Does Believing the World Is Just Lead to Climate Skepticism? by Jim Ball In a forthcoming article to be published in the journal Psychological Science, UC-Berkeley social scientists Robb Willer and Matthew Feinberg present evidence suggesting that those who believe the world is “just, orderly, and stable” are primed to become global warming skeptics. This will happen if such individuals are presented with messages about global warming that significantly contradict these very notions. Here is an extended excerpt from their paper that explains this theory (subsequently confirmed by their experiments): We contend that one cause of global warming skepticism may be that such dire messages [i.e., messages “that highlight the dire risks associated with unchecked global warming”] threaten individuals’ need to believe that the world is just, orderly, and stable, a motive that is widely held and deeply ingrained in many people (Lerner, 1980; Lerner & Miller, 1978). Research shows that many individuals have a strong need to perceive the world as just believing that future rewards await those who judiciously strive for them, and punishments are meted out to those who deserve them (Dalbert, 2001; Furnham, 2003). Research on Just World Theory has demonstrated that when individuals’ need to believe in a just world is threatened, they commonly employ defensive responses, such as dismissing or rationalizing the information that threatened their just world beliefs (for reviews, see Furnham, 2003; Hafer & Bégue, 2005). Furthermore, in their experiments Willer and Feinberg found that when those who believe in a just, orderly, and stable world were presented with dire global warming messages and then asked if they would be willing to take actions to reduce their carbon footprint, such willingness dropped even further. So it is the need to believe that the world as it exists is just, orderly, and stable which is threatened by the consequences of global warming. And instead of modifying one’s worldview to accept the fact that global warming is indeed a threat to justice, order, and stability, denial is the solution for those whose climate skepticism increases when presented with the facts. Contrary to what some may think, belief in a just, orderly, and stable world is not simply some infantile delusion of those who cannot accept the world as it really is. Rather, it is
an echo of God’s original design. We were created to live in such a world, and our desire for it to currently reflect justice, order, and stability is a good thing. It is the way God’s creation should be. But to believe that it is the way things currently are is a profound theological mistake with serious ramifications. Genesis 3 tells us that sin entered the world and that it is still not what God intended. Christ’s death reconciles all things (Col. 1:20) but creation is still groaning until we become all God created us to be when God will create a new heaven and a new earth (Rom 8; Rev 21). In our “already/not yet” existence, where we have been redeemed but the fullness of reconciliation is not yet a reality, to believe that the world is already just, orderly, and stable can become spiritually dangerous. Empowered by Christ’s grace and guided by the Holy Spirit, God’s will for each of us is that we do what we can to create such a world. To fail to do so is a failure of righteousness. If our God-created desire for such a world actually becomes a belief that such a world currently exists, and if threats to such a world like global warming are denied instead of faced and overcome, then we have been captured by a spiritual perversity that will prevent us from doing God’s will. Not good! So one way to help resolve this problem is simply to continue to expound and teach a full biblical worldview, because without it one can head in the wrong direction. Let’s not let a good desire lead us to a bad outcome! Willer and Feinberg’s research suggests an additional way of avoiding an increase in climate skepticism for those who desire a just, orderly, and stable world. And that is to help people understand that global warming can be overcome. As they put it, if dire messages about global warming “are delivered coupled with a potential solution, it allows the information to be communicated without creating substantial threat to these individuals’ deeply held beliefs.” Balancing realism with hope is something I do in my new book, Global Warming and the Risen LORD. You can see the balance right in the title. While I provide a realistic depiction of future impacts of global warming, with a particular focus on the unjust impacts that will befall the poor in poor countries, I also stress that the key to global warming is the literal presence of the Risen LORD in our lives, because He is the one leading the way in overcoming global warming. The book also provides numerous stories of people making a difference, showing how it is indeed possible with
technologies available today to overcome global warming. Our desire for a just, orderly, and stable world is right and good, because it corresponds with God’s original plan and is what His Kingdom will be like when it comes in its fullness. We must let this desire help propel us to follow the Risen LORD as He leads the way in overcoming global warming. Jim Ball is executive vice president for policy for the climate campaign of the Evangelical Environmental Network. (http://creationcare.org/)