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Comment by ryandvm | Hacker News Reader

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I can't speak for all republicans, because we are a diverse group. But if you care to understand why I am not bending backwards at every turn to try and fix global warming, it's very simple. I believe God created this world for His children, and that He will return to it in due time. That's it. I understand that may appear as though I don't care, but that's not true. I certainly don't go out of my way to pollute the earth. I always leave a campsite cleaner than when I found it, etc... this rhetoric that Republicans only care about number one couldn't be further from the truth though.

At some point we have to judge based on actions, not beliefs.

To judge one's actions is to judge one's beliefs, because beliefs drive action. I go to the gym because I believe it'll make me healthier. I eat beef because I believe it to be one of the most beneficial foods on the planet. I teach my kids to think critically, because I believe it will serve them well in life. I act in accordance with my beliefs, and you act in accordance with yours. Actions are dictated by beliefs.

> I believe God created this world for His children, and that He will return to it in due time. That's it.

Taking your beliefs as stated here at face value, I don't see how that would be relevant either way: you clearly live in a world where evil deeds are physically possible, where your god (for whatever reason, free will or otherwise) does not intervene to prevent it. Pollution just seems like another one of those things — a death by a thousand cuts, where (if you will excuse the mixed metaphor) you can't tell which straw broke the camel's back.

Fair enough. I think the difference is that any issue that falls into the "save humanity" category, such as colonizing other planets, or saving the earth from global warming, do not feel urgent for me, because of my perspective. For the Earth to be uninhabitable due to global warming would mean that it could no longer serve its intended purpose, and thus God would wrap things up before that point in time. Now it's perfectly fair to ask "What if you're wrong?" I don't believe I am, but I am willing to do my best to take care of the Earth the best I can. It is after all God's beautiful creation, under our stewardship. But I have to balance that with many other things that may be more important. For example, having a strong economy with the help of fossil fuel, so that families can support having children, etc...

People ditching Teslas because they don't like Elon is political though. If you want to nut-pick between the two sides, we are going to be here a long time.

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