Christian views on environmentalism: Difference between revisions

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A variety of views exist among different Christians and Christian denominations regarding the correct relationship between Christianity and environmentalism.

According to some social science research, Christians and members of the Christian right are typically less concerned about issues of environmental responsibility than the general public.^[1]^[2]

Green Christianity is a broad field that encompasses Christian theological reflection on nature, Christian liturgical and spiritual practices centered on environmental issues, as well as Christian-based activism in the environmental movement.^{[citation needed]} Within the activism arena, green Christianity refers to a diverse group of Christians who emphasize the biblical or theological basis for protecting and celebrating the environment.^{[citation needed]} The term indicates not a particular denomination, but a shared territory of concern.^{[citation needed]}

Basic beliefs

Christianity has a long historical tradition of reflection on nature and human responsibility. Christianity has a strong tendency toward anthropocentrism, as emphasized in the early environmentalist critique of Lynn Townsend White, Jr.. While some Christians favor a more biocentric approach, Catholic officials and others seek to retain an emphasis on humanity while incorporating environmental concerns within a framework of Creation Care. Christian environmentalists emphasize the ecological responsibilities of all Christians as stewards of God's earth.

Beginning with the Genesis 1:26-28, God instructs humanity to manage the creation in particular ways.

"And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." (Genesis 1:28)

Adam's early purpose was to give care to the Garden of Eden:

"And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it." (Genesis 2:15)

Green Christians point out that the biblical emphasis is on stewardship, not ownership--that the earth remains the Lord's (Psalms 24:1) and does not belong to its human inhabitants. Leviticus 25:23 states:

"The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants."^[3]

As a result of the doctrine of stewardship, Christian environmentalists oppose policies and practices that threaten the health or survival of the planet. Of particular concern to such Christians are the current widespread reliance on non-renewable resources, habitat destruction, pollution, and all other factors that contribute to climate change or otherwise threaten the health of the ecosystem. Many Christian environmentalists have broken with conservative political leaders as a result of these positions.^[4]

Roman Catholic Church and environmentalism

Catholic activists have found support in teachings by Pope Paul VI (Octogesima Adveniens, #21) and Pope John Paul II (e.g., the encyclical Centesimus Annus, #37-38).

Eastern Orthodox Church and environmentalism

See John Chryssavgis who serves as advisor to the Ecumenical Patriarch, currently Bartholomew I of Constantinople, on environmental issues, such as global warming.

Seventh-day Adventists

The Seventh-day Adventist church is committed to environmental stewardship ^[5]^[6] as well as taking action to avoid the dangers of climate change.^[7]

According to its official statement, the church "advocates a simple, wholesome lifestyle, where people do not step on the treadmill of unbridled over-consumption, accumulation of goods, and production of waste. A reformation of lifestyle is called for, based on respect for nature, restraint in the use of the world's resources, reevaluation of one's needs, and reaffirmation of the dignity of created life."^[8]

In 2010, Loma Linda University, one of the church's largest universities, introduced the Loma Linda University Center for Biodiversity and Conservation Studies. The goal of the center is to address the comparative lack of environmental concern among Christians by increasing awareness of environmental issues. The center features animal displays representing global biodiversity hotspots of special concern and also introduces visitors to original scientific research being conducted in the school's biology, geology and natural sciences departments.^{[citation needed]}

Southern Baptist

The Southern Baptist Environment and Climate Initiative is an independent coalition of Southern Baptist pastors, leaders, and laypersons who believe in stewardship that is both biblically rooted and intellectually informed.^[9]

Evangelical churches and environmentalism

As the scientific community has presented evidence of climate change, some members of the evangelical community and other Christian groups have emphasized the need for Christian ecology, often employing the phrase "creation care" to indicate the religious basis of their project. Some of these groups are now interdenominational, having begun from an evangelical background and then gained international and interdenominational prominence with the increase in public awareness of environmental issues. Organizations with an evangelical genesis^{[clarification needed]} include A Rocha, the Evangelical Climate Initiative and the Evangelical Environmental Network.

Some prominent members of the so-called Christian right have broken with the Bush administration and other conservative politicians over the issue of climate change. Christianity Today endorsed the McCain-Lieberman Bill, which was eventually defeated by the Republican Congress and opposed by Bush. According to the magazine, "Christians should make it clear to governments and businesses that we are willing to adapt our lifestyles and support steps towards changes that protect our environment."^[10] The increasing Christian support for strong positions on climate change and related issues has been referred to as "The Greening of Evangelicals."^[11] Many Christians have expressed dissatisfaction with a leadership they feel places the interests of big businesses over Christian doctrine.^[12]

However many conservative evangelical Christians have embraced climate change denialism or maintain a neutral stance due to the lack of internal consensus on such issues. The Cornwall Alliance is an organization which takes an opposing view on the issue to the Evangelical Climate Initiative. The National Association of Evangelicals has stated that "global warming is not a consensus issue", and is internally divided on the Christian response to climate change.

Latter Day Saints

The Latter Day Saint movement has a complex relationship with environmental concerns, involving not only the religion but politics and economics.^[13]^[14] Mormon environmentalists find theological reasons for stewardship and conservationism through biblical and additional scriptural references including a passage from the Doctrine and Covenants: "And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man; for unto this end were they made to be used, with judgment, not to excess, neither by extortion".^[15] In terms of environmentally friendly policies, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has some history of conservationist policies for their meetinghouses and other buildings.^[16]^[17] The church first placed solar panels on a church meetinghouse in the Tuamotu Islands in 2007.^[18] In 2010, the church unveiled five LEED certified meetinghouse prototypes that are being used for future meetinghouse designs around the world, the first one having been completed in 2010 in Farmington, Utah.^[19]

References

^ Sherkat, D. E., and C. G. Ellison. 2007. Structuring the religion-environment connection: identifying religious influences on environmental concern and activism. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 46:71-85.
^ Peterson, M. N., and J. Liu. 2008. Impacts of religion on environmental worldviews: the Teton Valley case. Society and Natural Resources 21:704-718.
^ Leviticus 25:23
^ Evangelical Environmental Network
^ A Statement on the Environment, 1995 and Statement on Stewardship of the Environment, 1996. See also fundamental beliefs #6, "Creation" and #21, "Stewardship".
^ Hayes, F. E., and W. K. Hayes (2011) Seventh-day Adventist faith and environmental stewardship. In H. T. Goodwin (ed.), [book title not yet specified]. Andrews University Press, Berrien Springs, Michigan.
^ The Dangers of Climate Change: A Statement to Governments of Industrialized Countries, 1995 (Official statement)
^ Statement on Stewardship of the Environment, 1996
^ Merritt, Jonathan. Green Like God: Unlocking the Divine Plan for Our Planet. FaithWords. ISBN 978-0-446-55725-2.
^ "Heat Stroke" (Christianity Today, October 2004)
^ Harden, Blaine (6 February 2005). "The Greening of Evangelicals". The Washington Post.
^ January 2005 Prayer Guide - Christianity and the Environment - Christian Ecology Link
^ "Mormon Belief and the Environment", by George B. Handley in Patheos September 15, 2009.^{[unreliable source?]}
^ (1998) New Genesis: A Mormon Reader on Land and Community Editors: Terry Tempest Williams, Gibbs M. Smith, William B. Smart ISBN 978-0-87905-843-2
^ Doctrine and Covenants 59:20
^ "Newsroom: Additional Resources", MormonNewsroom.org, LDS Church {{citation}}: |contribution= ignored (help)
^ "Newsroom: Additional Resources", MormonNewsroom.org, LDS Church, 27 April 2010 {{citation}}: |contribution= ignored (help)
^ Taylor, Scott (28 April 2010), "Mormon Church unveils solar powered meetinghouse", Deseret News
^ Moulton, Kristen (27 April 2010), "LDS Church shows off its new 'green' meetinghouse", The Salt Lake Tribune

External links

News

Evangelical Leaders Urge Action on Climate Change on NPR
Associated Press - Prince Charles discusses environment with the Pope (dead link)

Analysis

Creationism.org - Christian Stewardship of the Environment

[1] Sherkat, D. E., and C. G. Ellison. 2007. Structuring the religion-environment connection: identifying religious influences on environmental concern and activism. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 46:71-85.

[2] Peterson, M. N., and J. Liu. 2008. Impacts of religion on environmental worldviews: the Teton Valley case. Society and Natural Resources 21:704-718.

[3] Leviticus 25:23

[4] Evangelical Environmental Network

[5] A Statement on the Environment, 1995 and Statement on Stewardship of the Environment, 1996. See also fundamental beliefs #6, "Creation" and #21, "Stewardship".

[6] Hayes, F. E., and W. K. Hayes (2011) Seventh-day Adventist faith and environmental stewardship. In H. T. Goodwin (ed.), [book title not yet specified]. Andrews University Press, Berrien Springs, Michigan.

[7] The Dangers of Climate Change: A Statement to Governments of Industrialized Countries, 1995 (Official statement)

[8] Statement on Stewardship of the Environment, 1996

[9] Merritt, Jonathan. Green Like God: Unlocking the Divine Plan for Our Planet. FaithWords. ISBN 978-0-446-55725-2.

[10] "Heat Stroke" (Christianity Today, October 2004)

[11] Harden, Blaine (6 February 2005). "The Greening of Evangelicals". The Washington Post.

[12] January 2005 Prayer Guide - Christianity and the Environment - Christian Ecology Link

[13] "Mormon Belief and the Environment", by George B. Handley in Patheos September 15, 2009.^{[unreliable source?]}

[14] (1998) New Genesis: A Mormon Reader on Land and Community Editors: Terry Tempest Williams, Gibbs M. Smith, William B. Smart ISBN 978-0-87905-843-2

[15] Doctrine and Covenants 59:20

[16] "Newsroom: Additional Resources", MormonNewsroom.org, LDS Church {{citation}}: |contribution= ignored (help)

[17] "Newsroom: Additional Resources", MormonNewsroom.org, LDS Church, 27 April 2010 {{citation}}: |contribution= ignored (help)

[18] Taylor, Scott (28 April 2010), "Mormon Church unveils solar powered meetinghouse", Deseret News

[19] Moulton, Kristen (27 April 2010), "LDS Church shows off its new 'green' meetinghouse", The Salt Lake Tribune

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 == Latter Day Saints ==
-{{Expand section|date=March 2012}}
+{{Disputed-section|date=July 2012}}
 The [[Latter Day Saint movement]] has a complex relationship with environmental concerns, involving not only the religion but politics and economics.<ref> [http://www.patheos.com/Resources/Additional-Resources/Mormon-Belief-and-the-Environment.html "Mormon Belief and the Environment"], by [[George B. Handley]] in [[Patheos]] September 15, 2009.{{Verify credibility|date=May 2012}}</ref><ref> (1998) ''New Genesis: A Mormon Reader on Land and Community'' Editors: [[Terry Tempest Williams]], Gibbs M. Smith, William B. Smart ISBN 978-0-87905-843-2 </ref>  Mormon environmentalists find theological reasons for stewardship and conservationism through biblical and additional scriptural references including a passage from the [[Doctrine and Covenants]]: "And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man; for unto this end were they made to be used, with judgment, not to excess, neither by extortion".<ref>{{lds|Doctrine and Covenants|dc|59|20}}</ref> In terms of [[environmentally friendly]] policies, [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints]] has some history of conservationist policies for their [[Meeting house|meetinghouses]] and other buildings.<ref> {{citation |url= http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/ConservationPractices/ |contribution= Timeline of Conservation Practices |title= Newsroom: Additional Resources |work= MormonNewsroom.org |publisher= LDS Church}} </ref><ref> {{citation |url= http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/additional-resource/church-has-enduring-track-record-on-conservation-practices |contribution= Church has Enduring Track Record on Conservation Practices |title= Newsroom: Additional Resources |work= MormonNewsroom.org |publisher= LDS Church |date= April 27, 2010}} </ref> The church first placed [[solar panels]] on a church meetinghouse in the [[Tuamotus|Tuamotu Islands]] in 2007.<ref>{{citation |url= http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700027829/Mormon-Church-unveils-solar-powered-meetinghouse.html |title= Mormon Church unveils solar powered meetinghouse |first= Scott |last= Taylor |date= April 28, 2010 |newspaper= [[Deseret News]] }}</ref> In 2010, the church unveiled five [[Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design|LEED]] certified meetinghouse prototypes that are being used for future meetinghouse designs around the world, the first one having been completed in 2010 in [[Farmington, Utah]].<ref>{{citation |url= http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_14968222 |title= LDS Church shows off its new 'green' meetinghouse |first= Kristen |last= Moulton |date= April 27, 2010 |newspaper= [[The Salt Lake Tribune]] }}</ref>