Religious Teachings & the Duty to Protect the Planet | Religion, Philosophy & Ethics for GCSE/IGCSE - Year 11 PDF Download

Role & Place of Humans

The Role of Humans in Protecting the Planet

• Earth is unique and irreplaceable, vital for current and future human generations.
• Religious individuals believe they are tasked with preserving the planet for future generations.
• They view their role as stewards, responsible for respecting and caring for the environment.
• They believe God grants humans dominion (authority) over nature.
• Christians see living on Earth as a privilege, coupled with the duty to protect it and prevent its destruction.
• Christians recognize the interdependence of all creation, understanding that harming the planet or causing animal extinctions negatively impacts humans.

Stewardship

The Importance of Stewardship

• Stewardship is the belief that God designated humans as caretakers of His creation.
• This belief influences the behavior of many religious groups, including Christians and Muslims.

Christian Beliefs on Stewardship

• The Bible states, “The Earth belongs to the Lord and everything on it” (Psalms 24:1), indicating humans do not own the natural world to exploit freely.
• In Genesis 2, Adam was tasked with caring for the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:15), a responsibility passed to all humans.
• As stewards, Christians believe they are appointed by God to respect and preserve nature, working sustainably to utilize its resources.
• The complexity and beauty of the world inspire awe, reflecting God’s creative power.
• Christians value the world and believe it should be preserved.
• Many Christians believe they will be accountable to God for how they cared for the Earth.

Muslim Beliefs on Stewardship

• Muslims, as part of the Ummah, including future generations, require a healthy environment.
• Islam teaches that God created Adam as His Khalifah (viceregent), responsible for maintaining creation.
• All Muslims are Khalifahs, tasked with preserving the balance of creation as outlined in the Qur’an and Shari’ah.
• Islam views life as a test from God, part of which involves caring for the Earth.
• Muslims believe they will be judged by God based on their stewardship, with punishment for those who fail.
• Islamic teachings on stewardship encourage Muslims to reduce pollution and conserve resources.
• The belief in judgment as Khalifahs reinforces their duty to maintain the planet.

Dominion

The Significance of Dominion

• Christians believe humans have the authority to rule over the world, known as dominion.
• This positions humans as uniquely significant within creation, appointed as rulers over it.

Christian Beliefs on Dominion

• The Sanctity of Life doctrine emphasizes that humans are more important than other parts of creation.
• Humans possess souls, distinguishing them from animals and plants.
• Created “in God’s image,” humans are unique among all of God’s creations.
• God “breathed life” into Adam, establishing a personal relationship with humans, setting them apart from animals.
• God commands humans to “fill the earth and subdue it” (Genesis 1:28).
• Dominion prioritizes human interests over those of animals.

Genesis 1:28 instructs humans to “rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

• Despite having dominion, humans are responsible for ensuring animals are cared.