Christian teachings on the environment
Many Christians believe that God gave human beings a special responsibility within creationThe act of bringing something into existence. In religion, this refers to the creation of the world by God. to cultivateTo work the land so that it produces crops. it, guard it and use it wisely. This is called stewardship. Humans have to work within creation and to look after it:
God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
Humans are given everything for their needs, implying that they can use whatever they want from creation for their survival:
Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.
However, as the Earth belongs to God, humans must respect it and hand it back to God unspoiled:
The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.
These passages from the BibleThe holy book of Christians split into two sections: Old Testament and New Testament. show the dominant message is that God is the one who provides for humans and humans should show they are thankful by taking care of what God has given them.
The Christian Declaration on Nature drawn up at AssisiTown in Italy, where a meeting of the world's major religions took place in 1986 and produced a declaration on the environment. in 1986 makes the following points very clearly:
- All creation, both with and without humans, has a close interdependenceRefers to the fact that all organisms that live in an ecosystem depend upon each other, for food, protection, shelter, etc, in order to survive. which was made in this way by God. This harmonyPeople living and working well together in peace. of creation is to the glory of God.
- Humans have the role of protectingKeeping things safe from harm. all created things, not abusing or destroying them.
- All types of exploitationUnfair advantage taken of something or somebody just for your own benefit, not for the good of the other person or thing. of the world and its resources and all creatures are rejected. Humans must not do anything that risks damage to the world, including nuclear warfare.
