The most misguided reading was Historical Roots of our Ecological Crisis by Lynn White. This was one of the first pieces we read and I didn’t realize my distaste for her stance on how to fix the ecological crisis until after reading and discussing many of the other works throughout the semester. The other works opened my eyes to different views that could be taken based on history and the predicted future. They made me realize how misguided Lynn White was in her description of, not only, the problem causing the ecological crisis, but also the only way to fix said crisis.
Mr. White believed religion, specifically Christianity, was the root to the entire ecological crisis today. He states that “…ecology is deeply conditioned by beliefs about our nature and destiny- that is, by religion.” He then continues and states, “Christianity inherited…not only a concept of time…but also a striking story of creation.” This story, and the beliefs of Christianity, “…not only established a dualism of man and nature but also insisted that it is God’s will that man exploit nature for his proper ends.” This belief does have some fact in it, and I do not believe it is the most misguided portion of this reading, however it is still incorrect. It is wrong in the fact that the entire picture isn’t painted and Lynn White is allowing a narrow focus of Christianity to cloud his judgment on the bigger picture.
Christianity did play a role in the ecological crisis because it gave an excusal for the use
He compares and contrast on how environmentalists have mislead society into thinking that we as a race are doomed. He states that environmentalists argue that Earth is currently facing lot of environmental concerns and that our raw materials are becoming more and more scarce. Environmental problems like global warming, animal extinction, air and water pollution, waste buildup, and many more affect mankind. And also the degrading of our planet has increased at an alarming rate over a small time span. As a result, our actions have not been in favor of protecting the planet, so natural disasters are hitting us on a bigger than before.
In a chilling recollection of mankind’s current misdeeds towards the environment in “The End of Nature,” McKibben’s call for action is one paramount to the survival of the human race. In essence, McKibben argues that the futures of both nature and ourselves are delicately yet undeniably interconnected. Furthermore, he urges that “we” (ALL humans) are the deciding chip in said bond. By doing so, McKibben implies that action must be situated if we are to expect any change in such bleak a situation. This argument can clearly be found when McKibben speaks out on a myriad of environmental issues in the past, present, and future. McKibben begins to accustom readers to a pattern in which human ignorance juts out from past environmental experiences.
In Brian Parham’s article “There Are Multiple Threats to the Earth’s Environment,” published by The Bridge website on November 18, 2012, Parham claims that Earth’s environment is threatened by a wide variety of issues. Parham 's "There Are Multiple Threats to the Earth 's Environment" is an effective argument due to the strong uses of ethos and pathos, despite the weak use of logos.
Another problem that we may stumble upon would be relying on other people to be ecologically responsible instead of ourselves. We often believe that there are other people out there in the world who are making a difference and so we passively sit back and do nothing. However, we are all accountable for our own actions. Palmer (2015) is a man who worked around the world with people from every major religion from Daoism to Zoroastrianism. He has witnessed many religious environmental movements emerge and grow. He states that the basis of the environmental
Environmentalists worry so much about the well-being of the planet for merely the human species’ survival. Things such as natural disasters, which reasons.org say “Part of that response acknowledges that the forces behind these ‘natural disasters’ play a critical role in Earth’s capacity to support life.” If people are so concerned about the planet, then people should realize that these natural disasters actually help the Earth regenerate itself. Without these natural ‘disasters’, the planet would not be how it is today. As Nash continues to criticize humans, he states, “...capitalist-driven culture in its cancer-like tendency to self destruct.” Pollution and destruction of wildlife is a problem, but it is something that can be fixed, or having Earth fix itself. Nash is saying that humans are destroying the planet entirely, which is kind of ridiculous. If people were really destroying the Earth as much as Nash says, Earth itself would have already gotten rid of people through things like natural disasters, disease, or natural selection. The Earth will take care of itself and as Tom Haering says, “Nature plays no favorites: Survival of the fittest.”
As global warming intensifies, glaciers melt and forests reduced,more and more people begin to be concerned about environment problem. Environment is the fundamental of our existence,so we need protect environment. Paul H. Rubin in his article “Environmentalism as religion” says “But there is another sense in which environmentalism is becoming more and more like a religion: It provides its adherents with an identity”(399). He thinks environmentalism like a religion, and environmentalism and religion have many same characteristic. I agree Rubin’s opinion. Like religion, environmentalism has difference tribe, environmentalist like a missionary, environmentalism and religion both have food taboos and they also
To address which is the smart solution to global warming, is that is something that concern to all of us, not only the government can help, but we can do something about it too. In the essay written by Bill McKibben, “The Environmental Issue from Hell” he mentions that one of the major problem is the carbon monoxide that SUVs vehicle produce. Therefore, we can stop buying those type of vehicles, seen this motor companies maybe will do something about the gas that this vehicle leave into our environment.
The issue of Deforestation has been high on the global environmental agenda for many years, and remains a serious problem today. In the tropics and many other parts of the world, nations continue to lose the valuable biodiversity, soil and water conservation, and climate regulation that natural forests provide. Christianity can only address this matter by continuing to combine an acceptance of the command to people to ‘multiply and replenish the earth’ (Genesis 1:28) with a balancing injunction to act as stewards of the environment. Charities such as Christian Ecology Link and World Vision work to increase awareness of the current ecological crisis and encourage adherents to live sustainably and make ‘green’ consumption choices.
The essay opens up with McKibben talking about how the political campaign against global warming is flawed because at our current point there is nothing much that can be done to fix it.(Mckibben,1) He then goes to state that humans are the biggest culprit behind global warming and supports this by giving examples such as SUVs and American ignorance.(2,9) He concludes by saying that if ten percent of America were to go green, it still would not save the planet, but ten percent could get the government’s attention to pass laws making everyone go green. (11)
5) Going as far as to say that environmentalism is a modern replacement for religion
The readings for week 2, specifically Jack London’s To Build a Fire helped students meet course goal seven to “enhance the students’ understanding of the value of holistic thinking in making informed judgments and in applying values as they become increasingly conscious of what is at stake if we fail to understand the relationship between human culture and the environment.” London’s portrayal of a man traveling the Yukon on a vastly cold day provides an example of how animal instinct cast aside by human desire may lead to grave consequence in a harsh environment. While this story ends with the man’s demise at the hands of the environment, it is important to acknowledge the ways in which human negligence has had a lasting effect on our planet
When I first saw we had to read a book for this class, I was not that happy about it. However, this book was so fascinating to read, and I learned more than I thought I would. The beginning of the book freaked me out because Kolbert mentions that we’re in the middle of a mass extinction. I couldn’t wrap my mind around the thought of the human race becoming extinct. Every time I think about that, I always remember that documentary/movie called Life without People we watched in eighth grade. For her to talk about how the human race isn’t as superior as we think is eye opening. Also, it was surprising to learn that Kolbert was a journalist, and that she wasn’t some scientist. It showed me that you don’t have to limit yourself to just one thing. She took her field of journalism and paired it with a journey to find out what is happening to the Earth.
Christian voice is correcting them or proclaiming the biblical model of man’s relationship to nature which: is unique and superior to the dominant free-market and environmentalist models. . According to Gardner and Stern (1996), in that place are exclusive approaches that have power to be implemented in companionships search to defend the environment. One like approach may take a closer look at holy and regarding duties beliefs and the effects of these beliefs on the environment. The idea to create values and beliefs in environmental issues are important components of having a safer and enjoyable world for its people and the world they live in. Christian and non-Christian, at hand, must see the environment and the shortcoming of business by reason of a proper conversion to an act or purpose of and preservation of the wealth the planet has to support life. Christians as the Bible originate directing the eye to what has to be published by word force in reference to human natures dependence and bounden duty to the nature and its resources. As Christians we should do what ever it takes to make sure this earth glorify God. If we are careless about science and economics — not caring about how they work and what they describe, creation’s economy will suffer (Christians Research Institute).
Scholar Rosemary Ruether’s analysis of White’s thesis seems to be a combination of all three: apologetic, constructive/critical and sympathetic. Ruether reviewed the development of Christianity through history and concluded that the Christian belief in redemption into another world cannot be entirely blamed for leading Christians to neglect and abuse the environment (Ruether, 464). However, she also concluded that White’s thesis was mostly correct (Ruether, 464-65). Yet, Ruether’s analysis also points to the industrial revolution and exploitation of nature for the sake of economics or consumerism as additional perpetrators of environmental destruction (Ruether, 464-65). According to Ruether, Christianity, as well as Judaism and Islam, all have important insights that can help the planet avert disaster (Ruether, 466). However, Ruether believes that religions must accept the belief that humans do not have absolute power over nature (Ruether, 466), which would mean rejecting their Genesis-based mandate of “dominion” over the Earth. Similarly, religious persons must stop the Western world’s abuse of the environment that damages not only nature but harms other humans (Ruether,
White’s thesis in The Historical Roots of our Ecological Crisis states that in order to confront the expanding environmental crises, humans must begin to analyze and alter their treatment and attitudes towards nature. The slow destruction of the environment derives from the Western scientific and technological advancements made since the Medieval time period. “What people do about their ecology depends on what they think about themselves in relation to things around them” (RON p.7). Technology and science alone will not be able to save humans until we adjust the way of thinking and suppress the old ideas of humans power above nature. Instead, we need to learn how to think of ourselves as being