Weaknesses Of Christian Environmental Ethics Flashcards
What do some people believe?
That Christian Theology is responsible for the ecological crisis
Who is the main critic?
Peter Singer in Practical Ethics
Christian and Hebrew traditions place humans at what?
The Moral center whilst the environment is seen as morally insignificant
Idea is largely based on what
Genesis humans have ‘dominion’ over the earth
What does Singer say?
That there’s little justification in the texts that we should look after the earth on God’s behalf and be answerable to God in our treatment
What did God do to punish human sin?
Drowned almost every animal on earth
God repeats the message of dominion
‘and the fear.. and dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth.. into your hands they are delivered’ - Genesis
So whats the clear implication
That to act in a way that causes fear and dread to everything that moves on earth is okay
Due to these versus what can be interpreted?
That the natural world exists for the benefit of the humans
SO what does this mean about nature?
It’s not intrinsic and destruction isn’t sinful
What does L. White JR say?
‘Christianity bears a huge burden of guilt for the destruction of the environment
What has science and technology done?
Grown out of christian attitudes toward mans relation to nature
What does it all generally come down to ?
The interpretation of Dominion in Genesis
What have humans interpreted Dominion to mean?
Domination
What is said In Revelation?
Christians are given hope of a new world - which could undermine their commitment to this one
