The Environment

The Environment

Introduction

Environmental issues have become increasingly important in the public debate, for about fifty years, when we become aware of the destructive power now at our disposal, but also the consequences of the pollution generated by industrial natural resources of the planet.

Christians have not really been able to anticipate this crisis (neither more nor less than non-Christians), they do not always have not reacted with the speed that we were entitled to expect from them, except perhaps in some theological or ecumenical circles, where at least tried to think. But over the past twenty years, the trend is reversed among Christians, not only in the field of thinking about it, but also in practice. Christian scientists involved in various capacities in the protection or management of the environment, begin to consider their work from a Christian perspective, so they tend to separate aspects of their faith and their work. We will therefore, as a first step, try to understand the links between Christian's faith and the environment, and then propose practical solutions.

Discussion

The theme of origins and the theory of evolution of species has divided Christians. Scientists and theologians, Christian or not, continue to address this issue, most often with seriousness and competence: their work can inspire our own reflection. But whatever our beliefs about how God went about to create the world, we believe that God is our Creator. This is one of the fundamental articles of our Christian confession of faith.

In Genesis, several verbs specifying the mandate sent by the Creator to his creatures fill, dominate, subdue and cultivate the land. This term "cultural" remains after the fall, but it is more difficult to implement after the curse of God has affected the nature and human beings

Dominate and Submit

Unrestrained domination of nature since the industrial age, almost limitless exploitation of all natural resources of creation, has tragic consequences today. It is unusual that the race for productivity and profitability has led farmers to use, often without discernment precautions, animal meal, antibiotics or growth hormones.

The opposite extreme is no better: some religious systems or common environmental advocate in the soft effect, the "laissez-faire", by mystical ideal or fatalism. Among the followers of the movement nebulous and syncretistic New Age, many advocate an environmentally seems a priori very valuable, but it is based in reality and Eastern pantheistic vision of nature.

Revelation and Responsibility

God's revelation in nature is partial, it does not lead to salvation, but it makes the men and women responsible "for not having made their worship the one true God." Instead of dominating "fish, birds and reptiles," men are reduced to love these creatures to the divine. The sins denounced by the apostle Paul in following his letter to the Romans betray the claim of human beings to excess, to overcome the limitations of their condition. However, this is in accordance with our limitations, with the help and wisdom of God, which is the alternative to the excessive exploitation of ...