- Link:
- http://hdl.handle.net/10161/4651
- Collection:
-
- Subjects
- Christianity, environmentalism, creation, stewardship, doctrine, Lynn White, Genesis Christianity, environmentalism, creation, stewardship,
doctrine, Lynn White, Genesis
- Creator:
- Davies, Greg
- Type
- Masters' Project
- Language
- en_US
- Description
- Given both the quantity and quality of research on
the global ecologic crisis, we no longer need to find scientific
justification for environmental remediation. The question now
focuses on the kinds of actions we can take to meaningfully address
ecological harms. People from all backgrounds offer their time,
money, and expertise to combat environmental degradation, but the
scope of the problem always requires greater numbers of willing
participants. However, one group of people sometimes finds it
difficult to contribute to a call to protect the Earth: Christians
occasionally face accusations that the doctrines and teachings of
their church caused the ecological crisis in the first place. They
describe Christianity as a religion focused solely on human beings,
a faith that teaches us that God gave the world to mankind to use
and abuse as we please, and ultimately a religion that focuses on
life away from the material earth after death. Not all
environmentalists hold such dark views of Christianity, but
Christianity is sufficiently suspect within environmentalist
circles to justify closer examinations of the faith. This project
focuses on the scripture and doctrines of the early Christian
Church to determine whether Christian teachings support
environmental destruction. The project relies on research from
leading biblical scholars, as well as primary sources both from the
Bible and early Church theologians. A summary of Lynn White's
classic essay, The Historical Roots of Our Ecologic Crisis,
represents the majority of environmentalist attacks on
Christianity, with the analyses of scripture and doctrine
addressing the criticisms. The research suggests that Lynn White
and subsequent detractors of Christianity within the environmental
movement misinterpret the fundamental teachings of scripture and
doctrine that underlie the modern Church. Conscientious attention
to biblical and early theological texts reveals a religion focused
on God, not on humanity. Church doctrine ultimately fosters a sense
of responsibility towards the Earth, rather than a sense of
entitlement. White and his successors mistakenly conflate Christian
doctrine with the actions of nominal Christians. Too often, some
people overlook the teachings and works of Christians that support
creation stewardship and focus instead on the harms caused by
individuals and communities who call themselves "Christian." A
clarification of Christian beliefs and theologies can address the
animosity that some environmentalists feel towards communities of
faith and allow collaboration in the global efforts to remediate
environmental damages.
- Access:
- Instructions in case access is denied
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