Creation, Humans, Animals, and the Environment

Professor David G. Horrell & Dr Helen C. John

Research Summary

This article explores the interpretation and influence of Genesis 1-2 – the biblical Creation accounts – in relation to Christian responses to contemporary ethical issues. It invites GCSE/A-level students and teachers to engage in a careful and critical examination of the texts. This is essential for a nuanced understanding of the variety of ways in which the texts have been interpreted. The article explores how Genesis 1 and 2 have been influential in forming a variety of Christian responses to such issues as gender equality, animal rights and environmental care. The article offers a partner piece to the newly updated ‘Beyond Stewardship’ resources produced by the University of Exeter for use in GCSE/A-level RS.

Researchers

Professor David G. Horrell & Dr Helen C. John

Research Institution

University of Exeter

What is this about?

What was done?

The article begins with a close examination of the texts themselves, including an accessible comparison of the two accounts side-by-side. It then goes on to illustrate the enduring influence of these creation stories in the ethical debates in which appeals to these texts are made (often on opposing sides). The article outlines the biblical creation stories, noting the context of and differences between the two. It then considers what these texts have to say about (i) human status and the image of God; (ii) gender and equality; (iii) non-human animals and the question of vegetarianism; and (iv) human responsibility for the environment.

Main findings and outputs

This article – alongside the website resources – emphasises that the biblical texts have a complex legacy: there is no simple, singular ‘Christian’ response to gender equality, animal rights, or environmental issues. Appeals to Genesis 1 and/or 2 have been made to support or deny gender equality, to support or deny the rights of non-human animals, to support or reject vegetarianism, and to support stewardship or to support the domination of the natural world. The article offers insight into how and why those polar opinions have been supported by the biblical creation accounts.

Relevance to RE

This article would make excellent background reading for teachers and could be used as a think piece with A-level classes (or higher ability GCSE classes). It relates to issues of gender equality, animal rights, vegetarianism and environmental care.
The accompanying website resources, developed within the University of Exeter’s ‘Beyond Stewardship’ project, are designed for use in RE/RS classrooms when tackling issues related to environmental ethics. They encourage students to think beyond a simple equation of ‘Christian ethics’ with ‘stewardship of the environment’. Resources are available under the following subtitles:

Is Christianity to blame?
Origins of stewardship
History of stewardship
Contemporary Christian views
Catholic teaching explored further
The Future of Earth
Criticisms of stewardship
Alternatives to stewardship
The Exeter Project
Humans and (other) animals

Generalisability and potential limitations

The article and resources are primarily aimed at teachers and KS5 students. However, able KS4 students will find them useful as stretch and challenge materials and/or revision activities. They focus solely on Christian perspectives but do tackle the considerable variety therein.

Find out more

The article is entitled ‘Creation, Humans, Animals, and the Environment: Understanding the Influence of Genesis 1–2’ and appears in the November 2018 edition (Issue 51) of Dialogue magazine (pp. 3-8).

http://humanities.exeter.ac.uk/theology/research/projects/beyondstewardship/