Judeo-Christian Interpretation Of Man's Relationship With The Environment?

In “The Historical Roots of Western European Environmental Attitudes and Values” J. Baird Callicott brings up the topic of anthropocentrism, and moving beyond the ideas of Man as the center of the universe. Callicott brings up the issue of interpretation of Judeo-Christian scriptures in terms of Man’s relationship with the environment, and the controversy that surrounds them. Through interpretation, Callicott highlights three distinct interpretations of the Judeo-Christian tradition highlighting their contrasting values and understanding of Man’s relationship with the environment. The first interpretation is known as the Despotic Interpretation, which states that because Man is the creation of God and “given dominion over earth... and all it’s other creatures”, Man is viewed as being above nature and possesses a god given right to exploit the environment. Callicott also discusses the Stewardship Interpretation, which states that God created both Man and the earth and that it is also Man’s responsibility to conserve and respect God’s fellow creations. The third …show more content…
Kinsley argues that this traditional Christian viewpoint is not specifically biblical, but can also be seen and interpreted through a number of other religions. The Pagan tradition is brought up, highlighting the similarities in which Man takes control of nature, showing that it may not be as simple as placing ecological blame on Christian ideals. Kinsley’s inclusion of religious writings demonstrates ways in which nature is praised in the bible, showing evidence of adopting more of an environmental-positive outlook and promoting a stronger bond between Man and Earth within religious