CUSTODIOS DEL PLANETA

In this book, an international group of educators, environmentalists, ethicists, researchers, theologians, and Christian scientists provide well-developed answers to 23 important questions about the issue. "Stewards of the Planet will become a go-to resource for those seeking a Christian perspective on responsibility for the care of the environment... I recommend serious reading by those who wish to understand and manage the existing principles behind the preservation and improvement of our planetary ecosystem. It is a first-rate book in an accessible format."

Fifty years ago, marine biologist Rachel Carson published the book Silent Spring, which focused on the harmful effects of the widespread use of chemical pesticides on the planet and its living organisms, particularly birds. Her widely read and discussed book launched the modern environmental movement. A few years later, in 1967, the journal Science published a lecture by the medieval historian Lynn White (Jr.) entitled "The Historical Roots of Our Ecological Crisis," in which he asserted that "Christianity made it possible to exploit nature in a state of indifference to the feelings of natural objects." Although Carson's and White's theses have been criticized, the environmental movement has continued to grow in many countries and has sometimes taken on quasi-religious characteristics. Some Christians, for their part, consider the material world inferior or assume that since this world will be destroyed and recreated by God, they should not worry too much about what is happening now to our earthly home and its creatures. However, the accelerating rate of species extinctions, the increase in pollution of the air we breathe and the water we drink, and the harmful effects of chemicals on the soil are demonstrable facts. So how should we, as Bible-believing Christians, respond to this undeniable environmental degradation? This book articulates thoughtful answers to twenty-three questions stemming from that fundamental question. The editors have convened an international group of educators, ecologists, ethicists, researchers, theologians, and experienced scientists who have masterfully addressed these questions. Of course, each author assumes responsibility for the content of the chapter that bears their name. However, they all share the conviction that Christianity, properly understood, includes a mandate from the Creator to care for the ecosystem and that this responsibility involves a balance between conservation and consumption that requires setting priorities. We prioritize meeting human needs, but not human greed. This book is especially aimed at readers who want to explore and better understand these complex issues, such as teachers, students, sensitive Christians, and responsible citizens. The authors and editors have sought to provide honest answers and practical recommendations, based on the best available information, in terms that will reach a wide audience. Of course, more questions could have been raised, but these will suffice as examples of a balanced approach to environmental concerns from a Christian and biblical worldview. We wish to express our deepest appreciation to each of those who contributed to this volume for willingly sharing their knowledge amidst other professional responsibilities. Our gratitude also goes to John Fowler, who helped edit the chapters in this volume, and to Kathy Ching for formatting the text and verifying many of the references in the English version. The principal funding for the publication of this book was provided by the Geoscience Research Institute. Additional financial support was provided by Loma Linda University and the Education Department of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Finally, we thank you, dear reader, for taking the time to consider the content of this book and for discussing these important issues that affect us all with others, as you embrace your Christian responsibility and seek realistic solutions.