Another way to appeal to conservatives is transforming the political dialog of conservation to a religious one by utilizing Biblical scripture. Since the majority of Republicans are also Christian, targeting the Church will appeal to large amounts of people. This requires connecting popular scripture in Christianity with the issue of climate change. Creation care is the idea that God calls Christians to care for the Earth. Even though all Christians acknowledge that God created the Earth, not everyone agrees about the responsibilities Christians have for this creation. In Genesis 1:28, “God blessed them, and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” For some, this verse means that God created this Earth so that we can use it how we wish. Even though “dominion” does imply you have control and power over the Earth, it is crucial to understand that this does not mean we are called to destroy this world. God claimed everything he made “was very good” so he would not have wanted for his creation to be destroyed (Genesis 1:31). Instead, this specific role God gives to humans requires respect and appreciative behavior. For, damaging God’s creation would mean insulting the very thing he designed for us. Another common idea among Christians is neighborhood care. Jesus declared, “you should love your
I believe that as a Christian we should be as concerned, if not more so, than any other concerned non-believers. We as Christians, have been given the truth about God, His creation and His will. When it comes to His creation He is very detailed about His plans in creating the earth for His people and His purpose (HCSB. Genesis 1:26-30). Sadly, many Christians have fallen into the category quoted by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., “Some people are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good." Their time here on earth has been fogged by the aspirations of glory. The contributors of this wasted life is ignorance, greed, and selfishness. Furthermore, our environment suffers for the cause. Nonetheless, this is a major topic of conversation
God’s command to “fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion” (Gen 1:28) by tilling the earth shows that man’s capacity to dominate the earth lies within himself, transforming it to his own needs.
The Progressive Era was a period of social activism and political reform that grew from the 1890s to the 1920s. Social reformers and journalists, like Jane Addams, Jacob Riis, and Ida Tarbell were some of the powerful voices for progressivism. “They concentrated on exposing the evils of corporate greed, combating fear of immigrants, and urging Americans to think hard about what democracy meant.” Many progressive reformers wanted to end corruption in the government, regulate business practices, address health hazards, and improve working conditions. It was also an era of conservationists. Conservationists are people who protect and preserve the environment and wildlife. Throughout the Progressive Era, there were many conservationists who wrote and described nature, but the most well-known figure in conservation was John Muir. John Muir worked to protect Earth’s beauty by traveling and exploring nature, co-founding the Sierra Club, and by influencing others through his writings and by showing some of the most important people how the wildlife was magnificent.
These can be simple activities such as turning off the water while brushing your teeth or simply walking to work. We can also be more mindful about how much trash we make in a week and to always recycle. Although no amount of recycling will forestall the end that God has planned for the earth, we are still called to preserve earth’s natural resources to the best of our capability. Psalm 24:1 (New International Version) states, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” This passage teaches us that although God gives people the power to utilize elements of the environment, God is still the ultimate owner of all of his creations. Therefore, we are called to respect his creations because they are not ours but God’s.
Evangelical Environmentalists are also focused on educating other Christians on climate change. While many Christian’s may be under the impression that global warming is a myth created by the government to help them gain more control and turn the country into a police state, Evangelical Environmentalists have used the words in the Bible to educate other Christians about the importance of caring for the environment and slowing global warming. Out of all American citizens, 63 percent believe that climate change is happening. Out of all American’s, only 51 percent of Christians believe that there is climate change occurring and approximately 27 percent of Christians do not believe in global warming whatsoever. Some Christians believe that the signs of climate change are actually signs of the Rapture and Christ returning, These signs include flooding on earth, and forest fires. While the number of Christians who believe that global warming is occurring is low, Evangelical Environmentalists are focused on educating other Christians on environmental issues and reminding them that the Bible says that it is their job to care for the
One topic that is of constant conversation all throughout politics is climate change. Republicans are often characterized by their firm stance on this issue, mostly denying its existence or validity. This has become a
I believe that we need to think of the Earth as a gift and a home. We must take care of our Earth but our personal health must come before Earth’s. Lastly, our decision making should be guided by the Bible and my common sense. Our Earth is truly a gift and it is a good gift from God. Genesis 1:31 states, “God saw all that we made, and it was very good”. We need to change the way that we look at the Earth. Normally if we get a really nice gift we treasure it and do our best to protect it. This is the same mindset that we need to have about our land. Secondly, we do need to recognize that we have dominion over the Earth. God created us to take care of the Earth. In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth and then he created man to be stewards of it. It is important not to get to crazy and do things to harm the Earth but we must also remain healthy. Humans come before the land and they always should. Lastly, when living on Earth we must make good decisions. These decisions should be based on what our teachings tell us and our common sense. It is just common sense that cutting down a tree or throwing a wrapper out the yard will harm the Earth. This semester I have learned so much, and thought deeply about many topics. I know that the Earth is a gift and we are so blessed to have this beautiful creation to live in. The many field trips that we went on made me realize many things about our Earth that I didn’t realize. Specifically the wastewater treatment we went on made me realize how much waste we produce and it makes me feel like we are hurting our Earth. Too often people don’t think about the things that they are doing to our Earth. Psalm 8:6 states, “You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet”. The Bible states many times in context that we are to care for the Earth we have been
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 left brains linear way of thinking can be useful in some cases but often times fails to look at the whole picture. The conservatives are the same way when it comes to the environment and some of them refuse to believe global warming's existence. One example of this comes from a senate meeting where conservative Senator James Inhole brought in a snowball and threw it claiming that global warming did not exist simply because it was snowing outside. This way of thinking is exactly why conservatives choose to ignore the environment
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).
Despite many Christians, such as Patriarch Batholomew from the Greek Orthodox church who states that ‘For humans to contaminate the Earth’s waters, its land, its air, and its life, with poisonous substances. These are sins’ in an attempt to encourage prioritising environmental protection, climate skeptic Calvin Beisner states that “the Bible teaches that earth and all its subsystems… are the product of a God who is an infinitely wise designer”, reflecting that his personal interpretation of God’s revelation has led to his understanding of the Earth being intelligently design, so that humankind could not potentially destroy it, consequently leading to him not placing priority on the protection of the environment.
Although the twisting of its teachings have been used by people which in the end was harmful, the theology itself doesn’t entirely support this view point. By looking at the teachings without an alternative motive they’re in favor instead of environmental stewardship and protecting the earth. In a religion where God is believed to “make no mistakes” and create everything by hand, it’s difficult to justify taking action that will knowingly harm other living things. It all comes down to human greed and the darker side of humanity, things that Christian theology is definitely against. With a holy text as confusing and complex as the Bible it’s easy to understand why it’s been targeted as easy prey for those who misuse religion. Hopefully with current events this will become less
Steve Hansen was an instructor who informed many students in Wisconsin about the importance of renewable energy, environmental sustainability, and earth stewardship. His creativity, energy, and compassion inspired many to become better people. The Steve Hansen Memorial Scholarship Fund has been established to honor his spirit and memory, and to help the next generation carry on his important work. He lived the “Earth Steward” philosophy of making ways of global change from a local-to-global scales to improve ecosystem strength and individual well being. His belief in this global reasoning inspired other students and adults around him to strive to live by this philosophy and make the world a better place. He endured to teach others about the
Environmental worldviews are how people think the world works, where they fit, and how they think ethically and morally. These views can be human centred, earth-centered or a combination of the two(Tucker and Grim, 1994).
For quite some time, life on earth has been nothing but peaches and cream for several people and because of people who live a non-sustainable life, it has left others with an indistinct outlook on earth’s future. Sustainability to me is doing things that will help prevent harmful things from happening to the environment now and in the future. With the support of the sustainability and more quality ways of living, the Earth Charter is gradually introduced. Through key research I will explain what the Earth Charter is and why it was founded, describe one of its four parts along with the goals and overarching philosophy, and share the impact it has on my life now and in the future.