The first tenet of Earthseed is God is Change.

God is Change is an acknowledgement that the greatest power in the universe is Change.  Change is an irresistible force — and there are no immovable objects.

We can see this all around us: in the seasons, in society, in the aging of our bodies … and in climate change.

It is human nature to want a different kind of God, a God who does not change, a God we can rely upon to be the same, always and forever:”For I the Lord do not change …” (Malachi 3:6).

We want a God who will protect us from Change, not a God who is Change.

But when we don’t recognize the true nature of God as Change, we can also fail to recognize change in the world around us.

For example, if we believe that we are made in the image of immortal gods, then it is easier to deny our own finitude.  If we believe in a creator god who spoke all the species into existence in a day, then it is easier to deny that entire species are now going extinct.  If we believe in a god whose precepts cannot be altered by human action, then it is easier to deny the reality of climate change.

But if we understand that God is Change, then we will be more likely to recognize Change all around us.

If God is Change, then God is climate change too.  God is not causing the melting icebergs, the record drought, the burning forests, the acidifying oceans, and the extinction of species.  God is the melting icebergs, the record drought, the burning forests, the acidifying oceans, and the extinction of species.

If we understand the true nature of God, we cannot hide from the true nature of … nature … or the consequences of human action on nature, including climate change.

In addition, if we understand that we can Shape God, then we will be empowered to work to slow climate change and ameliorate its effects.  But that’s a topic for another post.

∞ = Δ