As debates over climate change rage in Washington and American consumers become ever more conscientious about 'going green,' evangelical Christians are increasingly concerned about the proper relationship between faith and environmentalism. The notion of human 'stewardship' over God's creation could be a groundbreaking opportunity for cooperation between evangelicals, the scientific community, and environmental activists. However, a deep understanding of environmental issues from a distinctively Christian perspective will inevitably complicate partnerships with those who approach the subject from conventional secular viewpoints. Although there is some common ground, there remain important differences between Christian and secular perspectives on the environment. Are human beings merely one 'part' of the undifferentiated whole of nature? Or, worse, are humans a blight and a drain on God's perfect creation? Do we really 'own' the land we live on and the plants and animals that provide our sustenance? The answers to these questions begin to form a Christian approach to solving ecological problems. In Mere Environmentalism: A Biblical Perspective on Humans and the Natural World, Steven F. Hayward provides a thorough examination of the philosophical presuppositions underlying today's environmentalist movement and the history of policies intended to alleviate environmental challenges such as overpopulation and global warming. Relying on Scripture to understand God's created order, Hayward offers an insightful reflection on the relationship between humans and the natural world.
Mere Environmentalism (Values and Capitalism)
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Steven F. Hayward provides a thorough examination of the philosophical presuppositions underlying today's environmentalist movement and the history of policies intended to alleviate environmental challenges such as overpopulation and global warming. Relying on scripture to understand God's created order, Hayward offers an insightful reflection on the relationship between humans and the natural world.
(Carolina Journal )About the Author
Steven F. Hayward is the F. K. Weyerhaeuser Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. He coauthors the Pacific Research Institute's annual Index of Leading Environmental Indicators and is the producer and host of An Inconvenient Truth_Or Convenient Fiction?, a rebuttal to Al Gore's documentary.
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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Mere Environmentalism, by Steven F. Hayward, is a small book, only 78 pages (including notes), but don't let that fool you. It contains a simple, yet elegant outline to help Christians chart a course through the otherwise turbulent waters of the modern day environmental movement.
Steven begins at the beginning, Genesis, and shows how Christians have a cleat theological mandate for responsible stewardship of creation. Steven also takes time to show how this simple stewardship goal has been misconstrued and maligned over history by Christianity's detractors. In particular, debunking the myth that dominion is synonymous with domination.
From here Steven provides a brief survey of the environmental landscape, including a brief overview of the various approaches to environmental issues. He describes these in chapter 3 from utopianism to practical incrementalism. The former, utopianism, being what is often heard today in popular media to the tune of "let's just leave nature alone". The latter being a well-reasoned and disciplined, some might even say progressive, use of the resources found in nature, including man himself (meaning men are not seen as interlopers or an environmental disease).
Steven also provides quite a few facts and arguments in the latter half of the book which provide a good foundation for thinking that things aren't as bad as many claim and that the proposed solutions today may, in fact, be worse than the supposed illnesses we face as a society.
Steven ends the book with a sobering call for Christians from various angles to approach the issue with humility and grace. Humility in acknowledging what we do and do not know and grace for those with whom we disagree.
I hope to use the content in this book to make future discussions with both believers and non-believers more profitable on the subject of how we should interact with the environment.
Steven begins at the beginning, Genesis, and shows how Christians have a cleat theological mandate for responsible stewardship of creation. Steven also takes time to show how this simple stewardship goal has been misconstrued and maligned over history by Christianity's detractors. In particular, debunking the myth that dominion is synonymous with domination.
From here Steven provides a brief survey of the environmental landscape, including a brief overview of the various approaches to environmental issues. He describes these in chapter 3 from utopianism to practical incrementalism. The former, utopianism, being what is often heard today in popular media to the tune of "let's just leave nature alone". The latter being a well-reasoned and disciplined, some might even say progressive, use of the resources found in nature, including man himself (meaning men are not seen as interlopers or an environmental disease).
Steven also provides quite a few facts and arguments in the latter half of the book which provide a good foundation for thinking that things aren't as bad as many claim and that the proposed solutions today may, in fact, be worse than the supposed illnesses we face as a society.
Steven ends the book with a sobering call for Christians from various angles to approach the issue with humility and grace. Humility in acknowledging what we do and do not know and grace for those with whom we disagree.
I hope to use the content in this book to make future discussions with both believers and non-believers more profitable on the subject of how we should interact with the environment.
0 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By bforn
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I read this book for a class dealing with the environment. Before reading the book I was excited to get started since I hadn't read a book about environmentalism from a Christian worldview. That being said, when I finished reading the book I was left wanting more. To me, Hayword's big takeaway was that Christians should provide one crucial aspect to the environmental debate- humility. This main point almost seemed like a no-brainer to me since if you read the Bible you would obviously know that humility is crucial in all areas of life. I also think he stretches a few scripture passages to fit his agenda (e.g. the principles he derives from Pharaoh during the famine). The book is short and inexpensive so I would recommend reading it if you are interesting in this sort of thing; if not, save your money.
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