February 2019

Is the modern conservation movement consistent with Christian and/or Seventh-day Adventist principals and theology? We will explore this over the next few issues. Let’s look at the leaders of the conservation movement and what influenced their ideas. The conservation movement has developed alongside technology and industrialization since the 1600’s. Many great thinkers have contributed to the discussion, but one person is widely considered the originator of the modern conservation movement in the West. 

George Perkins Marsh and his momentous work Man and Nature defined the problem of environmental degradation due to overuse of the earth’s resources. He also laid out solutions to help correct this. He was one of the early heads of the U.S. Forest Service and contributed much to the science of forest management. Where did he get his ideas about preserving nature? He was raised by Calvinist parents and his father was an amateur naturalist. He seems to have continued in the faith of his parents throughout his life. He wrote he felt it a, ‘duty to adhere to the religion of one’s cradle until one finds a less objectionable one, which I have not’.1 

While Marsh may have had an unconverted heart, there is no doubt that the influence of Christian and biblical thought permeated his ideas about nature and undergirded his conservation notions as they mirror biblical stewardship.  

John Muir, the legendary environmental evangelist of the late 1800’s is another example. His writings, speeches, and political action helped to establish our National Parks system and make conservation a national and worldwide movement. He started the Sierra Club which is still one of the biggest environmental organizations today. Reading his books, one finds much biblical language and symbolism throughout. He was the son of an evangelical preacher, so this is little surprise. He compares wonderful vistas to the Garden of Eden and talks about God’s “water and stone sermons.” His leanings seem best interpreted as Christian mysticism or Deism.  His personal beliefs aside it is obvious that his respect for nature where he discerned “divine lessons” was strongly informed by his Christian upbringing.2 

The book Silent Spring by Rachel Carson is perhaps the most well know book of the 20th century, and perhaps of all time, dealing with conservation. To this day it is viewed with suspicion by many conservative Christians. I think this is in part due to the time of publication. It was published near the start of the 1960’s hippie movement which made environmentalism one of its tenants. Silent Spring became one of its gospels. Much about the hippie movement ran contrary to Christian sensibilities and teachings and so Rachel Carson, her book, and environmental conservation at large became guilty by association. However, Carson was raised by a devout Presbyterian mother and was the great-grand daughter of a minister. Throughout her adult life she admired, corresponded with, and read several prominent Christian thinkers and theologians of her time. The Rachel Carson Counsel espouses that Carson would have been open to working alongside Christian environmental groups had any been willing. In this spirit they started the Faith, Science and Action program to foster discussion and growth of faith-based organizations concerned about protecting the environment.3 Yet again we can find a Christian background that likely lead to a strong respect for nature and a desire to protect it from utter ruin.

The one thread to be seen in these stories is a strong correlation between respect for nature and a Christian background. For these leaders, a religious upbringing fostered a religious awe for nature they never lost. These case studies help us to realize that environmental conservation is not a purely secular, humanist, anti-Christian movement. Instead, many of its greatest leaders gained their appreciation of nature from a Christian upbringing. Nature is something that all humans need. Anyone can see how its loss will negatively impact themselves and humanity at large. Nature is the domain of all people from every persuasion, therefore so is nature conservation. People from all faiths and nationalities participate in conservation efforts. We Christians and especially Seventh-day Adventists need to be in the midst of it.

Sources

1. Bristow, Preston, “The Roots of Our Ecological Crisis,” (01 Ap. 2001), Answers In Genesis online, Accessed May 18, 2017 https://answersingenesis.org/environmental-science/stewardship/the-root-of-our-ecological-crisis/?sitehist=1490027536870 . Originally published in Journal of Creation 15, no. 1 (April 2001): 76-79.

2. John Murdock. “John Muir’s God Of Nature,” First Things journal online, (June 25, 2013), accessed February 1, 2019 from https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2013/07/john-muirs-god-of-nature.

3. Rachel Carson Counsil, “Faith, Science & Action,” Rachel Carson Council online, (n.d.), accessed February 1, 2019 from https://rachelcarsoncouncil.org/faith-science-action/.