Use and abuse of the environment

• Natural resources


  Materials found in nature e.g. trees, oil
• Non-renewable resources


  Finite natural resources
• Deforestation


  Cutting down of large amounts of trees
• Sustainable development


  Building and progress that tries to reduce the impact on the natural world
• Recycling


  Reusing old products to make new ones
• Stewardship


  The belief that we have a duty to care for God's creation
• Dominion


  The belief that we have authority over God's creation
• Awe


  A feeling of respect and wonder
• Wonder


  Marvelling at the complexity and beauty of something
• Causes of pollution

  • Transport e.g. cars, planes, boats
  • Industrial waste e.g. pesticides which contaminate water and land
  • Dumping non-biodegradable rubbish in the wild
• Uses of natural resources

  • Deforestation – cutting down large amount of trees
  • Over-using natural resources e.g. oil and trees which are finite
• How to reduce pollution


  • Use electric cars
  • Recycle where possible
  • Reduce use of plastic e.g. buy things in jars or tins
  • Eat local produce
• Many Christians believe God created the world

  This means we have a responsibility to take care of it like a gift for future generations, not abuse it
• The Bible says 'rule over the animals'


  This can mean that we have a responsibility to look after God's creation
• Some Christians believe when God said for us to 'rule over the animals'


  This means we can do what we want with creation as we have authority
• The Bible says 'man is made in God's image'


  So humans have a spark of the divine which makes them more important than the environment
• The Bible: 'The Earth is the Lord's and everything in it. Christians believe we have stewardship / a responsibility to care for God's creation and not abuse it.'
• The Bible: 'Man is made in God's image. Christians believe all humans have a spark of the divine and are equal (link to dominion – most important part of creation)'
• The Bible: 'Rule over the animals. Some Christians to interpret that to mean we have dominion and can do what we want e.g. pollute for our benefit.'
• The Bible: 'Rule over the animals. Others interpret it to mean stewardship, that we have a responsibility to care for the God's creation and not abuse the environment.'