Lynn White Crisis

McFague begins her essay by stating that originally Christianity was not anthropocentric, but the age of the enlightenment made it so. This gave Lynn White a viable reason behind his argument in his famous essay. “What creation meant in the first or third or twelfth century cannot serve as an answer to the question, how can Christians act responsibly toward nature in the twenty-first century?” (McFague 334). This is true because if one were to look at the creation story as a whole, they would notice the parts that say how man cannot destroy nature because it will not be replaced. Instead, the development of technology lead this passage to

Lynn White wrote an essay titled "The Historical Roots of our Ecologic Crisis," where he argued that humans must fully examine their attitude towards nature, in order to understand and address the environmental crises that are becoming evident. The main argument of the essay was that our attitude towards nature is rooted in our religious beliefs. In this paper, I will prove to you why White is correct in arguing that religion has had a profound effect on man’s view of nature. White was at least partially correct when he argued that historically Protestants and Catholics have permitted a blatant disregard for the environment.

He says,” Hence we shall continue to have a worsening ecologic crisis until we reject the Christian axiom that nature has no reason for existence save to serve man.” pg 6. White is question people belief and putting blame on why people treated the environment because the western Christian do not show proof in the bible that they care for nurture. While some people will argue that nice true. He want Western Christian to change the way they think by explaining, “The greatest spiritual revolutionary in Western history, Saint Francis, proposed what he thought was an alternative Christian view of nature and man's relation to it; he tried to substitute the idea of the equality of all creatures, including man, for the idea of man's limitless rule of creation. “ pg 6. This article could be a very touchy subject because of he talk about

Our earthly habitat is not an unexpected occurrence of little worth, but rather, it is one to be highly valued and preserved. The biblical doctrine of creation helps the Christian to understand the true significance of the world in order to deal with the environmental crisis. The Bible says, “For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited…” (King James Version, Isaiah 45:18). In Christian teaching, God not only created Heavens and Earth, but expressed His delight in His creation. This creation meant, everything encompassing the trees, the

With the Pope’s latest publication there has been an increase in media coverage and interest with Christianity and environmentalism, but this is far from the first time these two subjects have crossed paths.When it comes to looking for examples of earlier “eco-theologists” several can be found in the american writing movement known as transcendentalism. This was an example of environmentalists and Christianity clashing. The transcendentalists were one of the earliest groups of environmentalists in the united states. The philosophical movement often challenged the teachings of the church and lead many to question Christianity. The leader of this movement, Ralph Waldo Emerson, went to school to become a preacher but ended up dismissing the Church

“The Believers Church: A Natural Resource Worth Conserving” by Jason G. Duesing is an article about protection and preservation of the church doctrine. President Theodore Roosevelt’s words, not only addressed “Conservation as a National Day” , but he “was not concerned with any immediate threat to the existence of the growing nation, but rather the present population’s reckless indifference toward a vital problem that threatened its future existence”. Duesing states that culprit indifferences and climate of ecclesiological relativism is on the rise as “believers engaged in old wasteful methods with regards to natural resources of the doctrine of the church”. The doctrine of believer’s experiences indifferences while being intentionally

Humans have constantly struggled to manage resources for 50,000 years, ever since they developed inventiveness, hunting skills, and efficiency. When they fail to manage and they destroy the environment around them. Diamond discusses eight types of environmental damage: deforestation/habitat destruction, soil problems, water management problems, overhunting, overfishing, harmful introduced species, human population growth, and increased per-capita impact of people. In Diamond’s best seller, Guns Germs and Steel, he explains how human population growth and food demand are directly correlated. When the population becomes unmanageable, humans strip their land of resources. The major theme of environmental damage is simply overexploitation of

Another problem that we may stumble upon would be relying on other people to be ecologically responsible instead of ourselves. We often believe that there are other people out there in the world who are making a difference and so we passively sit back and do nothing. However, we are all accountable for our own actions. Palmer (2015) is a man who worked around the world with people from every major religion from Daoism to Zoroastrianism. He has witnessed many religious environmental movements emerge and grow. He states that the basis of the environmental

Mr. White believed religion, specifically Christianity, was the root to the entire ecological crisis today. He states that “…ecology is deeply conditioned by beliefs about our nature and destiny- that is, by religion.” He then continues and states, “Christianity inherited…not only a concept of time…but also a striking story of creation.” This story, and the beliefs of Christianity, “…not only established a dualism of man and nature but also insisted that it is God’s will that man exploit nature for his proper ends.” This belief does have some fact in it, and I do not believe it is the most misguided portion of this reading, however it is still incorrect. It is wrong in the fact that the entire picture isn’t painted and Lynn White is allowing a narrow focus of Christianity to cloud his judgment on the bigger picture.

The issue of Deforestation has been high on the global environmental agenda for many years, and remains a serious problem today. In the tropics and many other parts of the world, nations continue to lose the valuable biodiversity, soil and water conservation, and climate regulation that natural forests provide. Christianity can only address this matter by continuing to combine an acceptance of the command to people to ‘multiply and replenish the earth’ (Genesis 1:28) with a balancing injunction to act as stewards of the environment. Charities such as Christian Ecology Link and World Vision work to increase awareness of the current ecological crisis and encourage adherents to live sustainably and make ‘green’ consumption choices.

The perception of humans as being rulers over everything is of course a human based idea that shows up in religions such as Christianity. This idea of human life as being the most important thing, Genesis 1:28 “And God blessed them and told them, “Multiply and fill the earth and subdue it; you are the masters of the fish and the birds and all the animals”. By using this logic it’s easy to understand why Lyn White made his point. By using his example of a stream, let’s say there’s fish in the stream, by damming it, you kill the fish habitat and the fish, so consequently you upset the Gods of nature that protect these things. But with Christianity these things don’t matter and it’s the job of man to subdue his natural word. With this shift in thinking it’s easy to see where regard for the environment slipped. In modern terms the “subdue nature” attitude still isn’t a healthy one. Although not many people today are going to consider whether or not their actions are going to harm and displease a god or goddess of nature, the “I rule all” Judeo Christian attitude isn’t discouraging the domination over nature according to Lyn

White argues that the impact of science and technology dominated by western, Judeo-Christian thought, is what is responsible for the environmental crisis.13 The Abrahamic religions do not believe in spirits within natural objects, and see man as made in god’s image, not as part of the ecosystem. She interprets Genesis’s creation story as the cause of the man/nature dualism and the legitimizing source for man to exploit nature.. “Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” (Genesis 1:26)8 White’s recommendation that the “roots of religion must also be the remedy” supports a religion-conservation collaboration, but was religion really the cause in the first place? 13 Hillel’s critique of White argues for an alternative interpretation of the creation story, one based on the fundamental Christian beliefs of God’s unconditional love and human stewardship. Adam should not be seen as nature’s dominator, but as a caretaker with a responsibility towards protecting and conserving the resources within it. Greed in developed countries and lack of sustainable alternatives in developing ones should be blamed for environmental degradation, not this framework of human accountability on its impact in nature, which is precisely in line with the conservation

Christian voice is correcting them or proclaiming the biblical model of man’s relationship to nature which: is unique and superior to the dominant free-market and environmentalist models. . According to Gardner and Stern (1996), in that place are exclusive approaches that have power to be implemented in companionships search to defend the environment. One like approach may take a closer look at holy and regarding duties beliefs and the effects of these beliefs on the environment. The idea to create values and beliefs in environmental issues are important components of having a safer and enjoyable world for its people and the world they live in. Christian and non-Christian, at hand, must see the environment and the shortcoming of business by reason of a proper conversion to an act or purpose of and preservation of the wealth the planet has to support life. Christians as the Bible originate directing the eye to what has to be published by word force in reference to human natures dependence and bounden duty to the nature and its resources. As Christians we should do what ever it takes to make sure this earth glorify God. If we are careless about science and economics — not caring about how they work and what they describe, creation’s economy will suffer (Christians Research Institute).

This article presents worrying examples in ecological ideas regarding the problems of social justice and the environment such as global warming (Kao, 97). Search the importance of theology in the care of creation and suggests being aware of their problems at the micro and macro level. Kao gives a disturbing approach as culture and community has a Christian and / or theological responsibility to this issue, including us as individuals. Kao is operating under a Christian's ethical understanding and relationship with the environment in environmental concerns. The correct list of certain actions and principles that can and should be used by the Christian communities to fight climate change awareness, open windows to open for discussion and possible

McFague poses the question “Is the environment a religious issue?” Many Americans believe that our deteriorating planet can be solved by science and new technology. It isn’t that simple. The environmental crisis involves all people with all areas or expertise and religions. It is about applying “household rules” to keep the planet flourishing: take only your share, clean up after yourself, and keep the house in good repair for those to come. There are two worldviews, neoclassical economics and ecological economics. McFague presents reasons why ecological economics is more beneficial to flourishing the planet. Neoclassical economics sees humans on the planet as individuals drawn together to fully make use of natural resources. Ecological economics sees the planet as a community that survives only through the interdependence of all its parts, human and nonhuman. Ecological economics concerns the health of the whole planet. This view helps us to picture ourselves not as isolated individuals but as housemates. McFague response to the environmental crisis is in four steps. First, we should become conscious of neoclassical economics as a model of how to allocate scarce resources. Second, we need to suggest some visions of the good life that are not consumer-dominated, visions that are just and stainable. Third, we need to publicly advocate the ecological model as the more just and sustainable one for our society. Lastly, we should rethink what the ecological economic context would mean for the basic doctrines of Christianity. The planet will flourish with this ecological