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Science,
the Bible, and an Ethic of
Responsible Environmental Action
Calvin DeWitt
Calvin DeWitt, Professor of Environmental
Studies at the University of Wisconsin, discusses, in this presentation, responsible environmental ethics
in the light of modern science and the Bible. DeWitt represents one of the best, most thoughtful evangelical Christian perspectives on this topic.
His perspective here emphasizes the primacy of scripture as formative for Christian environmental ethics.
At the same time, DeWitt is also a serious environmental scientist, with a unique
ability to bridge the gap between religion and science. DeWitt's emphasis
on the physical and chemical provisions of life exemplify his commitment
to a vibrant science and religion dialogue that includes both biblical wisdom
and also the discoveries of modern science.
DeWitt bases his environmental ethics on the understanding of God as ultimate
provider and caregiver. The fundamental understanding of humans is the imago
dei; that is, humans are created "in the image" of God (imago Dei).
DeWitt sees the proper human stance toward the natural world as one of deep
stewardship and respect for all that is given to us.
In his book, Earthwise, DeWitt lays out what he sees as the seven primary
provisions of creation that we should recognize: energy exchange, soil building,
carbon and hydrological cycling, water purification, creative fruitfulness,
global circulations of water and air, and the human ability to learn from
creation. On the other side of these primary provisions of creation, DeWitt
identifies seven degradations of creation, which arise from human failure
to respect and uphold the integrity of creation: land conversion and habitat
destruction, species extinctions, land abuse, resource conversion and wastes
and hazards production, global toxification, alteration of planetary energy
exchange, and human and cultural abuse.
According to DeWitt, "all of the
above degradations are contrary to biblical teaching. While we are expected
to enjoy the creation and its fruitfulness, we humans are not granted license
to destroy the earth. While human beings are expected to be fruitful, so
is the rest of creation: 'Let the water teem with living creatures, and
let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky. . .be fruitful
and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds
increase on the earth' (Genesis 1:20, 22)."
Perhaps DeWitt's most pragmatic,
and so easily overlooked, insight for us today is that “all the things
we use, all the things we make, everything we manipulate, everything we
accumulate,
derives from the creation itself. If we learn to seek godly contentment
as our great gain, we will take and shape less of God's earth. We will
demand
less from the land. We will leave room for the other creatures.”
Program recording date and length: 4-18-02 ~ 1 Hour 35 Minutes (This study was presented originally at the University of California, Santa Barbara.)
