‘Senator Inhofe’s theological conundrum’
Photo by: John Buckingham
In an opinion piece for the Washington Post’s On Faith blog Mathew Schmalz, associate professor of religious studies at the College of the Holy Cross commented on Senator James Inhofe’s (R-Okla.) tendency to view policy matters “through a biblical lens.”
Pointing to Inhofe’s controversial views on climate change and his recent citation of Genesis 8:22 “to argue that it was ‘arrogant’ to presume that humans could influence the climate,” Schmalz cautions against “justifying policy through ad hoc biblicalism.”
“Not only do you have to worry about biblical and political consistency,” he wrote. “Theological and personal consistency are concerns as well. Of course, consistency may very well be a hobgoblin that bedevils little minds, but that’s a good reason why it still has an important role to play when religion and politics meet.”
This “Holy Cross in the News” item is Sara Bovat ’14.