Faith, economics and ecology

New sins, new virtues

As the world heats up and economic dislocation ravages the poor, religious leaders offer up their diagnoses and prescriptions

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Readers' comments



It is really quite charming to see people who are utterly unqualified and almost entirely ignorant of a subject declaring their "truths" for the world's edification. The current pope has shown himself to be entirely unconstrained by ignorance of sexuality when he proclaims that condoms help spread HIV; now he blesses us with his equally astute insights into the nature of global capital markets. No doubt we can shortly expect to read his thoughts on the subject of washing machine repair techniques, how to tackle road congestion, and the right way to carry out deep-water oil exploration. One can only marvel at the confidence of someone who considers a lifelong preoccupation with an invisible friend to be sufficient qualification to expound on all manner of problems.


So the freaks of the god bashing mob are now parroting what the liberal sectarians have been saying since the 1970s, that we need a cleaner way of living. Of course, none of these figures are going to start making themselves any worse off to feed the poor and clean up the industries, thats still going to be left up to those making the energy they use for their buildings of (insert deity ere) and keeping there texts in print.

Print some proper news Economist!

Random Scientist

What is new? Late Pope John Paul II preached much similar things over a decade ago.

That human must care for environment - not to harm the poor who suffer from pollution. Etc. etc.


At least they are starting to tackle the real problems. The atheist, liberal discourse has pushed for decades for these ideas and did not need (as Laplace didn't need) God to explain why.

But if some people need to interpret their lives and actions through what "God" decreed and reach the same conclusion, i'll have no quarrel with that. People believe in aliens, god, ghosts, reincarnation, superstitions, etc, disregarding any evidence. We are dealing with a problem as old as human civilization. We should be thankful for the progress made in the last decades and centuries and keep up with the good work.


I am so sick and tired of the media praising religious leaders for worrying about climate change.

The Earth's climate is quickly spinning out of control. Everyone should be worried. Why should we give these religinuts credit for worrying about something any rational person OUGHT to be worried about?

A minority of preachers are now speaking about climate change? How magnanimous of them! Nevermind that opposition to carbon limits in America are largely driven by the ignorant thought that "God wouldn't let that happen" or "if it happens, its God's will".

Please. The Economist needs to stand up for classical liberal principles, which originally included reducing the role of both the state and the clergy in society.

Oh, and print the damn cartoons already.

Aberham Pennypacker

"The aim of this new structure would be “the management of globalisation”. Vatican aides said this was not a proposal for world government—but it did sound a bit like that."

Do you mean like the 'new world order' the Pontifex ran for the better part of 2,000 years?



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