Transcript Christian Ethical Teachings

Christian Ethical TeachingsEnvironmental Ethics
Ethics


Ethics are the explicit reflection on moral beliefs
and practices.
Its purpose is to clarify what is right and what is
wrong and what human beings should freely do
or refrain from doing
Christian Ethical Systems



Informing the individuals conscience on what is right and what is
wrong in relation to the environment is varied in Christianity, because
of the differing approaches to ethics amongst the variants.
The Protestant variants focus their ethical decision making on the
literal interpretation of the Bible, whereas the Catholic and Orthodox
variants base their ethical decisions on what the authorities in the
church decide and on Natural Law.
Christian Natural Law is a belief that God implants in creation a moral
law that can be detected by human intelligence apart from God’s direct
revelation (the Bible). That is, there are further sources for guidance
other than the Bible (i.e. logic and reason)
Environmental Ethics




Environmental ethics is the part of
environmental philosophy which considers the
ethical relationship between human beings and
the natural environment.
Interestingly, both Science and Religion have
only recently begun to explicitly address moral
issues related to the environment.
The Contemporary Environmental Movement
is often attributed to a biologist named Rachel
Carson, who wrote a book in 1962 called
“Silent Springs”. This book changed the world
view of many as Carson questioned the world
view of scientific progress and the often
negative effect humans have on the natural
world.
The important point here, is that explicit
environmental ethics is a recent phenomena
both in the secular and religious world.
Christian Environmental Ethics
To understand Christian Environmental
Ethics it is important to differentiate
between Anthropocentric and Biocentric
world views.
AnthropocentricEarly
Human Centred
environmentalists, such as Lyn White Jr, heavily criticised the JudeoChristian traditions for being one of the major vehicles for the destruction of the
earth.
 Particularly Christianity, which underpinned western civilisation for the past
1500 years, was seen as having an ANTHROPECENTRIC (human centred) view
when it came to ethics.
Christians placed human concerns at the centre of ethical considerations and
the earth was for humans to do with what they like.
The source of this viewpoint was that Christians believed that the earth and
everything on it was given by God to man to rule over and subdue because
Genesis 1:28 states:
And God blessed them, and God 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'" (Genesis 1:28).





Throughout its history, many Christians literally interpreted this to
mean that “man” could do what “he” liked to the environment as
God gave DOMINION to “him”.
Another aspect was that Christianity was also heavily influenced
by Greek philosophy which saw the world ordered hierarchically
with nature being very low on the hierarchy.
Unfortunately, these two viewpoints allowed Christians to adopt a
very ANTHROPECENTRIC focus and not consider their
destruction of the environment as a moral dilemma.
There are some Protestant Variants, such as some Evangelical and
Pentecostal churches, who hold an anthropecentric world view as
they still literally interpret the Bible
Science was to adopt a very similar position as early science was
heavily influenced by Christianity.
Biocentric-Environment focus


The Biocentric view places the environment at
the centre of concern.
Extreme versions of a Biocentric world view,
such as those by Deep Ecologists, place the
environment on equal or higher importance
than human needs. Very few Christians adopt
this stance.

Current views on environmental ethics within
Christianity are still based on these two view
points. It seems that the variants that base their
ethical teachings on the literal interpretation of
the Bible, tend to have an anthropocentric point
of view, whereas, other variants tend to have a
combination of biocentric and anthropocentric
Christian Environmental Ethical Position.
Anthropocentric
Human centred based on Dominion
principal.
Influenced by literal Interpretation of Bible to
guide ethical decision making
Biocentric
Environment centred based on
all life on Earth was created
equally by God.
Combination
where human
needs are
important, but
need to look after
God’s creation
“Stewardship
Principle
Creation Theology
(Green Theology)



As a result of Christians re-evaluating their position on the
environment there has been a push towards a Creation Centred
Theology
Creation Theology is concerned with the cherishing of all life and all people,
as gifts from God. Creation Theology (or Green Theology) is influencing the
Christian position on the environment as it encourages Christians to focus on
God’s creative power and for them to appreciate that this is important. By
valuing God’s creative power we as humans would not purposely destroy the
environment.
There are many examples of Creation Theology playing a key role in many
Christian Churches:



Declaration on the Environment Document (Catholic and Orthodox)
Sustaining Creation (Ecumenical Position)
Pastoral Letter by Queensland's Bishops on the Great Barrier reef
Sources for Ethical teachings on
the Environment in Christianity

Creation theologists have pointed out that even
though a literal interpretation of the Bible has
been used to have an anthropocentric view of
the environment, they have shown that the Bible
also does reveal to its followers that care for the
environment was mandated by God.
Hebrew Scriptures





Genesis 2:15 Stewardship
Deuteronomy 20:19 Care for Earth
Leviticus 25: 5-6 Responsible Agricultural
Practice
Leviticus 22: 28 Sustainability
Deuteronomy 22:6 Biodiversity/Sustainability
Christian Scriptures

Even though Jesus did not explicitly address
environmental ethics, Creation Theologists, such as
Sean MacDonagh, say it was through his actions and
parables that Jesus showed his followers that he had
concern for the environment. This was shown in two
different ways:


Natural surroundings.
A close look at Jesus’ public life, he preached
mainly in natural surroundings. Some key
moments in Jesus’ ministry are in nature;
Sermon on the Mount
 On the Lake (storm)
 Baptised in a river (natural surroundings)
 Also, when Jesus was preparing for his betrayal, he
placed himself in the Garden of Gethsemane,
surrounded by natural things to be alone with God.


Parables and nature:

Jesus used nature on many occasions as a theme in his parables demonstrating
to Christians God’s creation is important.

PARABLES FROM NATURE














The Sower and the Seeds (Mark 4:3-9; Matt 13:3-9; Luke 8:5-8)
The Grain of Wheat (John 12:24)
The Weeds in the Grain or the Tares (Matt 13:24-30)
The Net (Matthew 13:47-50)
The Seed Growing Secretly (Spontaneously) or The Patient Husbandman (Mark
4:26-29)
The Mustard Seed (Matt13:31f.;Mark 4:30-32; Luke 13:18 f.)
The Leaven (Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:20 f.)
The Budding Fig Tree (Matt 24:32 f.; Mark 13:28 f.; Luke 21:19-31)
The Barren Fig Tree (Luke 13:6-9)
The Birds of Heaven (Matthew 6:26; Luke 12:24)
The Flowers of the Field (Matt 6:28-30; Luke 12:27f.)
The Vultures & the Carcass (Matt 24:28; Luke 17:37)
The Tree and its Fruits (Matthew 7:16; Luke 6:43-49)
The Weather Signs (Luke 12:54-56; cf. Matthew 26:2 f.; Mark 8:11-13)
Historical Examples

While Christian history as a whole has not been
conducive to the importance of environmental
ethics there have been significant individuals
who have made important contributions to
environmental awareness.
Francis of Assisi
(Patron Saint of the Environment)
Francis of Assisi was born in the 12th century into a wealthy family of Italian nobility. He rejected
wealth and power to live in harmony with nature. Francis celebrated nature as vision of God and
is famous for his prayers and meditations on the beauty of creation as well as his practical
concern for all of God's creation.
Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.

Hildegard of Bingen

Hildegard of Bingen was a leader of a monastic
community in the 12th century. She was a famous
student of nature who investigated and made use
of the healing qualities of nature and taught of
the need to respect nature and learn from it. Her
writings, music and art all reflect a profound sense
of oneness with creation and an immense respect
for the work of the creator.
The End