Project Director

Schultz, Lucy

Department Examiner

Quinlan, Catherine Meeks; Matlock, Barry

Department

Brock Scholars Program

Publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Place of Publication

Chattanooga (Tenn.)

Abstract

In Lynn White Jr.’s essay, “The Historical Roots of Our Ecological Crisis,” White argues that Christianity has heavily influenced society’s view of the environment. Rhetoric from Genesis has led people to believe that God intends, and even commands, that humans have dominion over the earth. This narrative provides justification for the abuse of the environment at large, abuse that has been compacted over time to create the climate crisis that we are currently experiencing. Though White’s argument lacks some nuance and somewhat exaggerates Christianity’s role in the environmental crisis, I believe his thesis to be true: Christianity does have a negative impact on individual’s environmental attitudes. Ascribing to Christian doctrine, however, is not the sole predictor in determining one’s environmental attitude. Factors such as denominational affiliation, political beliefs, and biblical literalism also impact one’s opinions on man’s role in the environment. However, Christianity can also be used as a tool to help fight the ideas that have led to the climate crisis. Instead of focusing on passages that stress human dominion over the earth, we can look to other biblical ideas about environmental stewardship, creation care, and neighborly love to encourage a Christian environmental ethic centered around fighting the climate crisis as an act of worship. Christians of the past and present, namely St. Francis of Assisi and the Sisters of the Community of St. Mary, practice an environmental ethic centered in their religious beliefs, and their doctrine can be used as a pattern to build a modern Christian environmental ethic that is conducive to addressing the current environmental crisis.

Degree

B. A.; An honors thesis submitted to the faculty of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Bachelor of Arts.

Date

5-2025

Subject

Ecotheology; Environmental protection--Moral and ethical aspects; Environmental responsibility--Religious aspects--Christianity

Name

Francis, of Assisi, Saint, 1182-1226

Keyword

environmental science; ecotheology; Christianity; climate change; stewardship

Discipline

Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion

Document Type

Theses

Extent

i, 21 leaves

DCMI Type

Text

Language

English

Rights

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

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