Chapter 1
What topic does this book relate to environmental ethics?
Salvation stories
Soteriology is mentioned in this chapter. What is the definition of it?
The doctrine of salvation
What is the goal of environmental pragmatism?
To reconcile diverse ethical positions within environmental ethics.
True or False: in the Moral/Human agency strategy, political practices do not matter.
False
"For this second strategy, the most important social practices for environmental ethics are not naturalist but political."
When did stewardship emerge as a theological discourse?
During the 1980s.
What are the three "ecologies of grace"?
Redemption, sanctification, deification
How was the author inspired to write about Christian environmental ethics?
Whilst working with Ugandan community development organizations.
True or False: According to pragmatism, it is better to address environmental ethics through civic engagement than to debate them.
True
True or False: According to ecological subjectivity, there are inescapable ecological components related to living a decent human life.
True; the quality of our environment directly impacts our lives.
True or False: This chapter relates environmental stewardship to farming?
True
Many environmental writers connected the concept of ________ with the environment?
Faith, healing, salvation.
What concept should contemporary ethicists reunite with the concept of grace?
Creation
What makes an environmental ethic "practical"?
What are the three functional requirements for a practical environmental ethic?
1. It must describe morally significant environmental features.
2. It must assess multivalent human practices.
3. It must integrate that environment and those practices into some model of human subjectivity.
What should a successful stewardship theology do, according to the reading?
It has to specify the soteriological relationship between obeying God's call and God's relationship to the natural world; showing nature's significance for God.
Why is "religious environmentalism" a complex/confusing concept?
It includes a broad range of phenomena, definitions, view(s) of science/religion, and political opinions.
What concept are environmental theologians more "hesitant" to discuss?
Salvation
Which three normative strategies are mentioned in this chapter?
Nature's standing, human/moral agency, ecological subjectivity.
Each demonstrates a different way that the environment matters for human experience as well as practical reason.
What does the strategy of Christian stewardship focus on?
It frames environmental issues around faithful response to God's invitation and command; emphasizing how God entrusted creation to humans. The main focus is on faithful practices regarding the environment.
Which faith community had agricultural traditions that involved closeness with land and the kingdom orders of Christ?
The Anabaptist communities.
Why do different Christian denominations tend to respond to differently to arguments regarding environmental ethics?
Because denominations can differ in how they understand grace and salvation.
How does this reading define the term "grace"?
It says that "grace" refers to a divinely initiated relationship of God and creation, and also that it has different meanings across denominations.
What is the focus of ecological subjectivity?
Restoring nature's moral status within an ecologically reimagined humanity; reformulating how humans relate to nature from the start. Recognizing nature as an active participant in the production of self, society, and our ethical values.
Name one of the three ways that the stewardship approach appropriates the work of Christ?
1. Christ calling the Christian to/freeing her for earthly service.
2. Responsive discipleship modeled on the pattern of Christ's work.
3. Witnessing participation in Christ's salvific act.
Anabaptist theology suggests how stewardship strategy can incorporate themes of covenant theology and also a focus on ______?
Redemption