John Shimkus, GOP Rep. Who Denies Climate Change On Religious Grounds, Could Lead House Environmental Policy

The highest-ranking House official in charge of environmental and energy policy may soon be a Republican legislator who denies climate change on the grounds of his belief that nothing bad can come of the Earth unless it is preordained by God.

Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.), a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce since 1997, submitted a letter to his colleagues earlier this week asking for their blessing in his campaign to assume the gavel when Republicans take control of the chamber.

Such a possibility is likely to be particularly worrying to climate change scientists and their supporters, especially considering a specific incident in which Shimkus appeared to wholly reject any potential for man-made climate consequences due to his faith that only God can "destroy this Earth."

The Toronto Star relays the entire exchange, which took place during a 2009 subcommittee hearing:

First, he noted God's post-Flood promise to Noah in Genesis 8:21-22.

"Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though all inclinations of his heart are evil from childhood and never again will I destroy all living creatures as I have done.

"As long as the earth endures, seed time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, will never cease."

"I believe that's the infallible word of God, and that's the way it's going to be for his creation," Shimkus said.

Then he quoted Matthew 24:31.

"And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds from one end of the heavens to the other."

"The Earth will end only when God declares it's time to be over. Man will not destroy this Earth. This Earth will not be destroyed by a Flood," Shimkus asserted. "I do believe that God's word is infallible, unchanging, perfect."

Shimkus's rivals for the Energy and Commerce Committee chairmanship include BP apologist Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas), discounted by some as a real contender, and Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), who was recently criticized for his alleged embrace of "radical environmentalism." Click here for the full Shimkus story from the Toronto Star.

Comments

[Honor-above-Power]

01:24 PM on 01/03/2011

This is actually embarrassing!

If we keep electing clowns like this to major positions of political power how on earth can we expect to be welcomed as mental equals by the other advanced nations?

[algalsolution]

01:44 PM on 11/29/2010

Our planet will be running out of fossil fuel within 10-20 years. As it does there will be more wars and hardship. The fuel we use today came from ancient green algae. We need to grow more now. Certain strains of green algae can reproduce every 24 hours and can contain 50% oil. It can not be cultivated in open ponds, because of cross contamination. www.algalsolution.com in conjunction with www.solarpriceindex.co.uk have patented a solar powered bioreactor that will save the planet.

[Will Vautrain]

03:33 PM on 11/22/2010

This guy has been an embarrassment to downstate Illinois ever since taking office. I do not understand why he keeps getting elected.

[Fight The Right]

10:30 PM on 11/21/2010

Isn't what John Stinkkass saying exactly what satan would want use to believe.

[Mario Mercado]

06:23 PM on 11/19/2010

OMG!!! We are the laugh around the world...this person is one of our elected leaders...I feel soooo sorry for the great people of Illinois...and for our nation. We are supposed to be the the leader within nations and when we publish our views in this ridiculous and unfounded way, well...we still look like ignorant immigrants with no concept of reality...I'm so sad!

[olddad]

04:10 PM on 11/18/2010

I really hope that the "Rapture" really happens. Then the Christians will all be gone and the rest of us can get on with our lives. The question is: do we still believe in any other bronze age ideas ?? Is the Earth really Flat?? Did the world really form in 6 days . C'mon how about a little logic.Where can I get is my mark? I want it on my right hand.

[Mamma Mia]

03:43 PM on 11/18/2010

Good grief. No wonder this country has become the joke of the world.

[Save Us Jeebus]

02:09 PM on 11/18/2010

No one is talking about the destruction of the Earth. We are talking about altering its climate in very significant ways...ways which will drastically change growing seasons, ocean levels, polar ice, glaciers, etc. Try to stay with us Rep. Shimkus -- the Bible doesn't have all the answers.

[ZeraLee]

04:05 AM on 11/18/2010

SHOW ME THE ARK!

[groland]

11:20 AM on 11/17/2010

Could there be any better example of why much of the civilized world and our most important allies view American politics as insane? Anyone who bases government policy on a personal religious belief that most established religions do not even acknowledge - they believe we are stewards of the earth - does not deserve to be in government never mind head of environmental policy.

[windecinde]

12:19 PM on 11/17/2010

Politics are silly here because of political correctness and stupidity about how to run our financial system. Of course, when you have big banks, big business and congressmembers from both sides of the aisle with their hands in our pockets, that's what you get. And that's just as dangerous, if not more so, than having a politician who expresses his opinion openly and honestly. Geesh, have a little of the tolerance dems are always lecturing everyone else about. Like I said in another post, this guy doesn't work alone and there should be enough of a balance that his views won't overwhelm the others.

[groland]

04:08 PM on 11/17/2010

There are points of view to debate and their are things that are beyond debate. That the earth is warming over the lat 30 years is based on much collected data. Whether we contribute to climate change is a debatable issue. That only God can destroy the earth is not a debatable issue. Humans have proven themselves very capable of mass destruction, time and time again!

[ernestozgutierrez]

10:11 AM on 11/17/2010

Why are religious fanatics still allowed to run positions of sound responsibility? Hasn't it been long enough we need to kick religion out of politics.

[windecinde]

12:15 PM on 11/17/2010

You may disagree with his point of view, but we must all allow each other to have that point of view. He doesn't work alone in his position and he can't make laws on his own. Others are there to keep the balance. In the government, in the workplace, everywhere. There are Muslims in the government. Should we not allow them to serve in a public office in this country? The opposite is what needs to be done - kick politics out of religion and tolerate each other's point of view. I don't like having people in official positions who want to quash our right to free speech and free press, but hopefully there will be a balance to keep that from happening.

[Kevins]

03:26 AM on 11/20/2010

Maybe he doesn't believe God gave him a brain to recognize and solve problems....
Maybe he's right.

[StephenBP]

06:41 AM on 11/17/2010

Shimkus and Joe Miller are two embarrassments to the US Military Academy. If they ever had any intellects, they seem to have been wiped out and replaced with fearful subservience to a non-existent deity.

[dutchman]

04:45 AM on 11/17/2010

"The God of the Christians is a father who makes much of his apples, and very little of his children."

- Denis Diderot

[dutchman]

04:42 AM on 11/17/2010

Belief in the rapture is completely maladaptive to sound policy making.

[MaryKayMan]

06:59 PM on 11/16/2010

"...nothing bad can come of the Earth unless it is preordained by God."

Okay right there; he is clearly the worst thing that could happen to the Earth and he is clearly a creation of God.

Lets review...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zl4V981ArtM