Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Environmental Stewardship In The Judeo-Christian Tradition

I am currently studying the above titled book (which I received free in the mail) from the Action Institute in Grand Rapids, Michigan. While I have not finished it, there are some good thoughts in this book. In fact, let me quote part of the introduction as it is given on the back cover.

"A fair and honest debate about religious responses to environmental issues should always distinguish theological principles from prudential judgments. The Cornwall Declaration and the accompanying essays in this volume were written to do just that. They were not written to provide theological rationale for current environmentalist fashion. Rather, they seek to articulate the broad Judeo-Christian theological principles concerning the environment, and to distinguish those principles from contrary ideas popular in the environmental movement." (Jay W. Richards)

Part 4 of the book really piqued my interest. It is entitled "A Biblical Perspective On Environmental Stewardship" and contains a section (Section IV) entitled "Some Human And Environmental Concerns For Present And Future". Within this section such issues as population growth, global warming, and species extinction are discussed. Section V, "Environmental Market Virtues," also promises to be a good read.

Besides this book, there seems to be a large undercurrent within the Judeo-Christian world to become "green." Sometimes we use the terminology of "eco-friendly" or "eco-conscious" but it basically has the same purpose. What is the general concensus on such a move? Is it warranted? Or should it be avoided at all cost? Is there some middle ground, and if there is, how do we reach it?

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sounds like an interesting book, can I borrow it? I like the idea of being good stewards of the environment.

P.S. - I didn't know you had a blog Matt, you should tell people about it.

DarrenB said...

I'm always guarded when it comes to this issue. The mainstream environmentalist movement isn't really about the environment any more. It's about control. Control of the citizenry of this country. Basically, the environmentalist movement was co-opted in the 60's by proponents of big government as a way of getting around private property rights. Proclaim a piece of ground as habitat for some "endangered" species and, voila, that piece of ground is no longer available to the land owner. The environment is not in nearly so bad a shape as the mainstream media (MSM) would have us believe. Global Warming is a farce and is just one more tool in the globalists' arsenal being used to erode freedom. I'm all for being good stewards of the environment, but most of the money and effort expended in the name of environmental causes has really done very little. Improvements in the environment have occurred more as a result of a natural tendency in a free market system for preservation. Government regulation (coercion) of the environment in the form of the Endangered Species Act, etc., only came later in the game. But, I digress...