Description
Environmental issues appear deceptively simple: science tells us what the problems are and how to solve them, and, for Christians, the Bible motivates us to care for creation. And yet, both in society in general as well as in the Christian church in particular, we cannot seem to agree on what to do regarding environmental issues. In The Nature of Environmental Stewardship, climate scientist Johnny Wei-Bing Lin argues that determining the content of environmental stewardship, far from being a straightforward exercise, is a difficult and complex endeavour. He sets forth a general taxonomy, drawing from worldviews, ethical theories, science epistemology, science-policy studies, politics, and economics, that can help us better understand what excellent creation care consists of and how to bridge the differences people have regarding environmental issues.
About the Author
Johnny Wei-Bing Lin (BS and MS, Stanford University; PhD UCLA) was Professor of Physics at North Park University, where he remains Affiliate Professor of Physics and Engineering. Currently, he is Senior Lecturer and Director of Undergraduate Computing Education in the Computing and Software Systems Division at the University of Washington Bothell.
Contents
Preface
Abbreviations
1. Introduction
2. If You Could See What I See: Worldviews
3. The Bible Says It: The Christian Worldview and Creation Care
4. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Ethical Theories
5. Science to the Rescue?
6. Left, Right, and Center (or Not): Politics and Economics
7. Not Just Hearers But Doers: The Practices of Stewardship
8. It Isn’t Easy Being Green: Putting It All Together and Finding a “Third Way”
Glossary
Bibliography
Index
Endorsements and Reviews
Dr Lin wants peace between folks who are well-intentioned but unable to agree, be they Christians or not! Peace as we wrestle with science and Scripture over our stewardship of God’s beloved creation. Lin gives us well-considered ways to sift competing views and supposed facts. … This book comes from a master teacher and irenic fellow struggler. A very important synthesis of worldview-driven, informed arguments.
Terry Morrison, Director Emeritus, Faculty Ministry, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA
By carefully breaking ‘environmental stewardship’ down into its component parts, this book offers readers a framework to dialogue – instead of debate – the imperative of creation care. Grappling with the fact that today’s ecological and economic challenges cannot be contained by a simple ideology nor a single imagination, Lin guides us toward both a practical synthesis of collective human wisdom and a higher level of conscientiousness in protecting all that which God loves.
Kaleb Nyquist, Steering Committee Member, Young Evangelicals for Climate Action
… succeeds in imaginatively illustrating the depth of environmental concern and the different ways in which creation care might provide solutions.
Rev’d Canon Donald C. Macdonald, in Green Christian Magazine, Summer 2017
The contribution of The Nature of Environmental Stewardship to discussions surrounding environmental issues and stewardship is unique … [since it] deconstructs debates sorrounding environmental problems rather than articulating one particular position. … Lin offers a refreshing opportunity to pause and consider what exactly goes into such debates. … I would specifically recommend this book to Chirstians interested in engaging in dialogue about environmental issues in small group or one-to-one settings.
Jamie Wright, in The Expository Times, Vol 129, No 8
He does provide an elegant framework for better communicating about creation care.
Peter Louis Wyrsch, in Theological Book Review, Vol 28, No 2
