Christianity The environment

Humans were created after most other things, they were made once everything else had been made showing the world was prepared by God for humans. That we are special. However it means that we are dominions, we must respect and take care of the environment around us. As dominions we are in charge of the world, we must not harm animals unessecarily nor must we damage the environment.

The bible states that man is made in the image of God. God is caring, responsible and careful therefore we should try our best to adopt such qualities, this also means we should take care of the world around us.

Dominion: The idea that humans have control or responsibility for the earth and everything on it, including animals.

We are God's most important creation, the world and everything in it belongs to God. God has loaned us the world and so we should return it to him in good condition and avoid damaging it. Humans are stewards according to the bible, even though we are above other creatures we must still respect and care for God's creation. 

God's intentions were:

• to provide for all his creation, people and animals
• for human beings to populate and use the earth fully
• to give human beings control - responsibility.

All life has a God-given purpose, and to fulfil this, Christians believe, we need to have God's attitude - creative, caring and controlling the way resources are used to benefit all his creation.

Other reasons: the bible stresses to "love thy neighbour" caring for the world applies to this teaching.

Although the bible states animals, unlike humans, have no soul, we should use them sensible for our benefit but we should also respect them and not abuse them.

Christians agree on the need to be good stewards of the environment, but hold many differing, even conflicting, views on how this applies when specific issues are raised. It may be that birth control conflicts with "rule over every living thing", and Christian communities may feel spiritual issues (prayer, worship etc.) may require resources of time as priorities rather than materials ones (environmental problems).

Christians believe that God created the world and entrusted it to human beings to benefit from it and to care for it.

Christians celebrate and thank God for his creation in prayers, songs, poems and art, but also take action to care for it.

The Bible teaches that human beings' disobedience to God and selfish living have polluted people's lives and the environment.

The Bible gives some guidelines for the right care of land and animals, and emphasises obedience to God brings good results in agriculture, and disobedience leads to disasters.

Some Christians actively work to protect the environment because they see it as God's purpose for their lives, as a response to God's gift of creation, and his instructions, as well as serving the community.

Some churches engage in community 'clean up' projects, and join protests about pollution because they believe that is a way of demonstrating God's concern for the world he gave us.

All Christians would agree that the environment needs protecting because it is commanded by God, but many differ in the type of action or amount of resources they may be committed to make available.

Controversial issues concerning animal rights / vegetarianism are likely to find a variety of differing responses from the Christian community.

Environmental issues are closely linked to wealth and poverty issues on Christian agendas for action and Christian aid organisations.

All Christians would agree that the environment needs protecting because it is commanded by God, but many differ in the type of action or amount of resources they may be committed to make available.

Controversial issues concerning animal rights / vegetarianism are likely to find a variety of differing responses from the Christian community.

Environmental issues are closely linked to wealth and poverty issues on Christian agendas for action and Christian aid organisations.