Ecology and Spirituality: Biodiversity

The well-being and flourishing of human and nonhuman life on Earth have value in themselves (synonyms: intrinsic value, inherent value). These values are independent of the usefulness of the nonhuman world for human purposes.
Richness and diversity of life forms contribute to the realization of these values and are also values in themselves. - First and Second ethics of Deep Ecology (Emphasis Mine)

One of the ways in which the creation is in distress is mentioned in discussions on issues like Global Warming. One of the arguments that is posed as to why people should try to stop this is because it damages the natural balance of life and destroys the biodiversity of the planet.

Now, some would say that the extinction of a particular species is not important. But, I would argue, as would a scientist, that it is indeed important. And, as a Christian, I believe this to be what the Bible teaches.

From a purely scientific standpoint, the diversity of life on earth is vitally important for many reasons. We will limit our discussion here to the impact of the diversity of life on humankind.

Ecology and Spirituality: Humanity’s Role

While God has never said that any part, other than humanity, is sinful, this does not mean that the creation was unaffected by the original sin. The first proof of this is found in Genesis, when God is dolling out punishments.

And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” (Genesis 3:17-19 ESV)

As a result of the first man’s disobedience, the land would cease to be responsive to his authority. It almost reads as if God gave creation more power than it had previously had. Now, not only would creation move and flow in harmony with itself, but it would also have the power to overtake man’s work to tame it.

Ecology and Spirituality: Intrinsic Value

And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.” So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day. And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds–livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. (Gen 1:20-25 ESV)

The well-being and flourishing of human and nonhuman life on Earth have value in themselves (synonyms: intrinsic value, inherent value). These values are independent of the usefulness of the nonhuman world for human purposes. - First ethic of Deep Ecology

The first idea presented by Deep Ecology is the idea that each life on planet earth, human and otherwise, has value in and of itself. This intrinsic value is not dependent on the creature’s usefulness to humankind. Hence why they all have “intrinsic” value.

Within the Judeo-Christian tradition, this idea is expressed clearly in Genesis one, when God calls the earth and waters to “bring forth” life. God called the earth to do this and then “saw that it was good.” Why was it good? Because God “saw” that it was.

Ecology and Spirituality

As I dwell on the concept of Deep Ecology (DE), I wonder if our disconnection from the earth is a factor in our disconnection from each other. Even among members of the same nuclear family, there seems to be very little sense of belonging. We as a race do not seem to think that we belong to anyone or anything. Everyone or everything may belong to us, but we rebel against the idea that we may belong to someone or something. This creates constant strife and fighting amongst ourselves, separating ourselves further from each other.

This would also explain our rebellion against the idea of God. The thought of something being above us is bad enough, but even worse is the thought that we belong to this Being. This confronts us at our fundamental disconnection from each other and the rest of creation. Especially since God is trying to bring everything back together and restore it to the way He originally intended it.