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Disrespect of Earth

Many indigenous faiths have a respect for the earth. This is true with ancient paths as it is with today’s paths. Even European indigenous paths respected the earth.
I cracked open a book and read a familiar theme: Westerners are more often seeking indigenous faiths which revere the Earth. The majority of Westerners are of the Christian faith.
So are paths like Christianity the enemy of the Earth? Much of its spreading out included conversions at sword point. A vast majority of Christians I have discussed with believe that the Earth is here for us to use as we see fit, but there is a handful of people that state we need to do so wisely.
What is your take? Can the general disregard/disrespect for the earth be linked to Christianity stripping indigenous people of their most spiritual tie to the Earth?
 

mycorrhiza

Well-Known Member
Many Christians believe that the Earth is sacred, as it was created by God. Thus, we shouldn't destroy it, but protect it.

Some of the disrespect towards Earth can have it's basis in the abrahamic faiths, but I think that it's mostly based on capitalism, egoism and greed, none of which are promoted by the abrahamic faiths.
 

Quintessence

Consults with Trees
Staff member
Premium Member
There was an excellent book I read about exactly this issue. Let's see if I can remember what it was. *squeezes brain*

Ah, it was this book (book review by a blogger link). The blogger gives a decent (albeit brief) summary of it. Basically, Christianity is not necessarily to fault here. Philosophical and economic traditions that arose out of The Enlightenment are at least as much to blame, if not more so.
 

mycorrhiza

Well-Known Member
Understood and agreed, but are there any teachings of the Abrahamic Faiths which advocate the sacredness of the Earth.

Here's one verse that promotes care for the Earth:

"The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it." - Genesis 2:15


Some Christians are disrespectful towards earth, but I believe that this behaviour is based on conservatism and capitalism, not on the Bible.
 
There was an excellent book I read about exactly this issue. Let's see if I can remember what it was. *squeezes brain*

Ah, it was this book (book review by a blogger link). The blogger gives a decent (albeit brief) summary of it. Basically, Christianity is not necessarily to fault here. Philosophical and economic traditions that arose out of The Enlightenment are at least as much to blame, if not more so.
I will check out the book.

But another part of the OP: Christianity may not be at fault, but it did sever many indigenous beliefs towards the Earth. Perhaps that is more to blame, the change of faith, but what if that faith change was forced?
 

mycorrhiza

Well-Known Member
How does Capitalism have anything to do with this?

Economic expansion at the expense of environmentalism. Also, in a capitalist society, the richest have the most power, and thus control the market. Oil wouldn't be needed anymore if the development of better technology wasn't halted by the big companies who don't wish to lose their income from the oil industry.
 
Economic expansion at the expense of environmentalism. Also, in a capitalist society, the richest have the most power, and thus control the market. Oil wouldn't be needed anymore if the development of better technology wasn't halted by the big companies who don't wish to lose their income from the oil industry.
I do find this partially true, but how do you explain the rapid expansion and deforestation for homesteads?
 
Perhaps a clarification: Many of the indigenous faiths believe in living with the Earth and actively respect It, not simply to live off of It or to use It. Could this be a major tipping in the scales of the two?
 

mycorrhiza

Well-Known Member
I do find this partially true, but how do you explain the rapid expansion and deforestation for homesteads?

Are we speaking historically? Our impact on earth wasn't nearly as big before capitalism. This of course has to do with technical expansion as well, but if we had combined the technical expansion with a different economic system, we wouldn't have had such a big impact on the environment.

Capitalism in it's current state can't work together with environmentalism. There is no room for constant economic expansion.
 

Kathryn

It was on fire when I laid down on it.
Here are some verses from the bible regarding how we should care for the earth:

Job 12:7-10 - But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.

Jeremiah 2:7 - I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and rich produce. But you came and defiled my land and made my inheritance detestable.

Ezekial 34:2-4 - Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally.

Genesis 1:26 - Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.'

Leviticus 25:23-24 - The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants. Throughout the country that you hold as a possession, you must provide for the redemption of the land.

"I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you and with every living creature that was with you-the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you-every living creature on earth." (Genesis 9:9-10)

"In that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and the creatures that move along the ground. Bow and sword and battle I will abolish from the land, so that all may lie down in safety." (Hosea 2:18)

"And of every living thing, of all flesh, you shall bring two of every kind into the ark, to keep them alive with you." (Genesis 6:19)

"Six days you shall do your work, but on the seventh day you shall rest, so that your ox and your donkey may have relief." (Exodus 23:12; cf. Deuteronomy 5:14)

"You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain." (Deuteronomy 25:4)

"Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God's sight." (Luke 12:6; cf. Matthew 10:29)

"You must keep my decrees and my laws.... And if you defile the land, it will vomit you out as it vomited out the nations that were before you." (Leviticus 18:26, 28)

"The land itself must observe a sabbath to the Lord. For six years sow your fields, and for six years prune your vineyards and garner their crops. But in the seventh year the land is to have a sabbath of rest, a sabbath to the Lord.... The land is to have a year of rest." (Leviticus 25:2-5; cf. Exodus 23:10-11)

"The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine; with me you are but aliens and tenants. Throughout the land that you hold, you shall provide for the redemption of the land." (Leviticus 25:23-24)

"If you follow my statutes and keep my commandments and observe them faithfully, I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit." (Leviticus 26:3-4)

"You shall not pollute the land in which you live.... You shall not defile the land in which you live, in which I also dwell; for I the LORD dwell among the Israelites." (Numbers 35:33-34)

"If you besiege a town for a long time, making war against it in order to take it, you must not destroy its trees by wielding an ax against them. Although you may take food from them, you must not cut them down. Are trees in the field human beings that they should come under siege from you?" (Deuteronomy 20:19)

"There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land. There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed. Because of this the land mourns, and all who live in it waste away; the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and the fish of the sea are dying." (Hosea 4:1-3)

"Woe to you who add house to house and join field to field till no space is left and you live alone in the land. The LORD almighty has declared in my hearing: 'Surely the great houses will become desolate, the fine mansions left without occupants. A ten-acre vineyard will produce only a bath of wine, a homer of seed only an ephah of grain.'" (Isaiah 5:8-10)

"The earth dries up and withers, the world languishes and withers, the heavens languish together with the earth. The earth lies polluted under its inhabitants; for they have transgressed laws, violated the statutes, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore a curse devours the earth; its inhabitants suffer for their guilt." (Isaiah 24:4-6)

"Ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you. Which of these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind." (Job 12:7-10)

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world." (Psalm 19:1-4; cf. Psalm 97:6)

"Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad, let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; they will sing before the Lord." (Psalm 96:11-13)

"Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise him in the heights above. Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his heavenly hosts. Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars. Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created. He set them in place for ever and ever; he gave a decree that will never pass away." (Psalm 148:1-6)

"Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding, you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds." (Psalm 148:7-10)

"You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands." (Isaiah 55:12)
 
That would depend on what type of expansion was occurring. We can expand economically and create alternate ways of creating capital without destruction of the environment.

Hypothetically: With a different base of sprituality, let's use Druidry. Do you think there would have been less of the clearing of land?
 

Sunstone

De Diablo Del Fora
Premium Member
I've heard some Evangelicals say they don't care what's done to the earth since God will renew it after the apocalypse. But I'm not sure how common that attitude is.
 
Kathryn:

The theme of most of your quotes don't ever mention to respect the Earth. The revolve around either resting out of God's respect, God doesn't forsake his creatures, the land is barren because of man's sins, etc..

Please illustrate to me where they say to respect and have reverrence for the Earth.
 

idea

Question Everything
... A vast majority of Christians I have discussed with believe that the Earth is here for us to use as we see fit, but there is a handful of people that state we need to do so wisely...

We believe the Earth is an eternal living entity, that the flood was her baptism by water, that she will go through a baptism of fire in the future, and will then be reborn into her sanctified eternal state...

(Pearl of Great Price | Moses 7:48)
48 And it came to pass that Enoch looked upon the earth; and he heard a voice from the bowels thereof, saying: Wo, wo is me, the mother of men; I am pained, I am weary, because of the wickedness of my children. When shall I rest, and be cleansed from the filthiness which is gone forth out of me? When will my Creator sanctify me, that I may rest, and righteousness for a season abide upon my face?
 

idea

Question Everything
Baptism by fire... Do human souls need one of those?

(Old Testament | Malachi 3:2)
2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire...

yes, baptism is described as a two part process, by water, and by the Holy Ghost. The second part of it involves the laying on of hands by those who hold the proper authority - the power of the Spirit often feels like a warmth, or a fire...

(New Testament | Acts 2:3 - 4)
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost
 

Kathryn

It was on fire when I laid down on it.
Kathryn:

The theme of most of your quotes don't ever mention to respect the Earth. The revolve around either resting out of God's respect, God doesn't forsake his creatures, the land is barren because of man's sins, etc..

Please illustrate to me where they say to respect and have reverrence for the Earth.

Job 12:7-10 - But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.
I read this as honoring the earth and listening to it's needs and what it can teach us.

Jeremiah 2:7 - I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and rich produce. But you came and defiled my land and made my inheritance detestable. Not good. In other words, your actions destroyed the fertile earth. No bueno.


Ezekial 34:2-4 - Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally.
Once again, no bueno. Don't do this.

Leviticus 25:23-24 - The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants. Throughout the country that you hold as a possession, you must provide for the redemption of the land.

"I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you and with every living creature that was with you-the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you-every living creature on earth." (Genesis 9:9-10) God's covenants are not just for man, but for the earth and the animal kingdom as well.

"In that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and the creatures that move along the ground. Bow and sword and battle I will abolish from the land, so that all may lie down in safety." (Hosea 2:18) God cares about the safety and well being of animals, and has a plan to protect them from the warfare and violence of mankind.

"And of every living thing, of all flesh, you shall bring two of every kind into the ark, to keep them alive with you." (Genesis 6:19) God commanded Noah to safeguard His animal kingdom.

"Six days you shall do your work, but on the seventh day you shall rest, so that your ox and your donkey may have relief." (Exodus 23:12; cf. Deuteronomy 5:14) Animals are to be given rest and not worked too severely.

"You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain." (Deuteronomy 25:4) Be generous to your livestock and allow your ox to reap some of the benefits of his labor.

"Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God's sight." (Luke 12:6; cf. Matthew 10:29) God cares about even the smallest animals that we place little or no value in.

"You must keep my decrees and my laws.... And if you defile the land, it will vomit you out as it vomited out the nations that were before you." (Leviticus 18:26, 28) Take care of the land. Don't defile it.

"The land itself must observe a sabbath to the Lord. For six years sow your fields, and for six years prune your vineyards and garner their crops. But in the seventh year the land is to have a sabbath of rest, a sabbath to the Lord.... The land is to have a year of rest." (Leviticus 25:2-5; cf. Exodus 23:10-11) Rotation of crops - which is good for the environment and the land.

"The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine; with me you are but aliens and tenants. Throughout the land that you hold, you shall provide for the redemption of the land." (Leviticus 25:23-24) We cannot and do not own the land. The land belongs to God. Just as tenants are not to mistreat their rented property because it belongs to someone else, we are not to mistreat the earth.

"If you follow my statutes and keep my commandments and observe them faithfully, I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit." (Leviticus 26:3-4) Behave responsibly and God will bless the land with natural bounty.

"You shall not pollute the land in which you live.... You shall not defile the land in which you live, in which I also dwell; for I the LORD dwell among the Israelites." (Numbers 35:33-34) Don't defile the land.

"If you besiege a town for a long time, making war against it in order to take it, you must not destroy its trees by wielding an ax against them. Although you may take food from them, you must not cut them down. Are trees in the field human beings that they should come under siege from you?" (Deuteronomy 20:19) Seems self explanatory. Don't rape the land by denuding it's forests.

"There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land. There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed. Because of this the land mourns, and all who live in it waste away; the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and the fish of the sea are dying." (Hosea 4:1-3) Because of greed and sin and wrongdoing and stealing, etc. our actions have hurt the land, which is suffering. No bueno again.

"Woe to you who add house to house and join field to field till no space is left and you live alone in the land. The LORD almighty has declared in my hearing: 'Surely the great houses will become desolate, the fine mansions left without occupants. A ten-acre vineyard will produce only a bath of wine, a homer of seed only an ephah of grain.'" (Isaiah 5:8-10) Don't be a land grabber - you will end up isolated and the land will be overworked.

"The earth dries up and withers, the world languishes and withers, the heavens languish together with the earth. The earth lies polluted under its inhabitants; for they have transgressed laws, violated the statutes, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore a curse devours the earth; its inhabitants suffer for their guilt." (Isaiah 24:4-6) Once again, the actions of man have polluted the earth and even the weather patterns are disrupted by the misdeeds of man.

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world." (Psalm 19:1-4; cf. Psalm 97:6) Poetry describing the glory of God's creation.

"Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad, let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; they will sing before the Lord." (Psalm 96:11-13) More poetry describing the glory of God's earthly creation.

"Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise him in the heights above. Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his heavenly hosts. Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars. Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created. He set them in place for ever and ever; he gave a decree that will never pass away." (Psalm 148:1-6) God created the earth and it is His artwork. It's obvious we should respect this and cherish it rather than destroy it or treat it carelessly.

"Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding, you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds." (Psalm 148:7-10) More of the same.

"You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands." (Isaiah 55:12)
More of the same. All this poetic writing is reveling in God's creation of this earth and all that is in it. It is obvious that we should treat God's creation with respect and appreciation.
 

URAVIP2ME

Veteran Member
I've heard some Evangelicals say they don't care what's done to the earth since God will renew it after the apocalypse. But I'm not sure how common that attitude is.

That bad attitude should not be common. -Isaiah 45 vs 18,12

God will bring to ruin those ruining the earth. - Revelation 11 v 18 B.

In the meantime that does not mean anyone should have a care-less attitude.
 
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