27. Imago Dei: The Image of God as Dominion
27. Imago Dei: The Image of God as Dominion
"...Subdue [the earth], and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth."
—Genesis 1:28
This view sees us made in the image of God in that we share in His dominion over the earth.
The featured image is of a sign for sale at a Renn Faire. It jumped out at me because this ASA sentiment is exactly the opposite of what the Bible says, hearkening back to the battle of the worldviews.
We are to be good stewards of the earth. We are not to abuse or exploit its resources. But we are its lords. We have the God-given right to chop down a tree and build shelter from the elements. We have the God-given right to kill an animal for sustenance. We do not share equality with trees or animals.
What difference does this distinction make? What role does it play in the war?
We buy our oil from Saudi Arabia...a country that commits gross violations of human rights.
A Saudi Arabian blogger who speaks out on freedom was accused of apostasy and "insulting Islam" and sentenced to 1,000 lashes and 15 years in prison.Women who are raped and can't identify their perpetrator are deemed guilty of adultery and sentenced to hundreds of lashes and years in prison.
Despite that freedom of religion, including the freedom to pray, is a basic right recognized under international human rights law, the Saudi government raids homes where Christians meet for prayer, beats them, and threatens them with death.
The country’s oil wealth has been used to fund mosques, charities and Islamic institutions worldwide, as well as radical Islamist groups. 15 of the 19 terrorists responsible for the 9/11 attacks in the US were Saudi.
But instead of drilling for oil in our own country, creating jobs, and boosting our own economy, we fund a country that rapes, tortures, and murders people because drilling in America would put polar bears at risk.
While the ASA complains of scars left on the land from thumper trucks searching for oil...
...persecuted Christians and other victims of human rights violations bear scars from torture for life.Further Reading:
America must stand up for persecuted Christians in Saudi Arabia, India and around the world
Saudi Arabia's Crimes Against Christians
Western hypocrisy, Saudi Arabia and the persecution of Christians
Footnotes:
The "quote" on the sign is falsely attributed to Indian Chief Seattle (who died in 1866), and has been widely quoted in books, on TV, and from the pulpit. A children’s book, Brother Eagle, Sister Sky: A Message From Chief Seattle (which sold 280,000 within the first six months of its 1991 issue). It actually originated from Ted Perry, the screenwriter for Home, a 1972 film about ecology.
Information on Saudi Arabia's Human Rights violations taken from "Country Reports on Human Rights Practices – 2004". US Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour.
Photo Credit: World Hands: Creative Commons / Polar Bear / Persecution Victims: Fair Use
Comments
Post a Comment