth, the overall truth. God gave us a slice of truth to know and it appears very wise that God told us to stay away from attempting to know everything. We are just humans and simply can't know everything, neither in the smallest particles nor in the most far away galaxies, and certainly not in spiritual matters. There will always be something inside the smallest particle and beyond the most far away galaxy, and certainly something unknown above or in addition to any spiritual belief.

Some churches are waking up. The Anglican Church Nelson Diocese recently explained the book of Job (in which God shows limitations of human knowledge and understanding) being «a sober reminder that when it comes to the natural world, there are things we don't understand. The world is a vastly intricate, interconnected place. The appropriate human response is reverent awe and caution.» ¹¹⁾

This naturally given limitation of our knowledge is also confirmed and reflected in many bible verses telling us not to judge, but to live humbled in faith, trust and humility. This is explained for example with the words «... What I know now is only partial ... Meanwhile these three remain: faith, hope, love: and the greatest of these is love.» which refer to the highest commandment given to us and explained by Jesus. ¹²⁾

For example, we do not know the reasons why each one of us had been born in a different social, cultural and religious environment or country. We can only be faithful and trust that there are good reasons for this. Beside others, perhaps one reason for this existing cultural and religious variety is to learn to respect and to tolerate other people with love and compassion in our heart, independent of their faith, belief, religion or world view. ¹³⁾

This love and compassion in our heart refers to the greatest commandment given to us, which was lived and explained again and again by Jesus, who taught «Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ... Love your neighbour as yourself. ... Love your enemies...». ¹²⁾

We may ponder about it and realise, that the highest commandments to «Love the Lord your God» and to «Love your neighbour» cannot be fulfilled without following the very first commandment to «Take care of the paradise» as well. All three are deeply interrelated to each other and cannot be separated. How could someone claim to love the creator while destroying or not caring for the creator’s creation? How could someone claim to love the neighbour while destroying the neighbour’s foundation of life? Both is not possible. As such the first commandment to «Take care of the paradise» can well be viewed as the foundation, prerequisite or starting point to obey the highest commandments «Love the Lord your God» and «Love your neighbour».

As we live here in this world on earth, we can only try to obey the greatest commandment «Love the Lord your God, Love your neighbour» very humbly and with humility within the framework of the very first commandment in the bible to take care of God's Creation (which of course does include ourselves, all human beings, thus for example the second commandment in the bible to eat as provided by God). How could we love our neighbour as ourselves without caring for God's Creation? This is not possible, so this greatest commandment of all, to love one another, is not only paramount but logical.

¹¹⁾ cf. «In Celebration of Whale Poo», Courtnay Wilson, Creation Care Enabler at Anglican Church Nelson Diocese, 4.11.2021

and see «Then out of the storm the Lord spoke to Job ... “Were you there when I made the world? If you know so much, tell me about it. ... Who decided how large it would be? ... What holds up the pillars that support the earth? ... Job, have you ever in all your life commanded a day to dawn? ... Have you..., Do you know..., Can you..., Who is it...», Job 38, Job 39, «Job, you challenged Almighty God; will you give up now, or will you answer? Job: I spoke foolishly, Lord. What can I answer?...», Job 40

see also A Rocha Aotearoa New Zealand, "part of the A Rocha family of Christian environmental conservation organisations currently active in over 20 countries around the world."

and Eco Church New Zealand, "Churches across Aotearoa New Zealand actively caring for God’s earth as an integral part of their mission."

and see more related info and links at reference ¹⁹⁾ below.

¹²⁾ cf. «Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ... Love your neighbor as yourself.»,
Matthew 22:37, 22:38, 22:39, compare this with Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18

and «Love your enemies, do good too those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you.»,
Luke 6:27, 6:28

and «The Sermon on the Mount ... love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?», Matthew 5:44, 5:45, 5:46, also translated as «... Why should God reward you if you love only the people who love you? ...» (Good News Translation)

and «Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.», Matthew 5:9 and the entire «The Sermon on the Mount», Matthew 5, 6, 7

and see also e.g. «Jesus and the Samaritan woman», John 4, and «The arrest of Jesus: ... Put your sword back in its place, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.», Matthew 26:52

and watch the movie «The Chosen», «Come and see what they saw. Welcome to the first-ever multi-season series about the life of Christ. The free show tens of millions of people won’t stop talking about.»; for example the episodes «I Am He» (Season 1, Episode 8) and «Thunder» (Season 2, Episode 1) with examples regarding «Love your neighbor» and «Love your enemies»; Angel Studios, 2021

and see also «In the last days ...
They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord.!», Isaiah 2:2-5

and see «I may have ... but if I have no love, I am nothing. ... What I see now is like a dim image in a mirror ... What I know now is only partial ... Meanwhile these three remain: faith, hope, love: and the greatest of these is love.», 1 Corinthians 13:2, 13:12, 13:13 (Good News Translation)

¹³⁾ see e.g. «Love your neighbour as yourself», published after the Christchurch mosque attacks, with additional links, Dolphin's Design Wolfgang W. Rehfus, March 2019

see also e.g. the explicit blessing of Moslems «But God said, ... As for Ishmael, I have heard you, and I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He will become the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation.», Genesis 17:20

and «Ishmael (Arabic: إسماعيل‎, Ismā‘īl) is the figure known in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam as Abraham's (Ibrahim) son, born to Hagar (Hajar). In Islam, Ishmael is regarded as a prophet (nabi) and an ancestor to Muhammad.», Ishmael in Islam and Ishmaelites, Wikipedia, and see also What does the Bible say about Muslims / Islam?, Bibleinfo.com

and see also «God, who made the world and everything in it, ... he created all races of people and made them live throughout the whole earth. He himself fixed beforehand the exact times and the limits of the places where they would live.», Acts 17:24, 17:26 (Good News Translation)

and see i.e. «So God made the two larger lights, the sun to rule over the day and the moon to rule over the night; he also made the stars.», Genesis 1:16 and «...the sun, the moon, and the stars. The Lord your God has given these to all other peoples for them to worship.», Deuteronomy 4:19 (Good News Translation)

and see «Divine Diversity, When the Gospel message goes out into the whole world, it's literally for the whole world. ... That God favours diversity should come as no surprise. When the Spirit comes at Pentecost, those on whom the Spirit descended “began to speak in other languages” (plural) so that all those in the crowd “heard them speaking in the native language of each”. ... Diversity, rather than uniformity, is affirmed ...», Courtnay Wilson, Creation Care Enabler at Anglican Church Nelson Diocese, 1.3.2023

Greta Thunberg, «Greta Thunberg full speech at UN Climate Change COP24 Conference», Youtube, 15.12.2018, «15 year old activist Greta Thunberg speaks truth to power at the UN COP24 climate talks.»

How a 16-Year-Old Is Leading a Global Climate Movement
Youtube, 15.4.2019, «For hundreds of thousands of young people around the world, Greta Thunberg is an icon. Greta’s actions have earned her a Nobel Peace Prize nomination and speaking engagements at the World Economic Forum and COP24 - but most importantly, they’ve encouraged students from all over the globe to stand up for Earth and their futures.»

Greta Thunberg: A Year to Change the World: More science, less Swedish teen, Stuff NZ, James Croot, 27.6.2021

Greta Thunberg: A Year to Change the World, TVNZ, 2021

"There are no longer any singular crises today. It's time to acknowledge that and address the underlying systemic issues. It has never been more obvious that we need an energy transition." (translated with DeepL), Luisa Neubauer (Fridays for Future Germany) über Klima und Krisen, TAZ, 24.3.2022

How Fridays for Future keeps the climate relevant as other crises rage, DW AKADEMIE (Deutsche Welle), 25.03.2022

Great Barrier Reef: Australia confirms new mass bleaching event ("...water temperatures ... up to 4C above the March average."), BBC, 25.3.2022

Xiuhtezcatl Martinez, «What Are We Fighting For?», Youtube video with speech at Bioneers 2016, Xiuhtezcatl Martinez gave this speech at age 16, but he was an environmental activist since age 6! 

On Youtube you will find more impressive speeches by these and other young people which are peacefully engaged in the care for  God's Creation, the global paradise we all share and live in.

The first three commandments in the bible

The first three commandments in the bible (a) to take care of the paradise we live in, (b) to eat grains, plants and fruits, as provided by God Himself, and (c) to trust without knowing everything, appear to be the essence of the beginning. ¹⁴⁾

These three initial commandments in the bible give us every reason to decrease and stop our destructive, pollutive and unhealthy activities and to focus on and to build up our good, positive and healthy activities.

Besides obvious examples, such as reducing general waste, reducing plastic (e.g. NZ supermarkets recently did a good step by replacing plastic bags with paper bags) and reducing fuel consumption (e.g. to reduce driving in general and to stop the engine whenever the vehicle is not driving), three effective and good examples would be (a) to eat healthy non-processed food as given by God, (b) to build up organic farming and (c) to build up a so-called green economy. ¹⁵⁾

It is interesting to recognise, that organisations such as «Greenpeace» already since decades and recently for example «Fridays for Future», and certainly not to forget the global peace movement (see «Love your neighbour... Love your enemies...») and others as well, do what God told us to do in the beginning. These children of God, which we all are, don't act on short term business profits, they act from their heart, they act with love and compassion to each other and to God's Creation, they act for peace between people, between countries and between mankind and nature, thus between mankind and God. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus preached «Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.» ¹²⁾ Consciously or unconsciously, they live according to the words «By their fruit you will recognize them. ... it is by our actions that we are put right with God, and not by faith alone.» ¹⁶⁾

«By their fruit you will recognize them.» also translated as «You will know them by what they do. ... So then, you will know the false prophets by what they do. Not everyone who calls me 'Lord, Lord' will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only those who do what my Father in heaven wants them to do. ...» ¹⁶⁾

2000 years ago, «Jesus went into the Temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling there. ...» ¹⁷⁾ and at another occasion Jesus said very clear: «Go, but do not sin again.» ¹⁷⁾ Today these young people from «Fridays for Future» go to the most powerful leaders of the world and tell them what they do wrong, what must be stopped and what needs to be done. This is just about exactly what Jesus would do today. Well worth thinking about, isn't it?

Being told to «Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ...» ¹²⁾ also indicates an important priority on our heart and soul, as we may not be able to understand the bible only with our logical thinking and often egoistic judging intelligence and with our ever reasoning intellect. This priority and importance on our heart is also reflected in the scripture, as God wrote the new covenant into our hearts and into our minds. ¹⁸⁾

In the end, we can only and very humble try to understand with our mind and with our heart, guided by true feelings of love and compassion in our heart. ¹²⁾

The first three commandments in the bible appear to be a good starting point to seriously take care of and to protect God's Creation, our environment and all nature.

«...We must take seriously the call of Psalm 8, and Genesis 1:26-28. We need to step into the vocation which God-image-bearing humans have been given from the start.» ^{19) and 14)}

The chapter «Laudato Si’...» further below explores this in detail with the Encyclical Letter "LAUDATO SI’, mi’ Signore" – "Praise be to you, my Lord" by Pope Francis. ²⁰⁾

«My Father ... may your will be done.» - Amen
 

Before we continue with the chapter «Laudato Si’...» and the Encyclical Letter "LAUDATO SI’, mi’ Signore" – "Praise be to you, my Lord" by Pope Francis, first let's have a break, watch The Blessing Aotearoa, be inspired from the Waitaha nation of peace, and ponder about the greater picture from a global perspective (see the links in left column) and from a local New Zealand perspective (see the links in right column)...

¹⁴⁾ cf. Genesis 1:26, Genesis 1:28, Genesis 2:15, Genesis 1:29, Genesis 2:16, Genesis 2:17

¹⁵⁾ see «Decolonising the imagination at Advent», «Repentance is about turning away from something. It’s an acknowledgement that there are certain things that disfigure, that despoil, that prevent us and others from living into the fullness of life God intends for all God’s creatures. We need to turn from these things so that we can turn towards the One who is already and always turned towards us. ... So get ready! ...», Courtnay Wilson, Creation Care Enabler at Anglican Church Nelson Diocese, 22.2.2023

and «Divine Diversity, ... How can we continue to proclaim the Gospel to "every creature under heaven". Perhaps we proclaim the Gospel with our lives every time we choose to walk or bike instead of drive, every time we make a decision to reduce our consumption...», Courtnay Wilson, Creation Care Enabler at Anglican Church Nelson Diocese, 1.3.2023

see also «one recent report estimated the shift to a green economy could create 18 million jobs» in «The people living ultra low-carbon lifestyles», Future Planet | Climate, BBC, 5th May 2023

and see further below the chapter Laudato Si’ ...

¹⁶⁾ cf. «By their fruit you will recognize them.» also translated as «You will know them by what they do. ... So then, you will know the false prophets by what they do. Not everyone who calls me 'Lord, Lord' will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only those who do what my Father in heaven wants them to do. ...», Matthew 7:16, 7:20, 7:21 (Good News Translation), and «My friends, what good is it for one of you to say that you have faith if your actions do not prove it? ... "Show me how anyone can have faith without actions." ... it is by our actions that we are put right with God, and not by faith alone.», James 2:14, 2:18, 2:24 (Good News Translation) and «Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.», James 3:13

¹⁷⁾ cf. «Jesus went into the Temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money-changers and the stools of those who sold pigeons, and said to them, "It is written in the Scriptures that God said, 'My Temple will be called a house of prayer.' But you are making it a hide-out for thieves!», Matthew 21:12, 21:13

and see «Go, but do not sin again.», John 8:11, and ponder what that could mean in its wider global context today?

and see also «We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign. ... The time has come ... for destroying those who destroy the earth.», Revelation 11:17, 11:18

¹⁸⁾ see «The new covenant that I will make... I will put my law within them and write it on their hearts» (Good News Translation) or «I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts», Jeremiah 31:33, and «Now, this is the covenant that I will make... I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts.», Hebrews 8:10, and «This is the covenant that I will make... I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.», Hebrews 10:16

¹⁹⁾ Is the Gospel good news?, "...We must take seriously the call of Psalm 8, and Genesis 1:26-28. We need to step into the vocation which God-image-bearing humans have been given from the start. And when we do, we experience our vocation in and through the restoration and the reconciliation of us to God, of us to ...", James Beck, associate pastor at The River Ōpāwaho Church in Ōtautahi Christchurch, A Rocha Aotearoa New Zealand, 16.2.2023

see also A Rocha Aotearoa New Zealand, "A Rocha Aotearoa New Zealand is part of the A Rocha family of Christian environmental conservation organisations currently active in over 20 countries around the world. As a family, we focus on environmental science and research, practical nature conservation, environmental education, creation care and advocacy through a variety of programmes and initiatives."

see also Eco Church New Zealand, "Churches across Aotearoa New Zealand actively caring for God’s earth as an integral part of their mission."

The Blessing

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To see the global situation summarized, please see these videos on YouTube...

... or watch it on Vimeo ...

#Film4Climate 1st Prize Short Film Winner - “Three Seconds”

... and see this comment by
«C Randolph, (August 2021): These are the types of things I'm inclined to say when I am teaching Bible study. Man has gotten so self-sufficient and wise that they don't listen to or acknowledge the Creator. Then they deny His existence and ruing the home He has made for homo sapiens. Really, what would you personally do if you allowed someone to live in your pristine home only to find that they all but destroyed it in a matter of days? Likely you would evict them (not finish the destruction of the home!). Be patient; that 4th second will come when He "bring[s] to ruin those ruining the earth." (Revelation 11:18)»

... and watch this wonderful educational video (1:24): A Life on Our Planet David Attenborough, 15 Apr 2021

... and Our Planet: Too Big To Fail (42:48),

«Our economy is fundamentally underpinned by the stability and the resilience of the natural world. But this stability is no longer guaranteed. Our Planet: Too Big To Fail is a 42 minute film that explores the risks of inaction, the impact of investing-as-usual, and the role the finance sector can play in powering a sustainable future.", OurPlanet.com

Our Planet: Our Business (38:11), «What we do in the next ten years will profoundly impact the next few thousand years.», OurPlanet.com

and see “A nuclear power plant is not a Märklin railroad” (German original: „Ein AKW ist keine Märklin-Eisenbahn“), Dr. Franz Alt, 17.12.2022
and "Safety for a million years?" (German original: "Sicherheit für eine Million Jahre?"), Dr. Franz Alt, 29.12.2022

see also UN-Resolution «Climate Change by Radioactivity», SolarPeace.org, 7.8.2009

The Blessing ...

The Blessing Aotearoa,

Produced by Brooke and Grant Norsworth,

St Paul's Lutheran Community Church, Upper Moutere, New Zealand 2020

Song of Waitaha: Histories of a Nation

«For years New Zealand archaeologists have been puzzled by a people who lived without weapons and created trading systems that moved industrial stone the length of the country. These writings explain they were a peaceful confederation ...»,

Barry Brailsford, First published 24.11.2006, 311 pages, Hardcover

ISBN 9780958337816 (ISBN10: 0958337810)

Song of Waitaha ... nation of peace

   «... the time had come for the philosophy of Waitaha to be brought back into the World of Light, Te Ao Marama, ‘to heal the people and to heal the land’ because Waitaha are a people of Peace and adhere to the philosophy of Rongomaraeroa, keeper of all things peaceful, truth and aroha, compassion.»,

Waitaha nation of peace

When it comes to peace today ...

 «When it comes to peace today, it is not only about military disarmament, but also about peace with nature – because we are already waging the third world war against nature and thus against ourselves and against our children.

 We are a part of nature. Today, every day we exterminate 180 animal and plant species, lose 80,000 tons of fertile soil, increase deserts by an additional 50,000 hectares, and blow 150 million tons of greenhouse gases into the air. Every day!

The planet cannot withstand this in the long term...»

The future belongs to renewables (German original: Die Zukunft gehört den Erneuerbaren)

Dr. Franz Alt, 19.11.2022

To see the local situation documented more in detail on the example of Aotearoa New Zealand, please see...

Nature's dangerous decline is accelerating. Why? It’s us, 18.10.2021

Watch «This Is How It Ends ...» in the seven episodes Seabirds, Native Birds, Oceans, All creatures great and small, Fresh Water, The Endangered Forest, The Island.
«... Biodiversity came before humans. The creator created many things, including... and it's our responsibility to look after them. ... We are at crisis point. Unfortunately, the way we feed and fuel our 21st century lifestyle is unsustainable, we have fundamentally changed the planet. And it’s completely getting out of balance.»

If we don't change our ways, we won't survive extinction, 18.10.2021

The Detail: Our threatened native species and This Is How it Ends, 18.10.2021

This Is How It Ends: Extinct within our lifetime, so why is it so hard to save some species?, 20.10.2021

"Human activities are destroying the natural world, leading to the annihilation of animal and plant species at a terrifying rate. Stuff's «This Is How It Ends» is a documentary series investigating the critical decline of native species.", This Is How It Ends: Serving up the true cost of consumption to our most vulnerable creatures, Stuff with support from NZ on Air, 17.10.2021

see also "Club of Rome leader in Glasgow: Enough with the damned complacency, «... 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the publication of the legendary foundational text "The Limits to Growth". ...»; German article: «Club of Rome»-Chefin in Glasgow: Schluss mit der verdammten Selbstgefälligkeit, Tagesanzeiger, 09.11.2021; Please translate this interesting article easily with DeepL...

Ocean treaty: Historic agreement reached after decade of talks, «Nations have reached a historic agreement to protect the world's oceans following 10 years of negotiations. The High Seas Treaty aims to place 30% of the seas into protected areas by 2030, to safeguard and recuperate marine nature. The agreement was reached at UN headquarters in New York. ... putting aside differences and delivering a treaty that will let us protect the oceans, build our resilience to climate change and safeguard the lives and livelihoods of billions of people. This is a historic day for conservation and a sign that in a divided world, protecting nature and people can triumph over geopolitics. ... Countries will need to meet again to formally adopt the agreement and then have plenty of work to do before the treaty can be implemented.», BBC News, 6.3.2023

Oceans littered with 171 trillion plastic pieces, «New estimates suggest that plastic pollution in the oceans has risen dramatically since 2005.», BBC News, 9.3.2023

Laudato Si’

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«Laudato Si’ ...»,
ENCYCLICAL LETTER
LAUDATO SI’
OF THE HOLY FATHER
FRANCIS
ON CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME,
Vatican Press, 24.5.2015

Pope Francis Says Coronavirus May Be Symptom of Climate Crisis, "This is the time to take the decisive step, to move from using and misusing nature to contemplating it.", EcoWatch, 10.4.2020

see also Judaism, Islam and Christianity explore faith's role tackling our climate crisis, "Pope Francis says coronavirus may be a 'response' from nature. The head of the Catholic Church linked the global outbreak to our failure to properly address climate change. Members of three Abrahamic religions will discuss climate change and commit to take personal, community and societal action during a Wellington inter-faith event...", Olivia Wannan, 18.6.2021

Pope Francis calls on world leaders to act on extreme weather, "The pope says leaders need to heed the Earth’s ‘cries of anguish’ stemming from climate change.", AlJazeera.com, 21.7.2022,

Pope says increased defence spending after Ukraine is "madness", 24.3.2022, Reuters

Papst: Erhöhung der Militärausgaben einiger Staaten ist «Irrsinn», 24.03.2022 Rom (dpa), Greenpeace-Magazin.de

Laudato Si’ ...

"LAUDATO SI’, mi’ Signore" – "Praise be to you, my Lord". ²⁰⁾

«What kind of world do we want to leave to those who come after us, to children who are now growing up?» ²¹⁾

This is the question of our time. It is possible to approach this question on a purely scientific and logically reasoning basis. It is also possible to approach this question on a basis of faith, trust and religion, as explained above with the book of Genesis ¹⁴⁾ and teachings by Jesus. ¹²⁾ Both ways will lead to the same practical answers to seriously take care and to protect God's Creation.

A wonderful and surprisingly detailed answer is given by Pope Francis in his Encyclical Letter "LAUDATO SI’, mi’ Signore" – "Praise be to you, my Lord". ²⁰⁾

It appears appropriate to say, that the Encyclical Letter «Laudato Si’ ...» is possibly the most important document of our time and can — independent of any specific denomination, church, religion, faith, belief or world view — be highly recommended to all who attempt to take the book of Genesis ¹⁴⁾ and teachings by Jesus ¹²⁾ serious, to all who are interested in the world and its future, to all who are engaged in the protection of our environment and nature, and to all who had been interested in the above «Reflections on Corona and Easter». 

The words in the Encyclical Letter «Laudato Si’ ...» to protect our environment and nature, God's Creation, should be taken seriously and the church, every church, should be appreciated and valued according to these words by Pope Francis and our God given vocation to take care of the paradise. It is time to bring all synergies together and to co-operate wherever we find agreements to "step into the vocation which God-image-bearing humans have been given from the start". ^{19) and 14)}

The following is the complete and fully quoted introduction (without the reference numbers) of the Encyclical Letter "LAUDATO SI’, mi’ Signore" – "Praise be to you, my Lord". ²⁰⁾
 

1. "LAUDATO SI’, mi’ Signore" – "Praise be to you, my Lord". In the words of this beautiful canticle, Saint Francis of Assisi reminds us that our common home is like a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us. "Praise be to you, my Lord, through our Sister, Mother Earth, who sustains and governs us, and who produces various fruit with coloured flowers and herbs".

2. This sister now cries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted on her by our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods with which God has endowed her. We have come to see ourselves as her lords and masters, entitled to plunder her at will. The violence present in our hearts, wounded by sin, is also reflected in the symptoms of sickness evident in the soil, in the water, in the air and in all forms of life. This is why the earth herself, burdened and laid waste, is among the most abandoned and maltreated of our poor; she "groans in travail" (Rom 8:22). We have forgotten that we ourselves are dust of the earth (cf. Gen 2:7); our very bodies are made up of her elements, we breathe her air and we receive life and refreshment from her waters.

3. More than fifty years ago, with the world teetering on the brink of nuclear crisis, Pope Saint John XXIII wrote an Encyclical which not only rejected war but offered a proposal for peace. He addressed his message Pacem in Terris to the entire "Catholic world" and indeed "to all men and women of good will". Now, faced as we are with global environmental deterioration, I wish to address every person living on this planet. In my Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, I wrote to all the members of the Church with the aim of encouraging ongoing missionary renewal. In this Encyclical, I would like to enter into dialogue with all people about our common home.

4. In 1971, eight years after Pacem in Terris, Blessed Pope Paul VI referred to the ecological concern as “a tragic consequence” of unchecked human activity: “Due to an ill-considered exploitation of nature, humanity runs the risk of destroying it and becoming in turn a victim of this degradation”. He spoke in similar terms to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations about the potential for an “ecological catastrophe under the effective explosion of industrial civilization”, and stressed “the urgent need for a radical change in the conduct of humanity”, inasmuch as “the most extraordinary scientific advances, the most amazing technical abilities, the most astonishing economic growth, unless they are accompanied by authentic social and moral progress, will definitively turn against man”.

United by the same concern

Saint Francis of Assisi

My appeal

Please continue reading with the following links to the full Encyclical Letter «Laudato Si’ ...», the official guide and overview, a comment and a song, or the downloadable 184 pages PDF copy of the Encyclical Letter «Laudato Si’ ...».

²⁰⁾ cf. «Laudato Si’ ...», ENCYCLICAL LETTER LAUDATO SI’ OF THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS ON CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME, Vatican Press, 24.5.2015

Guide and overview

Comment by scientist Schellnhuber

Laudato Si, the song ...

Pdf-copy of the encyclical (184 pages, 1 MB)

²¹⁾ cf. paragraph 160 in "CHAPTER FOUR: INTEGRAL ECOLOGY" on page 118 in the Pdf-copy of the encyclical (184 pages, 1 MB)

See also the Laudato Si’ Action Platform, “Everyone’s talents and involvement are needed" (Laudato Si' 14). Take concrete actions in the care of our common home. The Laudato Si´ Action Platform offers the Church tools and resources for the journey towards total sustainability in the spirit of integral ecology." and Laudato Si’ Movement Platform.

See also these related articles and scientists papers:

Over one billion people at threat of being displaced by 2050 due to environmental change, conflict and civil unrest - Ecological Threat Register 2020, 19.9.2020, Institute for Economics & Peace, published on Sonnenseite.com, VISION of HUMANITY 2020

World Scientists’ Warning to Humanity: A Second Notice, «Twenty-five years ago, the Union of Concerned Scientists and more than 1700 independent scientists, including the majority of living Nobel laureates in the sciences, penned the 1992 “World Scientists’ Warning to Humanity”. These concerned professionals called on humankind to curtail environmental destruction and cautioned that “a great change in our stewardship of the Earth and the life on it is required, if vast human misery is to be avoided.” In their manifesto, they showed that humans were on a collision course with the natural world.
...
Since 1992, with the exception of stabilizing the stratospheric ozone layer, humanity has failed to make sufficient progress in generally solving these foreseen environmental challenges, and alarmingly, most of them are getting far worse. Especially troubling is the current trajectory of potentially catastrophic climate change due to rising GHGs from burning fossil fuels (Hansen et al. 2013), deforestation (Keenan et al. 2015), and agricultural production—particularly from farming ruminants for meat consumption (Ripple et al. 2014).
...
It is also time to re-examine and change our individual behaviors... consumption of fossil fuels, meat, and other resources.
...
Examples of diverse and effective steps humanity can take to transition to sustainability...
...
Soon it will be too late to shift course away from our failing trajectory, and time is running out. We must recognize, in our day-to-day lives and in our governing institutions, that Earth with all its life is our only home. ...», 13.11.2017, Oxford University Press

UN urges global move to meat and dairy-free diet, «Lesser consumption of animal products is necessary to save the world from the worst impacts of climate change, UN report says ... 'Animal products cause more damage than [producing] construction minerals such as sand or cement, plastics or metals. Biomass and crops for animals are as damaging as [burning] fossil fuels.' ... 'Rising affluence is triggering a shift in diets towards meat and dairy products - livestock now consumes much of the world’s crops and by inference a great deal of freshwater, fertilisers and pesticides.' ... 'Decoupling growth from environmental degradation is the number one challenge facing governments in a world of rising numbers of people, rising incomes, rising consumption demands and the persistent challenge of poverty alleviation.'», 2.6.2010, The Guardian

See also writings and videos on the interface of science, philosophy and religion:

See for example the writings and video talks by John Lennox, Professor of Mathematics at Oxford University, internationally renowned speaker and author of several books on the interface of science, philosophy and religion:

«Either human intelligence ultimately owes its origin to mindless matter; or there is a Creator. It is strange that some people claim that it is their intelligence that leads them to prefer the first to the second.», JohnLennox.org.

These videos provide interesting food for thoughts:

The Question of Science and God - Part 1 (47:33 min), 12.1.2018, John Lennox, Youtube, and
The Question of Science and God - Part 2 (58:27 min), 23.1.2018, John Lennox, Youtube, «Has Science buried God? Eric Metaxas tracks down Oxford's John Lennox in France for answers, and the brilliant professor delivers!», SocratesInTheCity.com

Why Do I Exist? (4:31 min), 21.1.2020, John Lennox, Youtube

Seven Days That Divide the World (1:30:06), 14.3.2014, John Lennox, Youtube, «Dr. Lennox explores a method for reading and interpreting the first chapters of Genesis without discounting either science or Scripture.»

Prof. John Lennox | The logic of Christianity, (48:53), 23.12.2020, John Lennox, Youtube, «We are passing on a catastrophe, it seems to me, economically and every other way...»

GOD'S UNDERTAKER - Has Science Buried God?, John Lennox, published 2002, 2007, 2009;
... Acknowledgements:
«This book originated in lectures given at a course entitled 'Faith, Reason and Science' at the University of Oxford, Department for Continuing Education and at the Institute for the Philosophy of Science at Salzburg University, Austria. It represents an attempt to evaluate the evidence of modern science in relation to the debate between the atheistic and theistic interpretations of the universe and to provide a basis for discussion.»
... Epilogue:
«I am very astonished that the scientific picture of the real world around me is very deficient. It gives us a lot of factual information, puts all of our experience in a magnificently consistent order, but is ghastly silent about all and sundry that is really near to our heart that really matters to us. It cannot tell us a word about red and blue, bitter and sweet, physical pain and physical delight; it knows nothing of beautiful and ugly, good and bad, God and eternity. Science sometimes pretends to answer questions in these domains but the answers are very often so silly that we are not inclined to take them seriously.» Erwin Schrödinger
«So far I have argued that, although science with all its power cannot address some of the fundamental questions that we ask, nevertheless the universe contains certain clues as to our relationship to it, clues that are scientifically accessible. The rational intelligibility of the universe, for example, points to the existence of a Mind that was responsible both for the universe and for our minds. ... Not only that, but our increasing insight into the fine-tuning of the universe in general, and of planet earth in particular, is consistent with the widespread awareness that we are meant to be here. This earth in our home...», John C. Lennox

See also "...spiritual ecologist ... become lovers of the world..." in "BREAK OUT AND BECOME a New Creature in Christ", Mary Virginia Parrish, 1978 by Abingdon Nashville, ISBN 0-687-03973-8;
page 126, 127:
«...Once we acknowledge that the tensions and problems of our world are the result of our inner thoughts and attitudes, we see ourselves as creators of climate. Jealousy, hate, resentment, are alive and contagious. They pollute the atmosphere. As spiritual ecologists, we can bring the 'fragrance of Christ' to purify, to alter, our environment. Love is more powerful than hate. Light is greater than darkness. Peace is more dynamic than war. Once these concepts are assimilated, the rule of spiritual ecologist becomes clear. Our concern over the atmospheric pollution which hate causes becomes a call to arms. We take up God's weapons of love to absorb hate, light to dispel darkness, hope to replace fear. We are here to be captured by Christ not for our own peace, not for our own cozy relationship with him, wonderful as that is, but to become lovers of the world he loves so much...»

and see «For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son...», John 3:16 (Good News Translation), and we should emphasis this clearly «For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son...» which provides us with every reason to try doing similar in loving and caring.

«U.S. Advisor on climate change, James Gustave Speth, said: "I used to think that top environmental problems were biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and climate change. I thought that thirty years of good science could address these problems. I was wrong. The top environmental problems are selfishness, greed and apathy, and to deal with these we need a cultural and spiritual transformation."

... and

«The UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, stated on December 4, 2015, that “Faith communities are vital for global efforts to address the climate challenge. They remind us of the moral dimensions of climate change, and of our obligation to care for both the Earth’s fragile environment and our neighbours in need.”,
Spiritual Ecology, Wikipedia
(quotes copied 8.8.2021)

Please see also this video on YouTube...

... or watch it on Vimeo: #Film4Climate 1st Prize Short Film Winner - “Three Seconds”

and see this comment by «C Randolph, (August 2021):
These are the types of things I'm inclined to say when I am teaching Bible study. Man has gotten so self-sufficient and wise that they don't listen to or acknowledge the Creator. Then they deny His existence and ruin the home He has made for homo sapiens. Really, what would you personally do if you allowed someone to live in your pristine home only to find that they all but destroyed it in a matter of days? Likely you would evict them (not finish the destruction of the home!). Be patient; that 4th second will come when He "bring[s] to ruin those ruining the earth." (Revelation 11:18)»

GreenFaith Calls for Unity of Faiths to Realise Climate Justice in Workshop at the 11th World Council of Churches Assembly, Rose Gwynn, greenfaith.org, 2.9.2022

Patagonia’s billionaire owner in US gives away company to fight climate crisis, «Hey, friends, we just gave our company to planet Earth. OK, it’s more nuanced than that, but we’re closed today to celebrate this new plan to save our one and only home. We’ll be back online tomorrow. https://t.co/fvRFDgOzVZ — Patagonia (@patagonia) September 14, 2022», Stuff / The Washington Post, 15.9.2022

"Earth is now our only shareholder.", "Despite its immensity, the Earth's resources are not infinite, and it's clear we've exceeded its limits," the entrepreneur said of his decision to give up ownership. "Instead of extracting value from nature and transforming it into wealth, we are using the wealth Patagonia creates to protect the source.", Patagonia: Billionaire boss of fashion retailer gives company away, BBC News, 15.9.2022

You are Guardians

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The construction fence of Golden Bay High School in Takaka New Zealand has been artfully decorated by students to remind everybody:

"You are Guardians ...

... Time to Change"

(photos taken 6.2.2023)

«After many delays due to the ongoing rain, the final mural designed and created by one of the Year 7/8 Exploratory classes is finally complete. It urges the viewer to "change now" and reminds us that we are Kaitiaki -
Guardians of our planet. It can be seen on Rototai Road near the bus bay alongside two other murals.», Golden Bay High School newsletter "Goldie" , 28.10.2022

You are Guardians ...

²²⁾

«You are Guardians» is the intention, the purpose and the mandate of our existence. It represents the very first words spoken to mankind by God (our Father, His Son and the Holy Spirit). It has the love and the power to bring all people together, everywhere, independent of their faith, belief, religion or world view, and peacefully, here in Aotearoa New Zealand and all over the world. Let's keep that in our consciousness, let's keep that in our heart and in our mind, whatever we decide, whatever we choose or elect, whatever we do.

«My Father ... may your will be done.» - Amen

  
World Day of Prayer 2023

«We are reminded of the urgency to protect the environment and have a nuclear-free homeland...» ²³⁾

«Dear Sister Pao-Chu, Last time we met at the gathering I heard your stories about the urgency of protecting the environment. Your story of faith impacted me, and I have followed in your footsteps ever since. I have recycled resources, joined a beach cleaning, and sorted waste at home. I carry my own cutlery and cup to mitigate the plastic crisis. Most importantly, I teach our next generations to protect the environment. We hope that Taiwan can be a nuclear-free homeland in the future. Let us learn together to become good stewards of God’s creation.» ²³⁾
 

Eco Church New Zealand

«Churches across Aotearoa New Zealand actively caring for God’s earth as an integral part of their mission. ... I feel that Eco Church is breaking down barriers between churches ... It's a much-needed initiative and restores care for God's creation at the heart of our faith. Christians should be leaders in environmental issues.» ²⁴⁾

Eco Church New Zealand is a project of A Rocha Aotearoa New Zealand. ²⁴⁾

²²⁾ Please compare these Golden Bay High School murals with the previous chapters above and with the following words by pastor James Beck in Christchurch:

«... We must take seriously the call of Psalm 8, and Genesis 1:26-28. We need to step into the vocation which God-image-bearing humans have been given from the start. And when we do, we experience our vocation in and through the restoration and the reconciliation of us to God, of us to ourselves, of us to each other and us to the whenua. My observation is that young people want to be a part of something like that.»

Is the Gospel good news?, James Beck, associate pastor at The River Ōpāwaho Church in Ōtautahi Christchurch, A Rocha Aotearoa New Zealand, 16.2.2023

²³⁾ cf. «I Have Heard About Your Faith ... We are reminded of the urgency to protect the environment and have a nuclear-free homeland ...», World Day of Prayer 2023, 3.3.2023

cf. «... Let us learn together to become good stewards of God’s creation.», World Day of Prayer Booklet for 2023 , 3.3.2023

see also UN-Resolution «Climate Change by Radioactivity», SolarPeace.org, 7.8.2009

²⁴⁾ cf. Eco Church New Zealand

«Churches across Aotearoa New Zealand actively caring for God’s earth as an integral part of their mission. ... I feel that Eco Church is breaking down barriers between churches ... It's a much-needed initiative and restores care for God's creation at the heart of our faith. Christians should be leaders in environmental issues.»

ECO CHURCH NZ is a project of A Rocha Aotearoa New Zealand.

A Rocha Aotearoa New Zealand

«A Rocha Aotearoa New Zealand is part of the A Rocha family of Christian environmental conservation organisations currently active in over 20 countries around the world. As a family, we focus on environmental science and research, practical nature conservation, environmental education, creation care and advocacy through a variety of programmes and initiatives.»

see also "Season of Discernment ... God is calling us towards making some brave decisions. We are the people to carry the burden of making necessary change. This is the legacy that we will leave for those who come after us. ...", Simon Martin, Bishop's Chaplain, Nelson Anglicans, 1.3.2023

PS ...

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Please tell others ...

P.S. About 3000 persons, politicians, decision makers and media world-wide have received each SolarPeace-Information in previous years (until 2016). Please see the section Energy Transition for all SolarPeace press releases and additional information.

The press release UN-Resolution «Climate Change by Radioactivity» (7.8.2009) had been sent by e-mail to about 4000 recipients and with registered printed letters to more than 100 Prime Ministers, Presidents and Ministers in more than 30 countries.

Please pass these information on to other interested people.

Cordial thanks!

PDF-print versions for passing on:

Reflections on Corona and Easter (abstract)

UN-Resolution «Climate Change by Radioactivity»

Survey shows: Swiss nuclear power plants don't know what they are doing!

Natural Power – Lifestyle and Necessity

SolarPeace-Flyer

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