Creation Corner Column 9/21
A Religious Context for Reading the UN IPCC report characterized as a "Code Red for Humanity".
Christians may regard the "first commandment" as that of Genesis 2:15.
Various interpretations are that we humans were placed by God in the Garden of Eden...
"...to tend it and watch over it." New Living translation
"...to tend it and keep it." New King James version
"...to take care of it and to look after it." Contemporary English version
"...to serve it and to keep it." Literal Standard version and also Young's literal translation
"...to care for it and to maintain it. New English Translation
"...so that it would be attended and preserved... Catholic Public Domain version
This leaves no doubt as to what our first responsibility is. The question is: Is there is a gap between what we now know about climate change, and what we do about it?
A significant contribution to our understanding may be found in The Green Bible: Understanding the Bible's Powerful Message for the Earth (2008) that is a "green-letter" edition, highlighting 1000 verses, and included lists of denominational environmental programs, statements, activities, and faith-based organizations. Over 100 actions are advised for individuals, families, churches, etc., for people who want to take practical steps to get started on turning their words into deeds.
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Some updated web sites for churches (kindly supplied by the PA Interfaith Power and Light) are:
IPL Cool Congregation Startup Kit
EPA Energy Star for Congregations Workbook
Clean Energy Investment Resources
Recent Environmental Books
The World We Need: Stories and Lessons from America's Unsung Environmental Movement. Edited by Audrea Lim.
Books by Stan Cox of The Land Institute in Salina Kansas
The Path to a Livable Future: Forging a New Politics to Fight Climate Change, Racism, and the Next Pandemic, 2021.
The Green New Deal and Beyond: Ending the Climate Emergency While We Still Can, 2020.
Losing Our Cool: Uncomfortable Truths About Our Air-Conditioned World, 2010.
How the World Breaks: Life in Catastrophe's Path, from the Caribbean to Siberia, 2016, with Paul Cox.
Pandemic Book Titles
Our Malady: Lessons in Liberty from a Hospital Diary. Timothy Snyder.
Until Proven Safe: The History and Future of Quarantine. Geoff Manaugh and Nicola Twilley.
Religion and Ecology Books
For the Beauty of the Earth: A Lenten Devotional. Leah D. Schade. In addition to a devotional guide from Ash Wednesday to Resurrection Sunday, this 58-page paperback includes 50 practical steps (practices, activities, and ideas) to "Make Earth Day Everyday" that are useful throughout the year.
Mike Ochs finds common ground between religion and politics in his concern for the environment.
Politically he self-published the first "Greens Bibliography" of the English-language literature on the international Green Party movement (1989), the project for his Master of Liberal Arts in International Studies degree at Lock Haven (PA) University. He also helped plant the seeds for the Green Party of PA at that time, and remains a cyber-activist with it.
For a monthly newsletter of the ecumenical United Churches of Lycoming County (PA), he has written the "Creation Corner Column" since 1997. It became a blog in 2011 at
He received a B.A. degree from Gettysburg College in 1965.
