Tony Abbott needs to go back to Bible class if he quotes it on climate change | Geoff Thompson

From refugees to environment, the Judeo-Christian warrior doesn’t grasp what he is supposed to have studiedFor a former seminary student Tony Abbott is not a very good interpreter of the Bible. Of course, he’s very strong on defending western culture and its Judaeo-Christian roots. For this cause he is an unwavering ideological warrior. But as in all wars, truth is often the first casualty. In this case, it’s the truth of the very scriptures Abbott himself employs.His latest intervention, invoking Genesis to push back against the “religion” of climate change, is a prime example. His use of the Bible was clumsy – and not for the first time. Related: Tony Abbott says climate change is 'probably doing good' [T]he imperative to “love your neighbour as you love yourself” is at the heart of every western polity. It expresses itself in laws protecting workers, in strong social security safety nets, and in the readiness to take in refugees. It’s what makes us decent and humane countries as well as prosperous ones, but – right now – this wholesome instinct is leading much of Europe into catastrophic error.Climate change is by no means the sole or even the most significant symptom of the changing interests and values of the west. Still, only societies with high levels of cultural amnesia – that have forgotten the scriptures about man created “in the image and likeness of God” and charged with “subduing the earth and all its creatures” – could have made such a religion out of it. Related: Tony Abbott dares us to reject evidence on climate, but reveals a coward | Graham Readfearn Continue reading...