Sensitizing Christians to the value of creation : exploring the role of the Eucharist
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Issue Date
2009-11-25T23:24:17Z
Editor
Authors
Demerse, Wayne
License
Subject
religious education
social sciences education
theology
environment
Christianity
social sciences education
theology
environment
Christianity
Abstract
Many Christian churches incorporate environmental policies as part of their mission while others appear hesitant to embrace ecological concern. I set out to explore the nature of this difference and the possible reasons for it by interviewing 12 clergy from a wide variety of Christian traditions. I also examined the possible role of the Eucharist as a catalyst for environmental mission. A grounded theory approach to my interview data revealed two commonly held clerical beliefs, each with potential ecological implications: Christ‘s redemption extends to all creation, not merely the human soul, and God intends the Earth to be transformed into a new creation—a transformation that began at Christ‘s resurrection. The study concludes with a recommendation for continued research into the effect of frequent Eucharist observance and regular teaching about the biblical mandate of creation care.