You may not like what he says, but you have to admire the courage he shows in his new film PLANET OF THE HUMANS, (found on youtube) I summarize this film with 4 assertions, 2 of which will make a lot of people very mad….
Let me summarize with these 4 assertions.
- The world is heading for environmental disaster due to climate change and other mostly unnamed issues. For the most part this assertion was assumed and largely unproven.
- “Green energy” is expensive, inefficient, hurtful to the environment and dependent upon fossil fuels. The Film spent a good deal of time on this.
- The major organizations of the environmental movement are in bed with capitalist companies. This was also a large part of the film.
- The only hope we have is to consume less and have fewer people. Hardly very encouraging.
I walked away from the film with two conclusions.
Conclusion 1- Michael Moore has a lot of courage. Assertions 2 and 3 will make a lot of people, who normally like him, mad. Maybe very mad.
Moore is not alone in making the second assertion. Others have said similar things about green energy (See this report…) https://2lffqo2moysixpyb349z0bj6-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DoubleDownWind-Whole-3.2019-with-Cover.pdf.
Maybe I don’t get out much, but I have rarely heard people talk about assertion #3. It is earth shattering.
Conclusion 2-The logical conclusion of a Moore-ite will be to promote/rejoice at massive human death, and/or support draconian restrictions on human consumption, at least for others. We are left to hope for human death and deprivation, so that the planet and other species can survive.
Questioning the Assumptions behind the film: Let me take a stab at articulating and then questioning the assumptions behind the film.
Assumption #1– “The earth is a priceless but delicate environment that can be easily destroyed forever.”
Is this true? The ancient Israelites saw the earth as precious, but not priceless. It was good, but not god.
Furthermore, they affirmed that the earth was created and sustained by a powerful, watchful creator, whose majesty and wonder far outweighed the majesty and wonder of the world. The prophet Isaiah reminds us of the majesty of the creator. … Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his (God’s) hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance? Who can fathom the Spirit of the Lord, or instruct the Lord as his counselor? Isaiah 40:12-13 (NIV)
Finally, they knew that this world was flawed and broken by sin, and they looked forward to a new earth one day. They affirmed the words God gave through his prophet Isaiah… “See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. Isaiah 65:17,18 (NIV)
The earth is precious, but not priceless. It is created and sustained by God and will one day be created anew!
Assumption #2-“Humanity is a parasite and a foreigner on this earth”
In contrast to this the Israelites affirmed that human beings were the greatest of God’s creation, made in His image. They were not a parasite, but a partner with God. So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27 (NIV)
Furthermore the world was created specifically for their habitation and they were to fill it up. Genesis 1:28 (NIV) God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.
As a part of filling the earth they were to be stewards over it, caring for it as the place of their habitation.. “Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Genesis 1:28 (NIV)
The ancient Isrealites would believe that every human life is a valuable gift, and that the giver of life will enable and empower us to steward this world he gave us so as to sustain the lives he gives us;
As we face the future, lets value every human life, and face the future with the confidence that God will give us the wisdom to steward this earth, looking forward to the end of this age, when he recreates the heaven and earth.
If you are looking for an example of a man of faith who gave his life affirm the value of all humanity and steward the creation… https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1997/01/forgotten-benefactor-of-humanity/306101/
Thank you Doug Bullock for this post. I shall re read and read again. I glean with glee for points well pointed out in this article.
Thank you. A good read and thought provoking. Many times when I have been in a discussion about our environment, I end up with telling whomever I’m talking to that I believe God is in control.
I’m not a huge fan of Moore b/c I assumed from his past work that he wouldn’t make points like #2 and #3. I assumed he was motivated to be loyal to a particular political faction and color. I guess I was wrong.
i agree with you Kevin… i was shocked