Nature And Altering It

It is true – and troubling – that we humans are increasingly able to control and manipulate nature in many ways. In this book ethicist Allen Verhey addresses that reality and shows why we need to bring a fresh Christian voice into today’s ecological debate.

Verhey identifies and describes the significant cultural “myths” or “narratives” that have shaped Western perspectives on nature and on altering it. In the biblical narrative he finds an alternative story that challenges the dominant myths of Western culture. Acknowledging that Christian Scripture has often been accused of nurturing arrogance toward nature, Verhey looks anew at the biblical narrative in a way that moves beyond those accusations.

The genius of this little book is how it deftly unpacks underlying human narratives and shows the relevance of the Christian narrative for contemporary ecological ethics.