Bush fires are an annual reality on the continent but this summer season's conflagration has already been 20 times larger than normal and much more extensive than the recent Amazon basin fires. Tens of thousands of people have been displaced and two dozen have died. More than a thousand homes and businesses have been destroyed. It is heart-wrenching to hear that an estimated 500 million mammals, birds and reptiles have died, and there is stunning film footage of highways lined with the corpses of creatures. The concern is that some species and habitats will never recover. What were formerly regenerative fires have been become so catastrophic that nothing is left.
I have wondered what the response to the apocalyptic fires in Australia has been by faith communities. Not surprisingly there are prayers, such as the one above issued by the Anglican church. There are also relief and aid appeals for the beleaguered fire service made up largely of volunteers, as well as for those displaced and suffering.
There have been calls by the National Council of Churches Australia, for a "climate conversion" in a country whose government has been steadfastly climate crisis denying, and was reelected last May. Again, we look to Australia and see the grim reminder that "we can run, but we can't hide" from the implications of human-created climate change.
Denial will not make the climate crisis go away. Anger at young protesters will not make the climate crisis disappear. Contempt for science will not make it go away. And bad theology will definitely not make it go away.
Just look at the image below and ponder what God is calling us to do for all of Creation, now. And pray for all living creatures in Australia.
NASA satellite image of Australia in flames
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