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As the notion of “nature” is essential for the self-understanding of the European/Western civilization also theology has in its long history contributed to the development of the concept of nature. In the Abrahamitic religions, “nature” is “creation” which exists out of its relation to God. God is regarded as the Creator of everything between heaven and earth, and classical Christian theology has interpreted God’s work as a making, preserving, and fulfilling of nature. The doctrine of creation offers the horizon for the whole understanding of Christian faith even if it historically often has been opposed to soteriology, the doctrine of salvation. A general challenge for Christian theology therefore is to relate God’s creation and God’s salvation to each other (cf. Conradie 2012). Are human beings as “images of God” placed above or among creatures? Is only man/woman or also nature in the need of liberation?
The view of nature...
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Bergmann, S. (2013). Environmental Theology. In: Runehov, A.L.C., Oviedo, L. (eds) Encyclopedia of Sciences and Religions. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-8265-8_1539
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