carbon footprints and a related concern

There was an article in the Chicago Tribune today discussing the various calculators available to calculate one’s carbon footprint. For one particular family the Coolclimate calculator spit out a value of 44 tons while the Nature Conservancy produced a value of 120 tons. The article noted that the methodology is still being worked out.

A friend mentioned to me a couple of weeks ago how striking it seemed that while global warming continues to be the primary moral concern in the news over 1 million abortions are occuring annually just here in the U.S. I am all for being a good steward of creation for it is indeed a majestic thing to be treasured and conserved. At the same time, I remain a global warming skeptic, and also wonder if it might not be a good idea to produce a calculator which one could use to determine one's immoral footprint. It may well be that this footprint has a far greater impact on the general environment than many realize.

I think this would be relatively easy to do. It could consist of just 10 questions:

1. On a scale of 1-10, to what extent do you covet your neighbor’s vehicles, toys, or spouse?
2. How many times in the last year have you disparaged a co-worker without sufficient basis?
3. How many times have you stolen in the last year, from big things down to pencils?
4. How many times have you been unfaithful to your spouse, either in deed or thought?
5. Have you killed anyone, or failed to be concerned about any killing going on around you?
6. To what extent have you dishonored your parents in the last year?
7. How frequently a month do you take a day off to rest, reflect, and recharge?
8. How many times in the last year have you used the Lord’s name inappropriately?
9. How many idols are there in your home? Flat screen TV’s may qualify.
10. In the last year, how many other gods have you put before the one true God?

For additional considerations please see Exodus chapter 20, also known as the Top 10 Reasons Humanity Needs a Savior.

I find it profoundly sad that a culture which can be so sure about the evils of carbon cannot pause even for a moment to consider the footprints of greed, selfishness, lust, pride, and envy - not to mention abortion.

“They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator - who is forever praised. Amen.” (Rom. 1:25)