Historian sees parallels between Bible and climate movement

Immoral behaviour

British historian Peter Frankopan sees some similarities between the Biblical creation story and today's climate movement. Some of the discussions from the past are still relevant today.

Today's "prophets" had similar messages: "Namely, that bad behaviour and immoral behaviour entail punishments," he said in an interview with the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" (Saturday). In addition, there are "almost holy texts that tell you how to live, eat, travel".

Frankopan objected to the idea "that everyone before us, around 1900 or after 1945 or in prehistoric times, are idiots." Even in the Mesopotamian world, he said, there were scientists and discussions around issues that are still relevant today. "The idea that people in the past were mythologically blinded and foolish is a step too far for me."

Turbulent times

One of the dangers of today's world, in his view, is that "for a long time we thought we were all living in a world of increasing prosperity." In the meantime, no one is sure of that any more, the scientist said.

Times of profound turbulence, which are the subject of his recently published climate story "Between Heaven and Earth", therefore seem familiar to people. "On the other hand, as a child I was afraid of a nuclear catastrophe due to high armament. My students, on the other hand, complain that cheap flights to Thailand are harder to find."

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