Stewardship

• Catholic beliefs about stewardship and the environment


  Human beings are the most important part of creation, given reason and free will by God to be stewards of the world
• Catholics should be concerned about looking after the environment and the planet
• Catholics need to work to protect the planet, cutting down on pollution, care for animals and make sure that the world is in the best shape to pass on to future generations
• Pope Francis wrote an Encyclical letter called ‘Laudato si’ in 2015 which means ‘Care for our Common Home’
• The letter inspires Catholics to protect the earth and take part in Catholic Social Teaching
• The two greatest commandments

  Love God and to love their neighbour
• Neighbour


  Not just those close to us, but people in different countries
• Catholics should be concerned about those who suffer badly from climate change
• Jewish beliefs about stewardship and the environment
• Stewardship


  Being responsible for taking care of the earth
• Torah


  The first five books of the Jewish and Christian Bibles
• The book of Genesis states that God created the universe and everything in it
• God


  Jews believe God is both a lawgiver and a judge
• The Torah gives clear rules on being stewards of the earth
• Jews believe God will judge them on how well they follow the Torah
• Mitzvot


  • 613 commandments given to the Jewish people by God through Moses
• Covenant

  A promise or an agreement
• Moses made a covenant with God at Mt Sinai
• Jews are told that they must never destroy things on the land that are useful
• Jews aim to give the land a rest from growing crops every 5 years
• Humanist beliefs about stewardship &

  environment

  Humanists agree with Catholics and Jews that we should look after the environment. However, they believe the universe was created by the Big

  Bang and has developed through the process of evolution. They reject belief in God and do not believe that God created the universe. Humanists

  like Peter Singer believe we have to have to protect and preserve the environment and that includes all life including animal life. Humanist believe

  we should control population through the use of contraception which is in direct contrast to Catholic beliefs.
• “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis)
• “Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky"