The Natural World

Value of God's creation

• “God saw all that he had made, and it was good”
• All things created by God have value because God was the maker. For this reason he expected humans to take care and not to damage things made by God
• The natural world was created for humans to use responsibly. Most of nature eg. Food can help enrich human life
• We are given stewardship of this world
• We do not own the world and therefore should respect it

Stewardship is the belief that Christians have a duty to look after the environment of God

“Let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air”

Christians find this quote suggesting that they should be stewards of the world. “The Earth is the Lords” and we do not own it therefore we have the responsibility to look after it
• Preserve the environment for those young or are to be born in the future “love thy neighbour”
• Sharing natural resources fairly amongst people rather than the rich few hoarding it all
• Using the resources in a way which is sustainable and remembering they were made by God
• Joining groups campaigning to protect the environment

Christian Beliefs and teachings about the environment

• “And he saw it was good”
• God has love for everything in the world
• Humans are intended to be stewards
• Humans given domination over the rest of creation
• Roman Catholics would say that worlds resources are for us to enjoy but not exploit

Environmental problems

Pollution

The planet is becoming increasing polluted due to various causes such as car exhaust fumes, power plants, nuclear waste disposal. Rivers and seas are also polluted by waste and chemicals such as pesticides. The soil too is contaminated.
Pollution has destroyed the worlds natural systems that nurture and sustain life,  providing clean air, water and soil. Emissions of green house gases affect the atmosphere which can threaten o disrupt/damage life on Earth

Destruction on natural habitats

Tropic forests are under threat of deforestation due to production of timber or for pasture. Half of the mature tropical trees have been destroyed in the last 200 years
• Causes climate change as forests remove CO2 from the atmosphere. Without trees, green house gases increase
• Plants and wildlife are  being destroyed, even never discovered ones, which means they will never be discovered and they can have scientific benefits
• Soil erosion as only forests can retain soil and therefore soil moving into rivers causes sitling which lead to fooding. Land slides are less likely with trees.
• Natural landscapes are lost for future generation

Use and Abuse of Natural Resources

Resources are limited and are drained quickly. Due to shortage, countries may fight over natural .
Industrialisation and technological and scientific development has lead to the destruction of forests, the over exploitation of oceans, and the extinction of species.

Climate Change

Climate change is the long term change in average temperature, precipitation (rain and snowfall) and wind patterns. Human activity can affect climate.
Humans increase in temperature and wind melting of polar ice caps and rise in sea levels damaging storms and droughts.
Human activities are to blame for the increasing temperature. We cannot stop the climate changing as we are too late.

Climate change effects on humans

• Crop yield reduced
• Deaths amongst elderly and sick due to warm temperatures
• Reduction in quality of life for homeless
• Water shortages, more flooding and more wildfires

Individual and community responses

Individual: 

Recycling and reducing unnecessary packaging
Recycling stops rubbish ending up in incinerators or landfill sites where they need to burn or be buried
People can stop using plastic bags as they take a long time to break down
Home energy conservation and insulation
• Loft and wall insulation reduces energy needed to heat houses
• Not leaving taps running as it saves water and energy for the pump
• Not leaving appliances on standby
• Energy efficient light bulbs

Community responses:

Non-polluting forms of transport
• People make car journeys for less than two miles rather than walking cycling
• Only use planes when absolutely necessary

Buy Local:

• Buying goods from local producers reduces  need to ship from foreign countries and therefore transport emissions is reduced

National responses:

Stern Report 

• Climate change is real
• Human activity contributes to it
• The world should spend 1% of the GDP to avoid the worst effects of climate change
• If we fail to do this, global GDP will fall by up to 20%

UK Government Policy

• Finding non-carbon producing alternatives for electricity generation
• Increasing regulations on buildings, eg must have loft and cavity wall insulation
• Supporting the development of new, greener car fuels
• Encouraging energy conservation and recycling

International responses - Earth Summits

1997 Kyoto Protocol to reduce green house gases by 5%
European union 2020 target to reduce emissions by 20% below 1990 levels (encourages wind farms, solar power and non greenhouse gas emitting power stations)

Christian responses to environmental problems

We should live simply and not wastefully

Mistreatment of the world is sinful and blasphemy

See the environmental problems as Gods punishment of humanity for sin, just as God flooded the Earth in the time of Noah

What an individual can do to protect the environment

• Every little bit helps
• Set an example to others by recycling, using non polluting forms of transport etc
• We are created by God to act as stewards of the Earth

Christian beliefs about respect for each other

If we do not have compassion for a fellow human being, then how can the love of God be in us?
The Bible says “The poor are blessed” and “the poor are waiting for justice”.
Christians believe they have a duty to bring justice and peace. They should also show respect for people since for God loves the world.

Why do people matter

“The glory of God is a person fully alive”- every single person has dignity and should be respected. Also Christians should treat everyone with love and compassion “love thy neighbour”. Love for God is shown through deeds of practical loving kindness. Love to Jesus is expressed through love and service to the needy. We have a moral responsibility for those in need and God takes human actions very seriously

What can we do?

NOTE: This section and the one before is based on the parable of sheep and the goats
• Visit and look after the sick and those in Prison
• Providing those who are hungry with food
• Caring for strangers
• Clothing and respecting’s those who have lost everything, who are stripped of dignity (naked)

Poverty

The state of being extremely poor. Extreme poverty is described as living on less than a $1 a day. It means the people cannot afford basic requirements for survivals such as food, water, clothing, shelter or education. One in five of the worlds population live in extreme poverty
Worlds resources are not evenly shared. The richest 1% own 40% of the whole worlds wealth
Five basic needs of humans are – Food, Water, Education, Health, Work
“The poor are blessed and the kingdom of heaven is theirs”
“The poor are waiting for Justice”

Why should we do it?

• Love for God is shown through deeds of loving kindness
• Love of neighbour
• Moral responsibility
• God takes human actions seriously

What causes world poverty?

Environmental problems e.g. Frequent natural disasters
Healthcare e.g. Lack
Conflict e.g. Leave people unable to live safe
Bad government e.g. Corruption and mismanagement
HIV/Aids e.g. Many die young and cant join the workforce resulting in the country not developing
Debt e.g. Poor countries have to borrow large sum of money and cant pay it back
Trade barriers e.g. unfair trade rules benefiting rich.
Greed in MEDCs – Take more wealth than what is fair

Poverty Cycle

Ill health > Less work > Less food > Hunger > Ill health

How Christians respond to poverty overseas?

• Christian Charity
• Campaigning against exploitation
• Encourage Fairer Trade
• Prayer

Christian voluntary aid agencies:

• Education and awareness
• Emergency relief (short-term aid)
• Development projects (long-term aid)
• Campaigning to promote Justice

The education and awareness can be achieved by teaching people in richer countries about the situation of people in poorer countries using media and churches.

Short term aid can be useful for sudden disasters such as an earthquake.

Emergency Aid is aid intended to meet a crisis for instance a Hurricane. It is intended to meet need in the short term. This aid can be in the form of food, medical supplies, tents. It is intended to help people survive who otherwise will die.

Long term aid goes with the saying “Give a man a fish he can feed himself for a day, give him a fishing rod and you can feed him for a life time”. Long term aid can empower people and allow them to regain a sense of their own dignity and self respect and the ability to support themselves.