Creation Flashcards
Examples of CAFOD’s work on sustainability
CAFOD is the official aid agency for the Catholic Church in England and Wales. It aims to help people living in poverty, in order to create a more balanced (and therefore sustainable) world. CAFOD supports projects that promote sustainable living and help to protect the environment.
Examples of the ways that CAFOD supports sustainability include:
- Encouraging people in England and Wales to live more simply and use fewer natural resources. For example, CAFOD gives livesimply awards to communities that are taking concrete steps to live in a simpler, more sustainable way.
- Helping to found the Beyond 2015 campaign, which supported the creation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals in 2015. Many governments have agreed to try to achieve these goals by 2030 to improve people’s quality of life and make the world more sustainable.
- Working with groups MONLAR like in Sri Lanka, which helps farmers to adopt sustainable, effective, and inexpensive farming methods (such as the use of natural fertilisers).
- Supporting or setting up projects that use renewable energy (such as solar panels).
Stewardship (its influence on CAFOD)
Stewardship: The belief that Christians/Catholics have a responsibility to look after the environment on behalf of God – and not exploit it for their own ends.
‘The Lord put Adam in the garden of Eden to till it (raise crops) and keep it’ (Genesis 2:15)
‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself’ (Mark 12)
In Genesis 1:28, God tells Adam and Eve to “subdue” the earth and “have dominion” over every living thing. This suggests that humans have been given power and authority to rule over all other creatures.
In Genesis 2:15, God put Adam in the garden of Eden to “till it and keep it”. This suggest looking after the world with care and love.
These two verses teach Christians/Catholics that they have a duty to look after the environment on behalf of God.
Christians/Catholics believe the world is a gift from God, but God expects them to protect and care for the world in return.
Catholic teachings
- There is a delicate balance within creation – damaging one element of nature can affect others.
- Natural resources (oil or trees) should be used carefully to preserve them.
- We must accept our interdependence with the rest of creation and inspire others.
- Catholics must take action to improve the current situation.
- The Vatican have installed thousands of solar panels –reducing their carbon emissions by 200 tonnes each year.
Why should Catholics care for the environment?
All creation is special and holy - we show our love for God by taking care of his creation.
God made us stewards (Genesis 2) so we have a special responsibility.
Damage affects the poor the most e.g. climate change.
Damage (pollution, littering etc) affects everyone’s lives including future generations.
It is a way to “love our neighbour” – the people we share the world with.
How can we be good stewards?
Locally:
Throw away less waste.
Recycle more.
Walk, cycle, or use public transport instead of driving.
Take part in local environmental projects.
Encourage churches to reduce their carbon footprint’s (e.g. by installing solar panels).
Educate others about the importance of protecting the environment.
Nationally:
Put pressure on politicians to support laws that protect the environment.
Support and buy products from environment – friendly businesses
Put pressure on companies to ensure they follow environment – friendly policies.
Globally:
Put pressure on governments to implement policies agreed at international meetings (such as Rio +20)
Boycott or help to expose international companies that threaten the environment.
The nature of God (from creation stories)…creator, omnipotent, transcendent
- Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. God is transcendent – this means God is beyond the natural world. God is beyond human understanding. God only needs his world to create.
- “God created the heavens and the earth”. God is the creator of everything – all creation is special because God created it. Therefore it should be looked after.
- “And God saw that it was good”. God is omnipotent – God has the power to create from nothing. God can make everything as he wants.
Importance of God’s nature
Day 1: God created day and night.
Day 2: God created the sky.
Day 3: God created the earth, seas, and plant life.
Day 4: God created the sun, moon, and stars.
Day 5: God created fish and birds.
Day 6: God created all of the animals and humans/Adam and Eve.
Day 7: God rested.
This suggests that God is omnipotent (powerful)
Catholics believe that the universe was created by God and sustained in an act of love. The whole of creation is holy because it comes from God.
