Welcome to CarbonSabbath.org!

13 Feb, 2011

My name is Scott Claassen. On June 5th, I will begin a one year carbon sabbath. During that time, I will rest from driving, flying, heating/cooling/lighting my home, and several other habits that contribute to climate change and the unnecessary harm of my neighbors and creation. Through resting, I hope to examine how best to love God and my neighbors in the face of climate change.

As part of that examination, I will cycle around the United States going from church to church in order to engage in dialogue with others about these issues. As I see it, it is not possible to love our neighbors without being conscious of how our actions affect those neighbors. A similar lack of awareness severely inhibits our ability to connect with the divine. Part of the reason for this lack of awareness is the frenetic lifestyles that rob us of our solitude and mindfulness. By resting, we can restore our connection to God and our neighbors while also doing our part to limit the effects of climate change.