Stewards of Eden: What Scripture Says about the Environment and Why It Matters

Environmentalist and biblical studies scholar Richter (The Epic of Eden) unpacks the Bible’s messages on care for the environment in this powerful analysis. Richter begins her exegesis theologically, by arguing that Christians have a special obligation to understand how original human rebellion against God affects humans’ relationship with nature. In each chapter, she examines the historical context (including Earth’s environmental state at the time) of different sections of the Bible, and in “What does the Bible say?” sections she explains environmental conditions and farming practices throughout biblical Israel. She then juxtaposes those guidelines for the natural, scripturally informed cultivation and preparation of food from biblical history with present-day case studies of farming and other land use practices, to argue for more careful stewardship of natural resources. The sections criticizing herbicides and coal mining are carefully argued and particularly enlightening. Richter’s well-grounded argument will be of interest to evangelical Christians, especially those less familiar with green theology. (Feb.)