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The Catholic Parishes in Waterloo Invite
You to Join Us for
Stewardship of the Earth
Bible Study
This five-week bible study will meet
on an day
and time to be determined by the participants.
Here's an opportunity to examine
the biblical foundation for environmental stewardship.
This five-week bible study is
one in a series of the thematic
bible studies in the Threshold Bible Study series
published by Twenty-Third Publications.
"Stewardship of the Earth"
combines the
opportunity for both personal study and group discussion, using
the ancient practice of lectio divina as its guide. This
process encourages a deeply reflective and meditative reading of
the Divine Word, which leads to a prayerful and transforming
response.
•
• •
“The bible offers a rich foundation for
environmental consciousness. Some have accused the Christian
tradition of fostering apathy for the material world by
orienting people toward an immaterial existence in a spiritual
heaven. But a review of biblical texts shows us that the world
is not something from which we should try to escape. Both the
ancient literature of Israel and the writings of the early
church demonstrate that God’s original intentions for creation
as well as God’s plan for creation’s future fulfillment are
centered in the world of bodily, worldly reality….
“The challenge of environmental stewardship is to
put what we know and what we believe into practice. As
individuals and families, we must examine our energy consumption
and water usage, our garbage and recycling practices, and our
lifestyle choices and decisions as consumers. We should
consider how we pass on a respect and appreciation for God’s
creation to the next generation and how we can instill hope in
young people that a more suitable world is worth struggling to
achieve….
“A spirituality that reflects the biblical
understanding of the created world requires a deep humility. It
admits that the earth was not created merely for human use, but
to give glory to God. Such a spirituality calls for a profound
respect and reverence in the face of creation’s sacredness. It
recognizes that humanity did not weave the web of life, but that
we are strands within it. It realizes that ultimately, ‘the
earth is the Lord’s’ (Psalm 24:1).”
--Stephen J. Binz, author of Stewardship of
the Earth.
About the Author
Stephen J. Binz is a Catholic biblical
scholar, a popular speaker, and the author of more than twenty
books about the Bible. He has done graduate studies at the
Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome and Hebrew University in
Jerusalem.
Posted 05.02.08
• Last Update 05.02.08
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