Abstract:
ABSTRACT
The global ecological crisis is posited to be, perhaps, the number one problem
facing the world-wide community in recent times (Breuilly & Palmer, 1992).
The effect of this global crisis is known and felt everywhere. Scholars, by way
of studying the causes of this contemporary global ecological crisis, have
blamed the Judaeo-Christian tradition for being responsible. They claim that
certain narrative features in the book of Genesis, particularly Genesis 1: 26-28,
warrant human beings to exploit nature for their benefit. This research,
therefore, explores Genesis 1:26-28 in order to establish what the text in its
historical context means other than its license to Christians for exploitation of
the environment as claimed by some scholars. The study is a description-based
research which seeks to employ secondary sources of data. The researcher
arrives at the conclusion through a textual interpretation and analysis guided by
a historical-critical method of research. The analysis of the text is guided by
Narrative Criticism proposed by Mark Allan Powell (1990). On the whole, the
findings of the study show that the idea that human beings were created “in the
image” and “likeness of Elohim” and hence perceive themselves as creatures
above and beyond nature; and the view that the words “dominion” and “subdue”
used in the text connote ‘domination’ and ‘exploitation’, are untenable. The
historical interpretation of the text suggests ‘stewardship’ rather than
‘exploitation’ of nature. The study recommends that researchers should use a
different approach or methodology for a comparison study to increase our
understanding of the relationship between Christian Scripture and the
environment
