Faith is the 'assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen' (Hebrews 11:1). In other words, faith is believing that things that haven't yet happened, that haven't yet been seen, will in fact be good. Fear is the opposite. Fear is believing that things that haven't yet happened, that haven't yet been seen, will in fact be bad. Same emotional well, opposite belief. Faith or fear: we get to choose. So why are so many people pre-disposed to fear what is new and as yet unknown? Why do so many have such apparent frailty in their faith?
Ecomyths like all aspects of political dogma, prey both on people's apathy and their fear. Is it ignorance or laziness that pre-disposes people to fear the unknown? "I don't know, I don't care and I'm too scared to find out". In those conditions, people fall for the first semblance of authoritative action, especially one that appears to convey a sense of collective acceptance, whether or not the action is in fact warranted or will alter the situation it addresses.
A recent discussion by Frank Furedi illustrates how the politics of fear are interwoven between different policy fields and how the latest manifestation of Malthusianism is attempting to ride the terrorism bandwagon.
Doubtless someone, somewhere is preparing a grant submission entitled "Global warming and its effects on terrorism". Sadly, it would probably not only get funded but its existence vigorously defended.
Rather than peddling fear, we have to find ways to re-enforce people's natural faith capacities and negate the activities that "educate" people away from their ability to have and express faith. Empowerment should be about assisting people with their own lives, not about exercising power over them.
