Toulmin Model Argument about the Environment - Essay Example

? Toulmin Model Argument about the Environment al Affiliation Christianity has a wide influence on the people and their behaviors in their day to day lives. Christians believe in respecting and caring for God’s creation on earth since they are convinced it’s their moral obligation and responsibility bestowed upon them by God. The paper addresses the actions they should take to reflect the will of God by restoring and preserving the environment against selfish exploitation. The actions include venturing on appropriate disposition of waste materials and recycling, reducing consumption of energy resources, responsible recreation and mending damage on the environment, and participating in public witnessing of environmental work and issues. Other actions touch on agricultural and industrial activities, as well as preventing depletion of essential resources. The Christians engage in these activities while supporting their government’s policies on environment. Their actions should go beyond their spiritual understanding to participate in environmental politics in Christian virtues and decency. They should partner with people and organizations which share similar environmental objectives to safeguard God’s creations as good stewards. Keywords: Environment, nature, Stewards, energy, resources, Christians, recycling, responsible recreation, conservation. Introduction Christianity as a religion has pulled many people who share the faith together, to emphasize on the need of treating the environment with respect. Different Christians have varying interpretations of the Bible; hence some have been reluctant, while others are active in protecting and promoting the works of creation on the environment. These Christians have been spurred by the works and attitude of the creator towards the environment, making them to engage in environmentalist tasks as worship to God, besides the in-church devotion and activities. God himself created every little and big object, he loved and valued his creations. He looked at everything he had made and was satisfied it was indeed good (Gen. 1:31). Just as he loved man, he also loved his creation and moved forward to give man responsibility over the creation, beginning with Adam in the Garden of Eden. His love and goodness extends to all creations, “he has compassion on all he has made” (Psalms.145: 9). Christians who live by emulating the will of God have hence the role to be merciful and gracious to all God’s works (the environment). Christians demonstrate their mindfulness of God by trying the best to take care of the environment and its components as the will of God. There are many environmental injustices taking occurring on the surrounding; reckless deforestation, wildlife destruction and disposal of waste, industrial pollution and other unfriendly human activities to the environments, which are often carried out because of humans’ greed and selfishness. According to Henderson, the NCC proposed several actions entailing; disposing or recycling of trash properly, minimizing energy consumption, ensuring responsible recreation, reducing the use of fertilizers and pesticides and participating in public witnessing on the federal, local, and state level as ways to live appropriately, while safeguarding the environment (n.d.). These actions would enable man to practice justice and unselfishness in their activities on the environment. Actions Christians Should Take on Environmental Preservation Recycling and disposition The governments have been on the fore front campaigning on reuse of waste materials to minimize the pollution; Christians have a role to play to share the same vision with their authorities and demonstrate the actions to spur others. From the scripture, Hebrews 13: 17, Christians are guided to obey and be submissive to those who rule over them; this gives Christians the joy to work together with their governments for a profitable course. In many societies, people have neglected their responsibilities on caring for the environment, that is why it’s easy for them to carelessly dispose the waste materials (wrapping papers, plastic bags and containers amongst), yet there are available bins to collect the trash along the streets and in their homes. It is therefore a concern for them to keep the environment clean through the best ways possible, allowing recycling of used materials into newer products while removing harmful materials in their surrounding (“Should Christians,” n.d). Man was made and put in charge of God’s creations (Gen. 2:15). He was entrusted with the responsibility of God’s work which makes them to be environmental stewards, while living in the earth. The amount of trash generated just in a single day across the globe is enough to cause harm on the ecosystem if allowed to accumulate, with no actions taking place to defend and preserve the environment. Bennett was convinced that participating in re -use and recycling programs could not only reduce pollution, but be a source for supplemental incomes (2008). Humans need the physical environment just as it needs them. Although man has a unique position in a relationship with God, man has a moral obligation to treat nature in a just manner. God himself practices righteousness and justice towards all his creations and embrace the earth with love (psalms 33: 5-6).The environment’s preservation prevents damage and extinction of creations on earth, failure to preserve it would then affect human life and survival on earth. It is a command from God for man to keep God’s decree and law… failure to which the land would vomit them as it did to the former nations if they defiled the land (Leviticus 18: 26-28). This shows their care and responsibility to preserve God’s creation and land is important, otherwise there are consequences for their neglects. In recycling and proper waste disposition, as simple measures to care for the environment, there are benefits of employments in such responsibilities. Some may object that the stewardship is a personal obligation and believe the earth has an end, making such re- use actions to preserve it as futile. Even though God sustains the creation life and survival in his power (Job 12:10), God commands man not to pollute the land in which they dwell (Numbers 35: 33-34). Instead Christians as good stewards ought to co-work with God. Minimizing consumption of energy resources Minimizing on energy use requires an effort of both Global or country governance and the people to restrict the exploitation of energy resources and high consumption of energies. Christians should engage in activities that focus on reduction of energy use all around their lives, in transportation, in domestic chores, and their work places. Much of the restriction can be contributed by the people through controlling the energy use and keenly selective safe and clean energies for use. God requires that Christians should use the resources diligently and wisely, to support the poor, to do good and with generosity (1 Timothy 3: 18). Coal and fossil fuels have been extensive air pollutants, which governments encourage the societies to shun away from. It may seem impractical to access other safer energies, unless the governments provide them, but even with the available energy, they should preserve the environment from high combustion of the fuels that release GHGs. It is a way to love the environment, preserve the future life of God’s creation and ensure peace and sustainability with the ecosystem. Protecting God’s creation and preserving the earth requires more than the “good intention and words, but the humble, unidentified acts like turning off the lights if not been used, bicycling or walking to work, and hanging clothing on the line to dry by the sun..,” which are simple and practical ways to counter pollution and global warming, while preserving energy (Sleeth, 2006, p. 10). These actions can be implemental by all, even the non believers. It does not necessarily mean that people cannot use the energies, where no option, but instead should express concern by limiting the use. Mending damage on environment and responsible recreation A large proportion of people in the society engage in recreational activities that involve the environments nature. Activities like fishing, swimming, boat riding and hunting are common activities besides ball games. In one way or the other, the water, animals and land has been damaged to allow these activities to occur, as most water sources are polluted when reckless people help themselves in the water bodies, poach beautiful creatures in the forests and other habitats or clear land plantations and forests to make room for other selfish activities. Christians are called for responsible recreation, because their activities on land, water, air would determine the impact they make on the environment (Henderson, n.d). They are urged to view themselves as the light of the world, and been constrained by the conviction in their faith, their actions, responsibilities and lives should reflect the will of God on the environment. They have been given life and liberty and so should use them to preserve, restore and protect the environment. Most of the forests that held the wild life have been damaged, the animals can no longer feel secure in their habitats and are forced to evacuate if lucky to survive. All these are because of human actions that focus more on economic, leisure, and personal motivations. Christians as those in Zimbambe should merge forces to repair their ravaged landscape by planting trees along river banks and in the forests, protecting the wildlife, as well as realizing the ecological issues for proper actions to be taken, which would be supported by social and political principles (Gottlieb, 2006, p. 118). Most of these actions can be enforced by governments’ restriction and moral obligation. Deforestation and poaching should be banned. People can fish, but overfishing and deforestation would be a step away from restoration of the environment. Likewise, it would be very difficult to have responsible recreation; first because Christian should not impose their wish on others, second, some people do fish, hunt and cut down trees for economical gains, meaning limiting their activities would be affecting their livelihoods. Participating in Public Witnessing on Environmental Issues There is need for all humanity to join hands together and develop worldwide environmental programs and ethics. Christians have the responsibility to make preservation decisions following the moral principles highlighted in the bible, and protest the environment, since they rely on it for survival (Matt. 7:12). As believers, they should not shun away to defend the environment and the ecosystem in official and public programs, rather, they should stand out as a partnership or a positive influence to those who share common objectives of caring for the environment like them. Christianity may be nicknamed as a religion of environmentalism, but as environmentalists, Christians should engage in establishing environmental policies, speak broadly and confidently over environmental issues, without being limited to spiritual matters (Gottlieb, 2004). As mentioned earlier, human beings are created in the image of God and have superior authority to conserve and protect nature (Luke 12:6–7). It however does not call for Christians to engage in unreasonable and irresponsible actions like fighting (quarrels or physical wars) in the name of defending the environment. All the same, they should reflect their faith and conviction, while involving in environmental politics, in a decent and humble appeal. Participating in political and social programs should make them aware of the trends in environmental conservation. Even though, they should shun any movement against their convictions that intends to harm the environment, rather than preserve it. Conclusion Other actions include limiting chemical use on agricultural activities and in industries for production purposes, and preserving resources to prevent depletion as a way to protect the future generations. Christians’ motives do concur with other fewer religious doctrines of the environment, aiming at improving, preserving, and restoring it. Most of these actions are faced by challenges in the societies’ level of application, but it depends on the moral obligation, conviction, and support given by other organizations and relevant authorities. Reference List Gottlieb, R. S., ed. (2004). This sacred earth: religion, nature, environment. New York: Routledge.  Gottlieb, R. S. (2006). A Greener Faith: Religious Environmentalism and Our Planet's Future. New York: Oxford University Press Henderson, C. (n.d). Christians Unite to save the planet. Retrieved from http://www.godweb.org/earthday.htm Should Christians recycle? How should a Christian view recycling? (n.d). Retrieved from http://www.gotquestions.org/recycling-Christian.html Sleeth, J. M. (2006).Serve God, save the planet: a Christian call to action. Vermont: Chelsea Green Publishing. The Bible Societies. (1971). The Bible: Revised Standard Version. Scranton: HarperCollins Publishers. The Biblical call to Environmental Stewardship. (2008, June). Retrieved from http://www.doesgodexist.org/MayJun08/BiblicalCalltoEnvironmentalStewardship.html .   Thesis statement: Christian’s actions emulate God’s principles in attitude and care for the environment by engaging in public works for environmental preservation, improving and mending the damage on the environment, minimizing consumption of resources, and efficient use and disposal of waste materials. OUTLINE WHAT SPECIFIC ACTIONS SHOULD CHRISTIANS TAKE REGARDING THE ENVIRONMENT AND ITS PRESERVATION OR RESTORATION? 1) INTRODUCTION 2) ACTIONS CHRISTIANS SHOULD TAKE ON ENVIRONMENT PRESERVATION A. Recycling and Disposition B Minimizing consumption of energy resources C Mending damage on environment and responsible recreation D Participating in public witnessing on environmental issues 3) CONCLUSION Read More