--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are people who say, \"God is in…" description: "\"There are people who say, \"God is in complete control of everything that happens, and if the Earth is getting warmer, then maybe God intends that.\" Wel..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/782/al-gore-609_action_there-are-people-who-say-god-is-in-compl_2027558.jpg" --- # There are people who say, "God is in complete control of… ![“There are people who say, "God is in complete control of everything that happens, and if the Earth is getting warmer, then maybe God intends that." Well, no. God intends for us to take responsibility for how we treat God's creation, and if we choose to use the thin shell of atmosphere surrounding…” quote by Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/782/al-gore-609_action_there-are-people-who-say-god-is-in-compl_2027558.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/782/al-gore-609_action_there-are-people-who-say-god-is-in-compl_2027558.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/782/al-gore-609_action_there-are-people-who-say-god-is-in-compl_2027558.jpg) > “There are people who say, "God is in complete control of everything that happens, and if the Earth is getting warmer, then maybe God intends that." Well, no. God intends for us to take responsibility for how we treat God's creation, and if we choose to use the thin shell of atmosphere surrounding our planet as an open sewer for 110-million tons of global-warming pollution every day, the consequences are attributable to us. And if you are a believer, as I am, I think God intends for us to open our eyes and take responsibility for the moral consequences of our actions.” [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human responsibility for environmental stewardship outweighs fatalistic divine control. **In simple terms:** We must act, not blame God, for climate damage. Key Takeaway Take responsibility for protecting the planet. Themes environment responsibility faith ethics Mood concerned determined Type ethical motivational When to use this quote - policy making - community activism - personal lifestyle choices Key Concepts stewardship climate change moral agency Questions to Reflect On - How can faith motivate concrete environmental actions? - What responsibilities do we have toward future generations? A Different Perspective Divine control argument ignores human agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Atmosphere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atmosphere/) [Believer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believer/) [Consequence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consequence/) [Creation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creation/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Every day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-day/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [God Intends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-intends/) [God'S Creation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-s-creation/) [Intends God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intends-god-3705940/) [Maybe God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maybe-god/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Open Our Eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-our-eyes/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Pollution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pollution/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Taking responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taking-responsibility/) [Think God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-god/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Treat God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treat-god-627414/) [Ur Eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ur-eyes/) ## Related quotes > [A Christian, who realizes he has been made in the image of the Creator God and is therefore meant to be creative on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-schaeffer/a-christian-who-realizes-he-has-been-made-in-the-image-of-the-creator/) [Edith Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-schaeffer/) > [You treat God like you treat any dangerous looney — keep him calm and stay on his good side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-gardner/you-treat-god-like-you-treat-any-dangerous-looney-keep-him-calm-and/) [Herb Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-gardner/) > [Treat God like a dangerous loony - keep him calm and stay on his good side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-gardner/treat-god-like-a-dangerous-loony-keep-him-calm-and-stay-on-his-good/) [Herb Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-gardner/) > [Some people treat God like they do a lawyer; they go to Him only when they are in trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/some-people-treat-god-like-they-do-a-lawyer-they-go-to-him-only-when/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [“We often don’t have the patience to wait. We want some control over the outcome. We want to know the outcome. We believe deeply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-seefeldt-amodea/we-often-don-t-have-the-patience-to-wait-we-want-some-control-over/) [Brenda Seefeldt Amodea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-seefeldt-amodea/) > [Doctors can treat you but only God can heal you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayma-skip/doctors-can-treat-you-but-only-god-can-heal-you/) [Mayma Skip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayma-skip/) > [The greatness of prayer is nothing but an extension of the greatness and glory of God in our lives To fail to pray, then,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/the-greatness-of-prayer-is-nothing-but-an-extension-of-the-greatness/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [O man, I beseech you do not treat God's promises as if they were curiosities for a museum; but use them as every day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/o-man-i-beseech-you-do-not-treat-god-s-promises-as-if-they-were/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [If you know how to have a relationship with God first then you will know how to have a relationship with a spouse -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorenzo-hart/if-you-know-how-to-have-a-relationship-with-god-first-then-you-will/) [Lorenzo Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorenzo-hart/) > [Isn't it annoying when people only call you when they need something? That's exactly how most people treat God. How do you think He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shadawcatt/isn-t-it-annoying-when-people-only-call-you-when-they-need-something/) [Shadawcatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shadawcatt/) > [To fail to pray, then, is not to merely break some religious rule- it is a failure to treat God as God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/to-fail-to-pray-then-is-not-to-merely-break-some-religious-rule-it-is/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [This is also why it is wrong to treat God as a grand employment agency, a celestial executive searcher to find perfect fits for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/os-guinness/this-is-also-why-it-is-wrong-to-treat-god-as-a-grand-employment/) [Os Guinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/os-guinness/) > [People are too apt to treat God as if he were a minor royalty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-beerbohm-tree/people-are-too-apt-to-treat-god-as-if-he-were-a-minor-royalty/) [Herbert Beerbohm Tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-beerbohm-tree/) > [The Bible is not God, nor is it a substitute for God, and to treat it as if it were God or a surrogate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-j-gomes/the-bible-is-not-god-nor-is-it-a-substitute-for-god-and-to-treat-it/) [Peter J. Gomes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-j-gomes/) > [“Once, I remember, Father Abbot said that our purpose is justice, and with God lies the privilege of mercy. But even God, when he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellis-peters/once-i-remember-father-abbot-said-that-our-purpose-is-justice-and/) [Ellis Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellis-peters/) ## More by Al Gore > [Local and state governments have outrun the federal government. The EPA has served notice that it will enact a rule requiring CO2 reductions by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/local-and-state-governments-have-outrun-the-federal-government-the/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [Mother Nature does not do bailouts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/mother-nature-does-not-do-bailouts/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [The climate crisis is not a political issue, it is a moral and spiritual challenge to all of humanity. It is also our greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/the-climate-crisis-is-not-a-political-issue-it-is-a-moral-and/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [I decided to pick the diet that I thought would maximize my chances of long-term survival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/i-decided-to-pick-the-diet-that-i-thought-would-maximize-my-chances/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [You know there's an old african proverb that i made up: "If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/you-know-there-s-an-old-african-proverb-that-i-made-up-if-you-want-to/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [One tragic example of the loss of forests and then water is found in Ethiopia. The amount of its forested land has decreased from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/one-tragic-example-of-the-loss-of-forests-and-then-water-is-found-in/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [The ten hottest years in the atmospheric record, going back only 160 years, have been in the last eleven years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/the-ten-hottest-years-in-the-atmospheric-record-going-back-only-160/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [Hey, you know what, I've gotta go on that 'Letterman' show. That show is so lame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/hey-you-know-what-i-ve-gotta-go-on-that-letterman-show-that-show-is/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [When you talk about President Trump, the cable networks turned over so many hours of prime time to him. Why? Because he was entertaining,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/when-you-talk-about-president-trump-the-cable-networks-turned-over-so/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [Iraq does pose a serious threat to the stability of the Persian Gulf and we should organize an international coalition to eliminate his access…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/iraq-does-pose-a-serious-threat-to-the-stability-of-the-persian-gulf/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [There are skeptics who do not come to their view because they have a source of income from carbon polluters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/there-are-skeptics-who-do-not-come-to-their-view-because-they-have-a/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [Our civilization is experiencing unprecedented changes across many realms, largely due to the rapid advancement of information technology. The ability to code and understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/our-civilization-is-experiencing-unprecedented-changes-across-many/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [There are many who would much prefer that the word 'climate' never be mentioned and that the issue be eliminated from our national conversation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/there-are-many-who-would-much-prefer-that-the-word-climate-never-be/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [As many know, the Chinese expression for "crisis" consists of two characters side by side. The first is the symbol for "danger," the second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/as-many-know-the-chinese-expression-for-crisis-consists-of-two/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [I think George W. Bush has a warm, engaging personality. But, you know, the presidency is more than just a popularity contest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/i-think-george-w-bush-has-a-warm-engaging-personality-but-you-know/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) [Explore all 447 Al Gore quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There are people who say, \"God is in complete control of everything that happens, and if the Earth is getting warmer, then maybe God intends that.\" Well, no. God intends for us to take responsibility for how we treat God's creation, and if we choose to use the thin shell of atmosphere surrounding our planet as an open sewer for 110-million tons of global-warming pollution every day, the consequences are attributable to us. And if you are a believer, as I am, I think God intends for us to open our eyes and take responsibility for the moral consequences of our actions.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Al Gore" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/there-are-people-who-say-god-is-in-complete-control-of-everything/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/there-are-people-who-say-god-is-in-complete-control-of-everything/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/782/al-gore-609_action_there-are-people-who-say-god-is-in-compl_2027558.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/782/al-gore-609_action_there-are-people-who-say-god-is-in-compl_2027558.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/782/al-gore-609_action_there-are-people-who-say-god-is-in-compl_2027558.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There are people who say, \"God is in complete control of everything that happens, and if the Earth is…” — Al Gore", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Al Gore", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There are people who say, \"God...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/there-are-people-who-say-god-is-in-complete-control-of-everything/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/there-are-people-who-say-god-is-in-complete-control-of-everything/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```