RSLC Blogs

                After discussing the fact that any theology of the environment needs to be grounded in Creation, we can move on to the next topic: Stewardship.  We need to begin to see stewardship as something much broader than the use of money.  In fact the only references to a Steward are in the Old Testament.  There is one reference to a steward in the New Testament but that is also not about money.

                So what is a Steward?  A steward is one who cares for the things under them.  A steward protects, serves, and especially cares for the things given to them.  Typically the things in which the steward cares for are NOT their own but someone else’s possessions.

                Adam and Eve at the beginning of Creation are placed into Stewardship roles.  Genesis 2:15 “The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.”  That was the role of humanity; to work and care for the Garden.  Now our role as stewards of God’s Creation has not changed even with the fall.  Now, instead of our work being easy as stewards over God’s Creation, our work is hard and difficult but we are still called to work and care for God’s Creation.

After hearing President Obama's inaugural speech many scientist are joyous and excited over the phrase "restore science to its rightful place".  Check out the New York Times articles on the scientist reactions and an essay on science: Scientists Welcome Obama's Words and Elevating Science, Elevating Democracy.

The latter article discusses the relationship between science, religion, and ethics.

The knock on science from its cultural and religious critics is that it is arrogant and materialistic. It tells us wondrous things about nature and how to manipulate it, but not what we should do with this knowledge and power. The Big Bang doesn’t tell us how to live, or whether God loves us, or whether there is any God at all. It provides scant counsel on same-sex marriage or eating meat. It is silent on the desirability of mutual assured destruction as a strategy for deterring nuclear war.