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Loving nature: Christian environmental ethics

Date

2016

Authors

Rolston, Holmes, 1932-, author
Georgetown University Press, publisher

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Abstract

The two great commandments are to love God and neighbor; but ought we to love a loveless nature? Agape seems nowhere there to be found. Most of the sensibilities we nourish in civilized beings--being fair or kind, respect for rights--are not there in the wild. Is any sense of "love gone wild" plausible? The better category might be intrinsic values found in creation, to which we are drawn in respect and care. Loving the land is a central theme in Hebrew faith, a land for which God cares. In the landscape surrounding him Jesus found ample evidence of the presence of God. In Genesis, God enjoys biodiversity. Words translated as "wilderness" occur nearly 300 times in the Bible. Jesus is regularly found returning to the wilderness. Anciently Palestine was a promised land. Today the call is to see Earth as a planet with promise, destined for abundant life.

Description

Includes bibliographical references (pages 330-331).

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Subject

love
Earth
nature
culture
agape
philea
eros
wilderness
landscape
promised land

Citation

Associated Publications