Allison Burbach (12/3): From Nature to Creation

As we end the semester, I want to reflect on the first book we read, From Nature to Creation. The most impactful idea was distinguishing the definitions between nature and creation in the Christian understanding. Nature has become synonymous with natural resources, which makes exploitation so easy and mindless. By having two different words, I think Christians (and others) can justify the destruction and distance themselves from the creation story. Our commodified view of nature has ruined our appreciation for the natural world. This begs the question: How do we approach healing our relationship with creation?

This is a complex question that I am not sure how to approach. From my science background, I want to communicate the importance of ecosystems and the services they provide, but this approach will not work for everyone.


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