|
|
|
God's Creation and Global Warming:
Video* Study Guide
Settings:
- religious school classes
- adult study classes
- youth group meeting
- intergenerational event
- social action committee meeting
Introduction:
Show the video (15 minutes long), suggesting to participants that they watch and listen for information about climate change and why it is an issue of faith.
Discussion Questions:
Some possible discussion questions, to follow the video:
- What have you learned about climate change either from the video or from other sources?
- What do you think Judaism says about this issue?
- How might climate change affect our community?
- Who is affected by climate change?
- What do you think when you hear about the situation in the South Pacific?
- Is God calling on us to respond to this issue? What are we being called to do? What does the video suggest about the relationship of human beings to the rest of creation?
Additional Activities:
- Brainstorm action the congregation can take to address climate change in our place of worship, at home, in school, in community, etc.
- Tropical storm simulation activity. Divide the group into 3 families, each representing a different social/economic group (i.e. wealthy family, middle income family, and poor family). A display of removable magazine pictures representative of their lifestyle, possessions, income, etc. could be used to help participants identify with their family.
Build the drama by telling participants that a tropical storm is reported to be approaching all three families. Each group must plan for their evacuation (where to go, what to take, how to provide for their family, etc.) and share their plan with the rest of the group. Since all material possessions of all three families are wiped out by the storm, lead a discussion about the recovery options (how quickly will life be "back to normal", or will it ever be?). Discuss the theological implications of this scenario.
- Greening tree project. Develop a worksheet and pledge card for reducing CO2 emissions, and a "tree" and "leaves" out of paper or other materials. As congregation members meet their pledge, they will add a leaf to the bare tree. Themes of greening the earth can be explored.
- Create a fourfold song of your own…what do the plants say? what do the animals say? what do other people say? Find opportunities to use this fourfold song to close the event, and/or in a service.
*Copies of the video, God's Creation and Global Warming, are available for $5.00 from COEJL. (pdf order form)
Download a printable version of this document (Adobe Acrobat PDF)
|
