Study Notes on Christianity and Environmental Ethics

Christianity

Definition of Christianity

  • Christianity is a living religious tradition that encompasses a variety of beliefs, practices, and ethical teachings.

Principal Beliefs of Christianity

  • One God:
    • Christians believe in one omnipotent (all-powerful), omnipresent (present everywhere), and omniscient (all-knowing) God.
    • Concept of God as a Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
  • Jesus:
    • Jesus Christ is understood as the Son of God, part of the Trinity.
    • Life, death, and resurrection of Jesus assure the salvation of humanity.
  • Salvation:
    • Foundational belief, interpreted in various ways, fundamentally about connecting with God eternally.
  • Revelation:
    • God has disclosed Himself throughout history, primarily through Jesus and continues to reveal through various means.

Importance of Beliefs

  • These beliefs guide the moral and ethical conduct of Christians in their lives, leading to a life that aligns with the teachings of Christianity.

Understanding Ethics

Definition of Ethics

  • Ethics: A systematic approach taken by Christianity to explain what constitutes morally acceptable behavior.
    • A dynamic field fixed by timeless principles, applied to emerging moral issues.

Timeless Principles in Christian Ethics

  • Stewardship:
    • Responsibility to care for creation.
  • Preservation:
    • Maintaining the current state of the earth for future generations.
  • Sanctity of life:
    • Emphasizes the sacredness of all life forms.
  • Solidarity:
    • Recognizing the interconnectedness among all people and creation.
  • Subsidiarity:
    • Decisions should be made at the most local level possible.

Sources for Core Ethical Teachings

Foundation of Ethical Teachings

  • Scriptural Sources:
    • Old Testament:
    • The Ten Commandments outline fundamental ethical behaviors.
    • New Testament:
    • Jesus’ commandment of Love and the Beatitudes.
  • Tradition:
    • Contributions from the Church Fathers, Magisterium, and Patriarchs.
  • Natural Law:
    • In Catholic and Orthodox traditions, this guides ethical decision-making.

Environmental Ethics Overview

Definition of Environmental Ethics

  • Branch of ethics concerned with the natural environment, its intrinsic and instrumental value, and the human responsibility towards it.

Issues Addressed by Environmental Ethics

  • Matters like climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss fall under the purview of environmental ethics.