Thanks -- I've changed it to link directly to the story.
Also, while I have hear Pombo's position espoused by others (most notably James Watt), it's not supported by the text. Yes, Genesis has God giving humans every plant for food (although, interestingly enough, not animals -- the requirement of vegetarianism was relaxed with Noah) and saying that people were to be have dominion over the natural world, but to take that and make it an argument for destroying nature is rather akin to saying that the proverb "Spare the rod and spoil the child" requires one to beat the child until senseless or even dead. In other places in the OT, such as Isaiah, there are clear indications that man's dominion should be benevolent. The Bible as a whole calls for responsiblity to the world and to posterity, ranging from requirements that every seventh year fields should lay fallow to language that glorifies the natural world as being God's creation.
I think it sad that people like Pumbo are clear examples of another Biblical admonition: the sins of the fathers shall be visited upon the children, even unto the third generation. (This passage is descriptive, rather than prescriptive: it does not mean that children should be punished for the misdeeds of their parents, but that our actions have consequences which flow to our children. As the grandchild of an alcoholic, I can attest that that can occur.) The generations after us will be dealing with the results of our sins against God and nature for a long time.
no subject
Also, while I have hear Pombo's position espoused by others (most notably James Watt), it's not supported by the text. Yes, Genesis has God giving humans every plant for food (although, interestingly enough, not animals -- the requirement of vegetarianism was relaxed with Noah) and saying that people were to be have dominion over the natural world, but to take that and make it an argument for destroying nature is rather akin to saying that the proverb "Spare the rod and spoil the child" requires one to beat the child until senseless or even dead. In other places in the OT, such as Isaiah, there are clear indications that man's dominion should be benevolent. The Bible as a whole calls for responsiblity to the world and to posterity, ranging from requirements that every seventh year fields should lay fallow to language that glorifies the natural world as being God's creation.
I think it sad that people like Pumbo are clear examples of another Biblical admonition: the sins of the fathers shall be visited upon the children, even unto the third generation. (This passage is descriptive, rather than prescriptive: it does not mean that children should be punished for the misdeeds of their parents, but that our actions have consequences which flow to our children. As the grandchild of an alcoholic, I can attest that that can occur.) The generations after us will be dealing with the results of our sins against God and nature for a long time.