Christianity and the environment
Christians believe that:
• God created the universe (Genesis 1-2).
• He made the world and saw that it was good (Genesis 1).
• The world is a gift from God to be used in a way that would please him.
• Humans are stewards of what God has made. This means that they believe that they are entrusted by God to look after the world and pass it on in a good condition to the generations that follow.
• Jesus’ parable of the talents (in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 19) means that Christians are responsible to God for the way that they have used everything he has given them. This includes the way they have treated the environment.
• Christian stewardship includes working to reduce pollution and preserve natural resources.
• Christian stewardship also includes working to share the resources of the world more fairly and improving the standard of living in less-economically developed countries (LEDCs).
• Christians try to put these ideas into practice in their own lives (e.g. by recycling their own rubbish) and on a worldwide basis by supporting charities that work for these aims worldwide.
• Christians can use the resources and the environment but not in a way that would harm others, harm the environment or displease God.
Islam and the environment
Muslims believe that:
• The universe and everything in it was created by Allah.
• Allah is above and separate from his creation – this belief is called TAWHID.
• Because the universe has been made by one God it has a unity in itself and this can be seen, for example, in the way that scientific laws work together and there is one Muslim community (UMMAH).
• There is a balance in the whole of the universe.
• Adam was created as a KHALIFAH, which means steward. All Muslims now see themselves as khalifahs.
• They will be judged after death on how they have lived their lives. Part of this judgement will focus on the way that they have treated the environment.
• People have been placed in charge of the earth’s resources.
• The universe and everything in it was created by Allah.
• Allah is above and separate from his creation – this belief is called TAWHID.
• Because the universe has been made by one God it has a unity in itself and this can be seen, for example, in the way that scientific laws work together and there is one Muslim community (UMMAH).
• There is a balance in the whole of the universe.
• Adam was created as a KHALIFAH, which means steward. All Muslims now see themselves as khalifahs.
• They will be judged after death on how they have lived their lives. Part of this judgement will focus on the way that they have treated the environment.
• People have been placed in charge of the earth’s resources.