Genesis 1:28
Sojourner, a consistently good Christian activist magazine, has a full back articles archive online. I came across this article, from March 2004 - “To Serve and Preserve: The Bible calls us to dominion over creation. Or does it?”. It discusses Genesis 1:28, the infamous passage (mis)interpreted for centuries as giving human beings “dominion” over a wild natural earth that needs “taming” and to be made “useful”.
The misappropriation of Genesis 1:28 thus continues to be deeply consequential. Rather than conceding its interpretation to environmental imperialists, however, or throwing it out as hopelessly problematic, we would do well to re-place this text within its cultural and narrative context. Genesis 1-2 tells a very different story about the relationship between human society and the rest of creation than the one we moderns tell ourselves.
Then the author launches into a fascinating history of biblical place and language, emphasizing throughout the value of caretaking over domination, solidarity over hierarchy. Myers concludes with, “The biblical tale of creation finds wide resonance with other primal origin stories found among indigenous peoples the world over, in which ‘the people’ emerge from the earth, the other beings are all relatives, and stewardship means thinking ahead seven generations”.
It has always mystified me that more Christians aren’t ardent environmentalists. Seems like it should be obvious to do what one can to take care of such a beautifully rich and purposeful earth. Although not a Christian, I can appreciate moral appeals like What Would Jesus Drive?
Pamela said,
May 28, 2004 @ 6:58 pm
Emily,
Thank you so much for posting this! There was a time in my life when I was a very committed Christian (too problematic for me to be sure of it these days), and at that time I attended a church that a) used inclusive language (God the Mother and the Father b) hosted the Los Angeles Gay Men’s Chorus several times a year, and c) preached avidly from the pulpit for environmental issues.
The basis for the environmental bend was biblically based–they found the language in the Bible to support that position. Unfortunately, the more evangelical churches believe first and foremost in man’s superiority over nearly everything, and this is the more popular Christian position.
I am very happy to be able to link to the site you posted, and I’m happy to see that there is a sub-culture, based in Christianity, that views us as equals in, or at the very least responsible stewards of, the systems of this earth.
The Zero Boss said,
June 1, 2004 @ 2:33 pm
Thanks for digging up that information - very insightful indeed. I recently read a similar dissection of how the Bible was used to defend racism in the pre-war South. Jacob Sullum’s book SAYING YES does the same thing, but in order to rebut Christians who used the Bible to promote prohibition.