ANGLICAN ETHICS. Ethics and Creation

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1 FEAST OF ST. FRANCIS Jesus said, I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:25-30

2 ANGLICAN ETHICS Ethics and Creation

3 Sustaining a growing population with limited resources Rev. Thomas Malthus ( ) and his Essay on the Principle of Population War, famine, disease are necessary to control population growth Americans were less pessimistic in first half of 20th century: no real limits to possibilities of growth and expansion Second half of 20th century, ecological problems emerged: SMOG NUCLEAR WASTE ACID RAIN

4 In 1962, American marine biologist Rachel Carson published Silent Spring Explained how environmental problems are caused by synthetic pesticides Silent Spring led to a nationwide ban on DDT and inspired a grassroots environmental movement, which led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1970

5 We have been alerted to the problem, but we have never agreed on the proper approach to its solution Economic growth is necessary to the well-being of the nation and the world. Without it, we cannot improve conditions of the poor Our society has tended to prefer wealth to health - Robert Paehlke

6 3 closely related factors are involved in ecological crisis Rapid population growth Depletion of certain natural resources Pollution of the natural environment

7 Rapid population growth In 1995, total population was 5.7 billion Four times the population in billion more than population in 1980 The rate of growth has reached its peak and is expected to decline Continued growth at a decelerating rate is anticipated until about 2075 If this projected decline does not occur, there may be irreparable damage to the order that sustains life on earth

8 Rapid population growth Most densely populated areas are developing nations, which are least capable of producing goods needed to sustain life The most developed nations, which are most capable of producing goods to sustain life, are more sparsely populated The population in America only constitutes less that 5% of the world s population, yet Americans consume 26% of world s energy

9 Depletion of certain natural resources Deforestation The removal of a forest in which the land is converted to non-forest use About 1/2 of the forests that covered the Earth are now gone Plants and trees in forests absorb carbon dioxide They also absorb and store water

10 Depletion of certain natural resources Deforestation disturbs the flow of water, leading to problems like DROUGHT FLOODING Loss of nutrients in soil and SOIL EROSION

11 Depletion of certain natural resources Deforestation Tropical rainforests make up only 6% of Earth s surface, yet contain 80-90% of all the species in the world Because of mass deforestation, about species of animals are being lost each day also endangers species...

12 Depletion of certain natural resources Farms cultivated in ways that destroy future productivity Destruction of wetlands, which sustain certain plants and animals, and which are directly related to health of seas Minerals extracted from earth without consideration of impact of mining methods Oil and coal extracted, processed and used as if supply were inexhaustible but they re not!

13 Depletion of certain natural resources We are exploring other sources of energy like solar energy and wind power, which we cannot deplete and which do not pollute But we still give more attention to the development of nuclear energy, which is fraught with tremendous danger

14 Pollution of natural environment After World War II, we began to become aware of the smog that plagued cities like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington Today, gases, dust, soot, smoke and liquid droplets are released directly into the atmosphere by by factories, power plants, cars, construction projects and even natural erosion This creates a variety of respiratory problems for people while exacerbating other illnesses

15 Pollution of natural environment There are two major ways that the land is being polluted Use of certain chemical fertilizers, fungicides and insecticides Absorbed in our food and washed into streams, lakes Disposal of waste We produce more waste than ever before, not only because there are more people but also because each individual produces more waste materials today than in past generations

16 Pollution of natural environment Disposal of waste Water pollution Caused by sewage, wastewater, industrial waster, oil pollution, radioactive waste, acid rain, leakage of underground storage oil spills, oil shipping, oil pumping

17 Pollution of natural environment Disposal of waste Water pollution Marine dumping increases aerobic algae, which depletes oxygen from water Cardboard takes 2 weeks to degrade in water Newspaper takes 6 weeks Foam takes 50 years Styrofoam takes 80 years Aluminum takes 200 years Plastic takes 400 years

18 Pollution of natural environment By releasing certain gases into the atmosphere (like Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Nitrous Oxide, Chlorofluorocarbons), we prevent heat from escaping, thus creating the greenhouse effect The greenhouse effect traps thermal radiation inside the Earth s atmosphere, re-radiating in all directions and heating up the atmosphere The UN concluded that there s more than a 90 percent probability that human activities over the past 250 years have warmed our planet

19 Pollution of natural environment The greenhouse effect leads to climate change, which leads to Polar Ice Melting Polar Ice Melting is the melting of large amounts of ice, thus causing sea levels to rise, which destroys habitats for organisms...

20 including us...

21 ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS We know that... we are now demanding more than [the earth] is able to provide. Science confirms what we already know: our human footprint is changing the face of the earth and because we come from the earth, it is changing us too. We are engaged in the process of destroying our very being. If we cannot live in harmony with the earth, we will not live in harmony with one another. - Anglican Communion Environmental Network

22 ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS Environmental ethics are relatively new, but theological background for environmental ethics is not...

23 ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS Christians uphold a Doctrine of Creation God is ultimately responsible for creation We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth... What are the sources of the Creed? Holy Bible Early Christian Theology Reason and prayerful reflection

24 ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS Christians uphold a Doctrine of Creation T God is beyond Creation TRANSCENDENCE R I N I T Y God is within Creation IMMANENCE God s Word / Wisdom is the Creative Order, the Order within Creation (which is made incarnate in Christ) God s Spirit is Life-Giver

25 ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS Anglican Emphasis: CREATION and INCARNATION are all one process God cares about what happens to creation Human beings are meant to encounter God Atonement takes place within creation Creation is holy Creation is not once upon a time, but continuous

26 ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS Scripture: Source of understanding God, not science God interacts (not intervenes) with Creation God gives Creation freedom to develop Read Psalm 104 Read Matthew 6: 25-34; 10: Read Romans 8: 18-25

27 ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS Lambeth Resolutions Creation as web of inter-dependent relationships bound together in Covenant Human beings are part of creation bridge between God and the rest of creation responsible for creation includes willingness to sacrifice in order to care for creation Church as player Church can play an informed role in lobbying for ecological justice in both public and private sectors...

28 ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS 2008 Lambeth and Bishop s Pastoral Letter Emphasis on CRISIS Stories shared from bishops around the Communion give a picture of a global crisis In developing countries and among Indigenous peoples, notably in the Arctic, safeguarding creation is a day to day activity, not an intellectual exercise [We] acknowledge the urgency of the planetary crisis in which we find ourselves [We] take steps...to practice environmental stewardship and justice

29 ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS overpopulation unsustainable levels of consumption by the rich poor quality and shortage of water air pollution eroded and impoverished soil forest destruction plant and animal extinction climate change, greenhouse effect, polar ice melt What scriptural material is useful in making decisions about this issue? or these issues? What does tradition say that might be helpful? Are there divergences? What does our context give us to help with our decision?