Blog 2 - - - Section 6

The historical roots of our ecological crisis
Explain the process in which the human race has impacted and changed the environment and non-human nature. But with “Gods will that human exploit nature” what chance did we have. The problem has extended the blame towards the Christian beliefs. Believing that nature is provided, and to be abused, to support the human population. The environment can be modified in a controlled matter for human use. Overall the human population is changing the environment so much, that negative impacts on the environment are affecting humans. The largest impact on the environment has been the use and invention of science and technology. Nothing compares to the effects, and the most modification has been done since it has been introduced.
Even thought the impacts of science and technology are large on the environment, it is difficult to understand when the damage begins. Focusing on history, it can be said that science and technology have been affecting the world for some time now, maybe even 800 A.D. The many characters responsible for slowly dismantling the environment begin with: The Cannon’s and ingredients, and is followed soon after with fossil fuels, urbanisms, and the unholy nuclear war.
After the environment began to fall apart, man created a word to call it. They called it Ecology, in 1873, and it was intended to be used for the understanding the impacts of humans on the environment. Even with the word now to understand what humans are doing, the Democratic world cannot work. The culture still blends too much science and technology to not impact the surround environment.
Initial intentions were good, plowing was focused to support a single family and no more. Technology allowed for larger lots to be plowed, and people became greedy, over working and overgrowing on the land.
More impacting religion sprung back up in the middle Ages. Now many people believed that nature was connected to God directly, and could communicate to them. Science began to take serious views, and studying of the environment began. The more knowledge and understanding became clear, science became more dominate on factual proven data, and the God connection was dropped.
Man became more and more powerful in modifying and changing the environment, not thinking of the consequences. Ecological backlash may occur because of our environmental dominance attitude. When this backlash occurs, man will reach for science and technology for a solution, only to find the problem was science and technology, the sole cause, and can’t be used to fix the environment.
Overall the Christian belief is completely flawed and Hippocratic. Stating they are connected to nature, yet are supposed to use nature to benefit man, in some cases logging endangered lumber. The man-nature relationship of Christianity contradicts itself. No ecological relief can be made until Christian views are changed. Human and nature have to be treated equal, not one to dominate the other.
Saint Francis has been the only man to oppose this view, from the inside. Unfortunately he failed, leaving science and technology at a point now where ecological recovery will only happen with the creating of a new religion, based on the Franciscan Order of equalness.

Good article, Understanding the flaws of religion, brings to light why some people can make decision, and not belief the consequence will happen. It’s also surprising how made up beliefs can influence the actions and practices of people throughout time. Making environmental harm and abuse a way of life. I agree with the points and arguments within this article. Man and nature should be able to coexist on the factual bases of balance, and not be abused by dominance.


Reference

Easton T. (2009) Environmental Studies, Sections 6. New York: McGraw-Hill