Christianity's burden of guilt: An examination of Lynn White's thesis on the ecological crisis in the light of the Biblical data.

摘要

The second half of the twentieth century has seen increased interest in ecology, in particular, in showing a more caring attitude towards creation. Humanity is finally coming to the conclusion that the inherent value and right to protection for all living things is vital for the survival of each species of life (plant, animal and human).;There have been those, Lynn White in particular, who have argued that our ecological problems result from Judeo-Christian teachings and the root of the problem can be traced to the Genesis creation stories; this argument makes the point that Judaism and Christianity are the most anthropocentric of all of the world's religions. The present thesis seeks to examine this accusation and through a study of various scriptural passages and Judeo-Christian teachings through the ages show that White and others who share the same opinion have reached invalid conclusions. It will be shown that the burden of guilt for the ecological crisis cannot be placed solely on the shoulders of Judaism or Christianity. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).