Environmental ethics from a Christian worldview

Claim 5

Everything is bound in scripture.
Importance of links back to the sacred text.
In the Bible, God saw everything he made, and indeed, it was good.
Everything God created is good.
- Can be used in essays of varying lengths (3, 4, 6, or even 20 markers).

Everything God created in the six days of creation was good.
God rested on the seventh day because of how good creation was.
Final creation: Humanity (Adam and Eve).
Humanity was given the greatest responsibility: responsibility over the created world.
The natural world was jeopardized when humanity was given choice and temptation.
Psalms (Old Testament):
- Describe the beauty of creation.

Using the Old Testament runs the risk of making it about Judaism, but it's still important.
Water in the Old Testament:
- Links to baptism and new life.

Jesus' incarnation is an outpouring of God's love for the world.
Relatable to environmental ethics.
Jesus took a radical stance.
A Christian's approach needs to be as radical as Jesus Christ, even concerning the environment.
Radical:
- Seeking out the truth, being honest, and standing by values.
A Christian's response towards the environment needs to be radical, particularly now.

Evolves in the context of the signs of the times.
Pope Francis (2015): Laudato Si'.
- Official Catholic teaching on environmental ethics is taking a new direction.
Use phrases like "signs of the times," "evolving," and "new direction."
Responses can be critical of the Church or Christianity's response to the environment.
Churches, politics, and the world in general have not done enough.
Catholic environmental teaching is moving from an anthropocentric position to a position of universal communion.

Genesis 1:28: God gave dominion to humanity.
Dominion has been misinterpreted as domination.
Anthropocentric: Humans have control and take advantage of the environment.
Historically misinterpreted.
Protestants:
- Some denominations interpret the Bible literally, leading to a belief in domination over the environment.
The way the Bible is interpreted informs a Christian's environmental perspective.

Anthropocentric:
- Human-centered.
- Influenced by a literal interpretation of the Bible.
- Christians believe the earth was given to man to rule over and subdue.
- Genesis 1:28: "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living creature."
- Outdated point of view.
Biocentric:
- Environment-centered.
- All life on earth was created equally by God.
- Most Christian variants tend to have a biocentric view.

God as Creator and stewardship are fundamental.
Justice, co-creation, and mission are intertwined.
God as Creator:
- Nicene Creed: Maker of heaven and earth.
- Everything God created was good.
Life is sacred.

Interfaith Power and Light Mission.
Many Faiths, One Earth.
Faith Climate Action Week.
National Council of Churches Australia (NCCA):
- Ecumenical initiative.
- Environmental concerns are a common goal.
- Eco Mission project.
Laudato Si' (2015):
- Encyclical written by Pope Francis.
Lambeth Conference (2008):
- Anglican conference.
- Shows different denominations.

Teachings with scripture evidence.
Summary of historical people and their actions.
Identify significant people throughout history who have taken a stance on the environment.
Hildegard of Bingen and Saint Francis of Assisi.
Modern theologians and their work, especially Pope Francis.