Apologetics and the Environment
David Cook
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Dr David Cook is a fellow of Green College, Oxford, founding director of the Whitefield Institute and teaches philosophy, theology and ethics. He is well known as an author and broadcaster. He is the Arthur F. Holmes Chair of Faith and Learning at Wheaton College. View all resources by David Cook
David Cook - Apologetics and the Environment
1. The Problem
Pollution of the air and water
Land degradation
Loss of natural resources
Overpopulation
War and refugees
Environmental abuses
Materialistic lifestyle
Running out of earth
Spaceship earth has first and third class carriages
One earth - Chernobyl/Exxon Valdez
2. The claim that Christianity is to blame
Be fruitful and multiply
Anti-contraception
Subdue the earth - selfish carelessness
Have dominion - domination
Christianity and capitalism - proof of election
3. Responses
Biblical perspectives on creator and creation
Biblical perspectives on humanity as part of yet distinct from created order
Biblical perspectives on answerability
Biblical perspectives on stewardship
The fall
The whole of creation groans
The model of the shepherd king
Jubilee laws
The new creation
Contraception Capitalism
Other religions and cultures
4. Strategies for environmentally friendly living
Simple life-style
Development and environment
Justice
Waste accumulation and disposal
Relations with animals
Relations with air, land and water
Wilderness and leisure
Public and political action
Global responses
Questions
- How can we reinforce understanding of the ecological crisis?
- How can we show that Christianity is not the culprit?
- How can we share biblical perspectives on the problem and cures?
- How can we show the difference Christian responsibility makes?
- What is a biblical view of contraception?
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