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Christian Environmentalism the Impact of Anthropocentrism On Christian Environmentalism Dialogue & Nexus | Fall 2015-Spring 2016 |Volume 3 The Impact of Anthropocentrism on Christian Environmentalism Alexis Grasse Department of Biology; College of Arts and Sciences Abilene Christian University This paper will discuss the effects of anthropocentrism in Christian theology, doctrine, and environmentalism. The development and history of Christian environmentalism will be examined, with emphasis on the time since the 1960s, when environmentalism came to the forefront in the Western world. Alternative interpretations and worldviews, mainly ecocentrism and biocentrism, will be considered and compared to the prevalent anthropocentric view. I will close with a presentation of two possible means for developing a Christian ecological theology without anthropocentrism. An environmental position most coherent with Christian principles will be left open to the reader; my purpose is to examine the impact of anthropocentrism and to present alternatives that have the potential to create a Christian ethic which values and supports environmental efforts more effectively and purposefully than currently done. Visiting a typical American Christian think and act towards the environment in church on a Sunday morning, one might light of their faith. We will see that the rise expect a sermon on spiritual disciplines, of the environmentalism movement in the politics, and even personal finances. But United States demanded a response from chances are that one would not typically Christians, but that the resulting responses hear a sermon on environmentalism or the were still highly anthropocentric and interconnectedness of God, nature, and man; resulted in relatively little change in most pastors have likely not thought much Christian involvement in environmental about such matters, much less preached a efforts. Although no concrete conclusion sermon on the topics. Yet if Christianity will be reached, we will end by exploring applies to all parts of human life, as most two ways in which Christians could reframe Christians would agree, why should there their ecological outlook that could serve as not be sermons on how to view and respect promising alternatives to the traditional the earth? Why has the Christian church as a anthropocentric view of nature. whole been largely absent from the discussion on environmental issues? Anthropocentrism Defined An investigation into the influence of Since anthropocentrism is central to one belief, anthropocentrism, on Christian this discussion, we will begin with an theology may help explain these questions. explanation of anthropocentrism as a belief To begin this investigation, and social construct, and then to examine anthropocentrism must be defined and where it is embedded within traditional contrasted with two other important Christian doctrine and how this could affect viewpoints – ecocentrism and biocentrism. an ecological theology developed from the Then, we will examine anthropocentrism Christian perspective. By dictionary within Christian doctrine and how this has definition (Merriam-Webster’s), affected the formation of Christian anthropocentrism is the belief that humans ecological theology and how Christians are the superior beings on earth or in the Dialogue & Nexus | Fall 2015-Spring 2016 |Volume 3 1 Christian Environmentalism Dialogue & Nexus | Fall 2015-Spring 2016 |Volume 3 universe; to put it more crudely, the world some alternatives to anthropocentrism must does indeed revolve around humankind. An be explained. As the effects of human anthropocentric view, then, is one that degradation of the earth have come to the evaluates the universe by human standards forefront of politics and culture with the and values. Anthropocentrism is not in itself growth of the environmentalist movement, a complete belief system, but rather a view an entire field of study, environmental that can be seen interwoven throughout ethics, has developed from the need to many different worldviews and cultures. To identify and categorize the ethical and a certain extent, all human thinking is philosophical roots of the different beliefs naturally anthropocentric, and this should humans have regarding their relationship to not come as a surprise. Human values and the earth. experiences are the only basis humankind Joseph DesJardins introduces two has by which to measure and understand the views that will be of interest to this universe around them, and it is very discussion for comparison against difficult, if not impossible, to separate anthropocentrism: ecocentrism and oneself from ones’ own experiences and biocentrism. Ecocentrism is the belief that values. Thus it is reasonable to conclude that all of nature, both biotic and abiotic any human worldview must be somewhat components, has intrinsic value and anthropocentric, that everyone builds their interconnectedness. No one species is way of thinking starting from a level of superior or has higher moral status than “default anthropocentrism.”1 another. The deep ecology movement, However, the component of which is prominent among anthropocentrism that will be most relevant environmentalists and stems from for this paper is the idea that humankind is ecocentrism, is characterized best by the the most significant entity in the universe, purpose of “rejecting the ‘man-in- which is not impossible to separate from environment image’ in favor of a more one’s thinking. This is what Martinelli refers holistic and non-anthropocentric approach.”4 to as “qualitative anthropocentrism” and A key point of deep ecology is that humans “quantitative anthropocentrism,” or the level do not have the right to interfere in nature of anthropocentric reasoning that seeks out outside of satisfying vital needs. the differences between humankind and The second view to consider in other species, and seeks to create a hierarchy opposition to anthropocentrism is based on those differences.2 There is a social biocentrism. Any biocentric ethic is one that aspect to this level of anthropocentrism – it considers all living beings to be intrinsically gives humankind a sense of group identity valuable. Notice that this is slightly different as opposed to other groups (or species), from ecocentrism, which also ascribes which may offer insight into why Western inherent worth to non-living entities. culture is so rich in anthropocentric Because all living beings have inherent thought.3 worth, a respect for nature becomes the most important moral determinant, according to Alternatives to Anthropocentrism Paul Taylor, a biocentric ethicist.5 Even Before moving into the identification from these brief descriptions of biocentrism of anthropocentrism within Christianity, 1 Martinelli, 2008, p. 80 4 DesJardins, 1993, p. 215 2 Ibid. 5 Ibid. p. 153 3 Ibid. pp. 80-81 Dialogue & Nexus | Fall 2015-Spring 2016 |Volume 3 2 Christian Environmentalism Dialogue & Nexus | Fall 2015-Spring 2016 |Volume 3 and ecocentrism, it is plain that they are this is part of nature’s intended purpose.6 radically different from anthropocentrism. The main debate among theologians has been over how Christians should use natural Anthropocentrism in Traditional resources, not calling into question the belief Christianity that they are entitled to do so.7 In fact, this Now, keeping our basic, but idea of dominion over nature is also an sufficient, understanding of implication of anthropocentrism outside of anthropocentrism in mind, we will see, upon Christianity. If humanity is the most examination, that anthropocentrism is important species, we automatically have the deeply embedded within the major authority to use nature for our own benefit. traditional teachings of Christianity. It is Nature has instrumental value, but is not important to note that I will make some guaranteed intrinsic value.8 generalizations here for the sake of brevity; Another Christian idea that has some branches of Christianity may not fully anthropocentric implications is the ascribe to all or even some of the following traditional interpretation of the biblical view beliefs as part of their doctrine. However, of the wilderness and land.9 One of the main they are indisputably teachings across the sagas of the Old Testament is the journey to majority of denominations and the history of the Promised Land, during which the Christianity. Some of Christian doctrine is Israelites are sent into the wilderness for quite obviously anthropocentric, but other forty years as punishment, and they suffer parts require consideration of their greatly during this time. The wilderness is implications to understand their their enemy against whom they struggle for anthropocentricity. survival. Similarly, in the New Testament, In one of the biblical creation Jesus spends forty days in the wilderness accounts, Genesis 1:27, provides the and this is where he endures great foundation for two key anthropocentric temptation. There are many other stories in beliefs among Christians: the doctrine of Scripture which portray a similar scenario – imago dei and the doctrine of dominion over nature against man, as a threat to man. This creation. The belief that humans have God- view of the wilderness is not directly given dominion over creation is clearly anthropocentric, but one can see where it anthropocentric – all of nature is under the contributes to the belief that man is set apart authority of humankind according to this from and above nature. view. The doctrine of imago dei further One additional major tenant of establishes this special, elevated status
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