Or how to be a Christian pain in the arse.

Kairos is suggesting a Carbon Fast for Lent; it even has a calendar of suggestions.

Among them are (with helpful study notes):

Observe heat use at school or work and make a suggestion for increased energy efficiency.  Don’t mess around with underlings: take your concern straight to the top. When you go to collect your weekly dole, make sure you walk.

Reduce the idling time of your vehicle to a minimum or speak of your concern to someone who is idling excessively. Make sure you point out the excessive carbon footprint of the next idling police car you see.

If you have two cars, discuss becoming a one-car family. Resolve not to travel in a car for one day or one full week, whatever is a challenge for you. Convince your wife that she doesn’t need her car.

If you have children in your life, inventory their toys with them. How many do they actually use? Discuss, at an appropriate level, the negative effects of over-consumption.  Good plan: blame global warming on your children. They’ll thank you for it later.

Arrange for KAIROS to give a Carbon Sabbath Initiative (CSI) workshop at your church. This will stimulate church growth: by comparison, it will make the vicar’s sermons seem really interesting.

Inventory the amount of time you spend with loved ones. Decide to spend at least two days a month in 2010 enjoying activities that will bring you closer together. This could be tricky: after doing all the other suggested activities you probably won’t have any loved ones.