The Ecumenical Patriarch and the Revenge of Nature

Fr. Johannes L. Jacobse writes on the American Orthodox Institute page (here):

Poseidon

Patriarch Bartholomew asks about the failure of the nuclear reactors in Japan: “…Why do we persist in adopting such dangerous sources of energy? Are we so arrogant as to compete with and exploit nature? Yet, we know that nature invariably seeks revenge.”

Nature seeks revenge? Does a plane crash mean that gravity struck back? Or does it mean we should build safer planes? Does a gas leak that caused a house to blow up mean gas should stay in the ground? Or does it mean we should design better plumbing?

A person can make a reasonable case that the risks associated with nuclear power might cancel out investment in the technology, but he should avoid personifying nature to justify it. If nature does indeed operate with such a calculus, how do we explain the infinitely greater destruction of the tsunami? Is Poseidon angry?

A relationship does indeed exist between God and nature. Jesus calmed the tempest. Paul writes that the entire creation “groans in travail waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God (Romans 8:22)”. Isaiah wrote that at the end time the “…wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them (Isaiah 11:6)”. How God and nature work together is a deep mystery, but scripture reveals the final referent is always God. God, not nature, makes the judgment.

We also must consider that man’s mastery over nature, while far from an unqualified good, is also a source of great blessing. Without it, things we take for granted such healing an abscess tooth or not freezing to death in winter or not dying of hunger because the rains did not come would be much more perilous. Why suspend the reasoning that led to these advancements by resorting to primitive modes of thought?

Personifying nature’s destructive energy replaces clear thinking with the echoes of ancient superstitions. By the Patriarch’s telling, the failure of the Japanese reactors is cosmic punishment for not installing windmills and solar panels. No one doubts mankind’s stewardship over the creation, but let’s not pretend the statement is unfortunately a muddle of politics and poor theology.

Full text of Patriarch Bartholomew’s statement follows here.

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