The Prophets and Our Resources

Review of the previous post.

The previous post, post number 5 of 13, continued introducing the topic and discusses the premise of this series.

Preview of this post.

This post, post number 6 of 13, continues introducing the topic and discusses some modern concerns in the field of ecology.

1. Introduction

C.Modern concerns

One of the hot topics of modern society revolves around the use of natural resources^[1]. While oil is the natural resource which is usually at the center of this discussion, all other resources should be considered as well. This includes the usual resources of gas, trees, coal, and the like. But it also includes less known resources such as tantalum, copper, cobalt, manganese, as well as elements that are used in solar panels such as gallium, indium and tellurium, as well as still less-known elements such as yttrium, neodymium, europium, terbium and dysprosium which are key components of energy-saving elements such as light bulbs, magnets and the like, and many others. Even silicon, a basic resource used in the production of solar energy, while hugely abundant, is not limitless. Thus, even the so-called “green energy” relies on natural resources which are not limitless, and in many cases are even more limited than the energy sources that they are meant to replace. As will be further discussed in this essay, no matter what source is used, some resource is consumed.

There is also the problem of reliability. Energy from natural resources, such as coal or gas or nuclear, is very reliable and can be available on demand; whereas, energy from solar power or wind power relies on unreliable sunshine, or winds. Hence, any power system that relies on solar or wind must be backed up by some other reliable source of energy in the event that the sun is not shining or there is no wind. Such backup power is very expensive and must be considered against the cost of a massive blackout due to the lack of sunshine, etc. Furthermore, there really is nothing “clean” about the so-called “clean” energy from solar or wind. The heavy metals discussed above are pollutants, there is a noise effect and a flickering effect associated with wind-driven power generators, to say nothing of the sight pollution of a massive wind power generator farm in place of a meadow or a farm, as well as the danger to wildlife, particularly birds associated with the spinning of wind rotors. Still further, when backup power plants must be cycled to avoid blackouts caused by unreliable “clean” power, there is an increase in pollutants associated with those backup power plants.

It should also be noted that electric cars, while saving on gas, all have batteries which must be charged and recharged. While some hybrid cars have batteries which are charged when the car is being powered by an internal combustion engine, others often require the car to be plugged into an outlet. The outlet receives its power from a utility company. The utility company burns oil or similar resource to generate the power which is used to charge or recharge a car battery. Still further, the batteries themselves require a great deal of natural resources to build, transport, assemble, and dispose of.  Furthermore, the batteries used in these cars use many elements which, themselves, are not limitless. Still further, once used up, these batteries must be disposed of thereby co-opting land which might otherwise be used for other purposes, such as farming or the like. Thus, while it may appear that the electric cars are conserving natural resources, in fact, they are not nearly as effective at such conservation as some manufacturers and sellers would have us believe. The prophets had no way of knowing of elements such as these, and at first blush, it would seem odd that their words could have any resonance with regard to such natural resources.

While scientists and engineers are seeking new and more efficient ways to obtain electric power from primary sources, the fact remains that most of the prime sources of today’s energy come from consuming resources that were deposited in the earth millions of years ago. We cannot wait an additional millions of years to allow the earth to replace such resources.

All in all, “clean” energy in the state it is in as of the writing of this essay, leaves much to be desired and must come a long way to be considered a viable, economic replacement for fossil fuel-generated power.

As discussed in other essays, the prophets were able to identify problems and issues which are basic to the human condition, so why not this problem as well? As was also discussed, while the prophets were able to identify such problems in a broad manner, they generally provided no significant practical guidance in solving those problems. The premise of this essay is that the Bible and the prophets did, in fact, have teaching that can be applied to modern problems, such as conservation of natural resources^[2]. The essay then suggests a practical solution for our natural resources. It must be noted at the very outset, however, that this solution is merely a suggestion which is intended to start a discussion. It is not intended to be the solution. The suggestion is only offered so that the essay will be complete. Identifying a problem without offering some suggestion as to its solution would make the essay incomplete.

Preview of the next post.

The next post, post number 7 of 13, begins the discussion of what the prophets said.

[1] There have been several recent studies exploring the relationship between Biblical Ethics and modern ecology. See, for example, Rodd, Cyril S, Glimpses of a Strange Land, Studies in Old Testament Ethics T&T Clark, Ltd, London, 2001, print, see also Deane-Drummond, Ethics of Nature, 31-8, Hessel, Christianity and Ecology; Northcott, Environment; Palmer, Environmental Ethics.

[2] While exploring this topic, it might be noted that some believe that current environmental problems were actually caused by the views of the Bible. See, for example, Lynn White Jr in his 1966 paper to the American Association for the Advancement of Science entitled “The Historical Roots of our Ecologic Crisis” where he ties Judaeo-Christian religious beliefs to an environmental crisis because, he contends inter alia, that religion teaches that humans are dominant and God created the entities in Genesis for the benefit of man.It might be noted that Maimonides suggest that the belief that the world was created for man is the root of many, if not all, evil. Instead of having man as the center of the universe, Maimonides suggests that providence is not God’s constant interest in every person, but rather a spiritual achievement of one who seeks God.