What is a pagan goddess doing in a place of Christian worship? from Brephos
Everyone agrees that looking after the planet is important, but the “Gaia” exhibition touring UK churches crosses a line into pagan idolatry.
I’ve never met a Christian who objects to the idea that part of our responsibility under God is to look after the earth he created as God’s undermanagers (Genesis 1:28). Although explicit biblical support for the importance of looking after the non-human aspects of God’s creation is slight (e.g. Genesis 2:15; Leviticus 25:2-5) compared with how we are to treat human beings made in God’s image (e.g. Genesis 6:9; Exodus 23:7; Proverbs 6:17; James 5:6), it chimes with the biblical principles of humility, gratitude, wisdom, and consideration of others that we should steward the earth with moderation and selflessness.
I’ve never met a Christian who objects to the idea that part of our responsibility under God is to look after the earth he created as God’s undermanagers (Genesis 1:28). Although explicit biblical support for the importance of looking after the non-human aspects of God’s creation is slight (e.g. Genesis 2:15; Leviticus 25:2-5) compared with how we are to treat human beings made in God’s image (e.g. Genesis 6:9; Exodus 23:7; Proverbs 6:17; James 5:6), it chimes with the biblical principles of humility, gratitude, wisdom, and consideration of others that we should steward the earth with moderation and selflessness.
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We love helping others and believe that’s one of the reasons we are chosen as Ambassadors of the Kingdom, to serve God’s children. We look to the Greatest Commandment as our Powering force.
But much of the spirit and messaging of the “Climate Emergency” narrative that we are now hearing from many quarters – including the Church – is very different from this biblical idea of stewardship, and we are in danger of being swept into a deeply unchristian way of thinking and living if we don’t perceive what is pagan and decide to stand against it.
Christians need to understand that many of the common elements of this narrative are in fact incompatible with biblical Christianity and are harmful.
In the case of the “Gaia” exhibition currently being hosted in St Peter Mancroft church, what we are talking about is nothing short of pagan earth-worship.
“Gaia”, named after the Greek mother-of-all goddess of the earth, features a large globe hanging in the air and “gives us the opportunity to experience the fragility of our planet in a new light”.
Allow me to spell out why this is anything but innocuous:
1) “Gaia” isn’t just a random name
It’s important not to quarrel about words (2 Timothy 2:14). The names of our days of the week have pagan roots (Thor, Saturn…). But what we are talking about here is far more than mere etymology.
