The Eonomist's Digest27

International
New sins, new virtues
Originally from The Economist July.11th, 2009

Summary:
As globalization, technology and economic problems emerge; religious leaders like the Pope and Dalai Lama start to think these global problems and start to talk humans as a whole instead of the old, individual way.
The Pope talks about scientific progress problems, mental-health problems, human responsibility for the earth…etc. Other moral leaders also worry about climate change. Annual reports from the Pope have a great influence on the Catholic; the issue of this year, however, was delayed because the Vatican’s thinkers want to catch up with the world’s step. Even though Pope’s Annual reports (encyclicals) talk about new things this year, the Pope still insists on his original value----he doesn’t fawn on the modern material culture.
Now in the encyclicals, they connect religious idea to the development in the modern world. They still emphasize on the Catholic virtues, mentioning without it the society will only serve for private interest.
The Pope also proposes that an overhaul of global organizations. He talks about the ugly side of global organizations, and also lament for the Iraq war. The Pope also says that the origin of these years’ economic crises is the confusion of happiness with prosperity; he says we can’t solve all the social problems through economic activity.
Other religious leaders worry about climate change and our environment. Dalai Lama worries about global warming; Islamic scholars worry about water resources, hygiene, and rainforests. Many of these religious leaders have taken their actions, many of which are Islamic scholars, instead of the Vatican leader.

My opinion:
It’s easy to understand why climate change worries religious leaders----it’s about the human existence in the world! Actually, the only thing that the Pope can do is talking, but it’s not his fault----it’s the historical effect. In the past, the Pope’s power is over the kings’ in western world. Thus, people started to rip him off it.
However, it’s not the case in Islamic world. Religious leaders still have their “real” power in their countries, and they can do more things to the world. The western (especially Catholic) countries should contemplate on this phenomenon. I don’t know whether it’s good or bad.