The Judeo-Christian tradition is part of the environmental problem and is irrelevant to the solution. Religious institutions have long been a driving force behind the changing of our country. While most of these changes have been for the better, there is one issue in which they are not stepping up: environmental impact. In fact, many church practices are exacerbating the problem through lack of population control such as birth control, dominionism based on Genesis 1:28, and lack of foresight for future generations since they are focusing on souls now. The issue with the rising population has grown to become a major factor in the depletion of natural resources. In third world countries, the mere satisfaction of basic human needs is jeopardized (Rath, 2009).
Our Position
According to a recent Bloomberg Poll, 71% of Americans believe that climate change is a threat (Environment, 2009). As the religious world jumps on the environmental bandwagon, ready to solve the world’s problems yet again, Americans who claim religious affiliation are losing ground. According to the American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS), more people than ever in the United States are reporting to have no religious affiliation whatsoever. The percentage of people reporting no religious affiliation was 8% in 1990. However, in 2008 the number increased to 15%. This places non-religious individuals in the U.S. at a higher percentage than all other major religious groups other than Catholic and Baptist. Even the Catholic and Baptist following is receding by 1.1% and 3.5% respectively (Grossman, 2009). How can the ever growing environmental problem have a solution based on a tradition that is losing ground?
Judeo-Christians have justified copious wrongdoings to nature based on a single Bible verse (Genesis 1:28) that tells them to “subdue the earth” and “have dominion over every living thing.” It is incredulous that this verse is either interpreted as environmental stewardship or as Yale theologian Julian Hartt puts it a way Christians have found that “legitimized man’s total exploitation of his environment.” This view of using nature is referred to as dominionism and many people use it as an excuse to exploit our natural resources. A few Christians have come to see the fault in this line of thinking though; the most famous of which being St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of ecologists, who “in vain tried to substitute the idea of the equality of all creatures, including man, for the idea of man’s limitless rule of creation,”- Mr. White (historian, in Science magazine). Though stewardship seems to be the more likely interpretation (God and Noah saving every species from the flood) many like to use dominionism as a means of being excluded from moral responsibilities to nature and all within it.
Some environmentalists have views which add a sense of extreme urgency to the environmental problem. They believe that the best that they can do is wait until humans destroy the earth to a point where industrial civilization will collapse and bring about a renewing of the earth (Taylor, 1999, pg 378). It is believed that the damage that humans have already done is so extensive that ecosystems are guaranteed to fail and bring forth the collapse of civilization as we know it (Taylor, 1999, pg 381). James Barnes, and Earth First! Environmental activist, stated the earth’s situation best by saying, “The planet will not be ‘saved’ by the people’s new ecological consciousness” (Taylor, 1999, pg 381). Barnes also made this statement, “how does a seriously overpopulated species reduce its numbers? It dies back. Death is the answer to too much life” (Taylor, 1999, pg 381). He continues to state that like any other animal, humans revert to carnal behaviors. As space decreases, so does the ability to treat each other and the environment the way they deserve. Stress can cause very undesirable behaviors. This frame of mind states that the collapse of the earth as we know it will bring about a great sense of hope and renewal (Taylor, 1999, pg 381).
Their Position
As far as we can see, the entire buzz about churches going green is coming from a select few churches affecting a small following. The majority of churches agree that creation care and environmental stewardship are good things but they are sometimes afraid of stepping up due to the issue being traditionally liberal or democratic.
Matthew 24:7 states a picture of the end of the world, “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in diverse places.” Food shortages, swine flu, and many earthquakes throughout the year show just how close to the end times we are. Jesus is coming soon and will make a new heaven and a new earth. The earth we are on now was to be used, and we are just about done using it.
Conclusion
One way that this could be solved is if the human population stopped reproducing entirely, but that’s preposterous and would never happen. Political power and money however, could have and have had a huge voice in the environmental movement.
References
"Environment." PollingReport.com. Selzer & Co., 14 Sept. 2009. Web. 25 Oct. 2009.
Grossman, Cathy L. "Most religious groups in USA have lost ground, survey finds." USA Today. USA Today, 17 Mar. 2009. Web. 13 Oct. 2009.
Hawley, Amos. Man and Environment. New Viewpoints (New York), 1975. p239-241
Rath, C. M., Ferdinand J. "Population Problems: A Constituent of General Culture in the 21st Century." International Review of Education 39 (1993): 5-13. Jstor. Web. 25 Oct. 2009.
Taylor, Bron. "Review Commentary: Green Apocalypticism: Understanding Disaster in the Radical Environmental Worldview." Society and Natural Resources 12 (1999): 377-86.
