Chapter 14 Let earth sea and sky proclaim your glory!

I, the highest and fiery power, have kindled every living

spark and I have breathed out nothing that can

die… I, the fiery life of divine being, flame

above the beauty of the fields; I am the lightness of all the planets, I

shine in the waters, in the sun, in the

moon and the stars, I burn and by means of the airy wind, I stir everything into quickness as with invisible life sustaining all…

I, the fiery power, lie hidden in these things

and they blaze from me.

Lets Begin…with a prayer

Learning Goals

1) In this chapter, we will explore our relationship to the earth in light of our relationship with God. We will begin to probe the question, “how does the earth lay moral claim on us?”

2) We will understand the moral standing or value of nature.

3) We will define ecological stewardship, and examine what it means of a national, local, and personal level.

4) In this chapter, we will celebrate the goodness of creation.

Key Terms

Anthropocentrism: From the Greek anthropos—man. A worldview that considers the human being as the most significant entity in the universe.

Conservationist: One who sees nature as a resource to be preserved for wise human consumption.

Dominion: Word used in Genesis to describe humankind’s rule over creation, so that right order may be achieved. Humans are expected to exercise dominion over the earth, a dominion of service, wisdom and love.

Key Terms 2Ecology: Study of earth’s biosphere. From the

Greek word oikos, or house, and logia, meaning word, reason or discourse. It is a discourse about our dwelling place—planet earth.

Globalist: One who regards all elements of nature, living and non-living, as worthy of protection.

Hierachist: One who views nature as in terms of a hierarchy of living creatures, from the lowest microbe to the highest human being. The lower forms are meant to serve the higher forms.

Key Terms 3 Preservationist: One who views all living creatures as

part of an integrated ecosystem, all having value in and of themselves.

Stewardship: How human kind is to exercise dominion over creation: a caring cooperation with God, a caring for creation with a sense of service, motivated by love.

Theocentrism: From the Greek theos—God. A worldview that considers God to be the most significant entity in the universe. (opposite of anthropocentrism)

Worldview: A worldview is a set of presuppositions (assumptions that may be true, partially true, or entirely false) which we hold (consciously or unconsciously, consistently or inconsistently) about the basic make-up of our world.

God created the heavens & the earth

The earth must form one of our first considerations in our search for the good.

It is connected with our origins; the cosmic dust that exploded into our universe and our earth is the same dust of which we are created.

It is generously marked with the glory of God and the Spirit of God shouting over the void, “Let there be light”

Since the stuff of which earth is made is also the stuff of which we are made, ecology asks for a unique kind of ethics.

Humanity’s increasing power to interfere with or manipulate or extract the basic building blocks of matter has, for the first time in history, created a situation in which human activity has begun to affect the delicate ecological balance of the planet.

In this context, ecology, becomes a moral issue.

Our choices affect not only the future of the earth, but also that of humanity.

This means—as we have come to understand justice—giving the earth its due. But even more than that, it means extending to the earth our solidarity.

The ecological crisis

Ecology is the study of the earth’s biosphere: the interacting web of plants and rocks, fungi and soils, animals and oceans, microbes and air, that constitute the habitat of life on our planet.

The interrelationships in the biosphere show signs of extensive stress, largely as a consequence of human activity since the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The science of ecology tells us…1) All life is interrelated: In order for creatures to survive, they need other creatures, not only as food, but also to adapt to and create a sustainable environment.

Ecology tells us…

2) When one aspect of an ecosystem is changed, repercussions are felt throughout the biosphere: Here human beings have been the greatest culprits of intervening in the ecosystem.

3) Some ecosystems are more resilient than others. Generally speaking, the greater the diversity of species, the greater the capacity to bounce back after ecological systems are disrupted.

Our beautiful, imperiled planet

A controversial ecological issue: Global Warming

TED Talks: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=splKGWuErnM

Affects on Wildlife: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EsCO71a6xE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRZNA_3K2zA

Dominion or Domination?

Some have placed the responsibility of the ecological distribution at the feet of Christianity; that man kind’s given dominion over the creatures of the earth was like an invitation to ravage the earth and assert domination.

Look at the story in Genesis: 1.26-31

The dominion is not a dominion without the responsibility to God. It means to rule over so that right order might be achieved.

God is inviting humanity to steward the animals and other forms of life, that is, to take God’s place in taking care of them.

Anthropocentrism vs. Theocentrism

Our pattern of perception of how things are in our lives has been termed worldview.

Our worldview has a major influence on our future, because it informs the decisions we make today.

Anthropocentrism and Theocentrism are two opposing worldviews that influence humanity’s relationship with ecology.

Anthropocentrism

-Sees mankind at the center of all reality and relationships

-evolved out of the possessive individualism of the 17th century.

-focuses on the world as a resource base for human use

-Whatever is one the planet is for the service of humankind.

Theocentrism

-A God-centered worldview

-The earth belongs to God

-With all of creation, we bow down to the Creator who has entrusted his creation to us.

-We have a crucial role to play in sustaining a world that is both blessed and broken.

-Both science and religion tell us that we are inextricably entwined in the web of life.

Does nature have a moral standing? (pgs.

273-74) What is moral standing? We give moral standing, or “value” when we

feel an obligation to an entity to treat it well, or to treat it as something important. That entity has a hold on us, and makes us regulate our actions.

***There are 5 different approaches to the moral standing or value of nature: hierarchist, conservationist, preservationist, globalist and sacramental.

1) Hierarchist:

View nature as a hierarchy

Lower, or less rational creatures are made for the benefit of those that are higher and more rational.

Aristotle: “Plants exist for the sake of animals and brute beasts for the sake of man”

For these thinkers, only human beings have moral standing., so the welfare of other creatures matters only if they are useful to humans.

2) Conservationist:

Only humans have moral standing

What is done for nature is measured by the good it brings to human kind.

See nature as a resource.

Nature may be preserved, but it is only for wise human consumption.

3) Preservationist:

Nature is good in itself and needs to be protected against ill-considered exploitation.

It is particularly important to protect endangered ecosystems

Aldo Leopold, the pioneering writer on ecology, holds that an action “is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise.”

3) Globalist:

Go beyond preservationists by also including non-living ecological components.

Both the living and the non-living are part of creation and those all need sustaining.

4) Sacramental:

In the document, Caring for Creation and the Common Good, the bishops insist that all creation has moral standing because it is ultimately God’s

Traces of God are woven throughout creation.

Creation is sacramental. (Everything is holy now)

****Moral and ethical principles of

ecological stewardship

As awareness of ecological issues grow, the Church as well reflects on these issues and develops its teachings.

The Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace has taken on a number of ecological issues as part of its mandate to educate and support efforts in the area of social justice. From these documents, we draw 5 principles*** to consider in our relationship with the ecological system

Found on pgs. 275-276

1) The ecological disharmony, according to the book of Genesis, is a repercussion of human disharmony with God.

2) The earth is the Lord’s and we are charged with being its stewards. It is the responsibility of humans to maintain biodiversity and safeguard the earth.

3) We are called to assume a God-centered perspective. This means understanding the earth as God’s creation.

4) God has given us the earth as our common home. We live in this home with all its diversity which we must protect and respect.

5) The goods of this earth belong to all. The goods must be shared equitably. The earth is abundant in its gifts. We must not deprive others of its wealth because of greed.

The obligation to reduce ecological impact

In face of the gravity of the ecological crisis, how does our initial shock and outrage at the various ecological disasters turn into constructive actions? What is the appropriate form of action? How can an individual become a movement? When do we resolve to act? How is this action a reflection of the gospel’s message of justice and love?

Pope John Paul II and Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople laid

down some characteristics for those undertaking ecological action

These ***6 characteristics can be found on pages 279-80

in the text)

1) To think of the world’s children when we reflect on and evaluate our options for action

2) To be open to study the true values based on the natural laws that sustain every human existence

3) To use science and technology in a full and constructive way, while recognizing that findings of science have to always be evaluated in the light of the centrality of the human person, of the common good and of the inner purpose of creation

4) To be humble regarding the idea of ownership and to be open to the demands of solidarity

5) To acknowledge the diversity of situations and responsibilities in the work for a better world environment.

6) To promote a peaceful approach to disagreement about how to live on this earth, and about how to share it and use it, about what to change and what to leave unchanged.

“Earth provides enough to satisfy

every man’s needs; but not every man’s

greed.”

-Mahatma Gandhi.

Spreading the message

The Lorax

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Slpz0D35oRI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSSrYnc1yQs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAynFV09kWs Erin Bockovich