The Prophets and Our Resources

Review of the previous post.

The previous post, post number 3 of 13, continued introducing the topic and begins a discussion of ecotheology.

Preview of this post.

This post, post number 4 of 13, continues introducing the topic and continues the discussion of ecotheology by discussing the shortcomings of the current application of ecotheology.

I. Introduction

3. Shortcomings of Ecotheology

The problem with reading the Bible for such guidance is that the teachings of the Bible, in particular the prophets, occurred at a time far removed from the present and takes no account of modern science or population. Trying to find passages to appropriate thus risks reading those passages through the lens of hindsight, and thereby contorting those passages to fit the present. Some of these attempts seek to read texts, such as Joel 1:2-12 describing the destruction of the land as God’s punishment for man’s sins and then contort those passages to propose that they apply to today and to instruct us how to act with regard to our environment. Even using the broad Hillary Marlow Ecological Triangle[1] of a relationship between God, Man and non-human entities falls short because of this hindsight use of Biblical teaching does not propose instruction regarding how we should approach today’s scientifically-based problems.

Still further, the methods of ecotheology seek to apply the teachings of the Bible to modern  ecological problems in the same manner these biblical teachings are applied to other areas of morality and ethics. This works when today’s issues are identical or at least close to the issues faced in the Bible, such as social justice and the like. However, they fall short when the issues are far different. This is especially evident in the field of ecology which is science based. The science and issues associated with modern ecology are far removed from the issues faced in the Bible. Since the Biblical people did not face CO₂ emission problems, or deforestation on vast scales, or PCP (Pentachlorophenol) problems or the like, these problems are so far removed from the actual issues faced by the drafters of the Bible that they are different in kind and not simply different in proportion, which makes them different issues entirely. As such, such teachings as they are currently used do not seem to be applicable to today’s problems.

Preview of the next post.

The next post, post number 5 of 13, continues introducing the topic and discusses the premise of this series.

[1] Hilary Marlow, Biblical Prophets and Contemporary Environmental Ethics, Oxford Univ. Press (Oxford, 2015), paperback, pgs 274-278.