Introduction
In this Unit, we begin a focus on ethical themes arising from the doctrine of creation. The Genesis creation narratives picture humanity as God’s vice-regents in creation. One of the sad implications of human sin is that we have not always cared well for God’s creation. At times Christian theology and practice have been responsible for environmental abuse and neglect because we have misread the creation mandate. Today man-made global warming presents an existential threat to the global ecosystem and human society.
There are no easily solutions to this problem, if there are any solutions at all. We will consider how the creation mandate relates to other domains of theological ethics, such as community and economics. We also will discuss responses to Biblical and theological views that diminish the value of creation or human responsibility to tend it. At the same time, we will examine kinds of eco-spirituality that seem to collapse the distinction between God and creation or devalue human uniqueness.
Reading
Wirzba, Chapter 3
Oliver, Chapter 5
Laudato Si’, ¶¶1-16, 62-75, 84-95
Science Matters, Chapter 19