Reply #6: It's simple biblical doctrine, but it's often completely misinterpreted. [View All]

[newmajority]

The creation account in Genesis 1 according to the King James Version, most commonly used in fundie churches:

26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

Dominion is the word that the fundies focus on. They confuse the word with "domination" and beleive God has given them the right to literally plunder the world however they please.

However, a more modern translation of the Scriptures, such as "The Message", provides another side to the argument:

26-28 God spoke: "Let us make human beings in our image, make them
reflecting our nature
So they can be responsible for the fish in the sea,
the birds in the air, the cattle,
And, yes, Earth itself,
and every animal that moves on the face of Earth."
God created human beings;
he created them godlike,
Reflecting God's nature.
He created them male and female.
God blessed them:
"Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge!
Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air,
for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth."

Notice how the wording here, be responsible, appears totally different from the KJV, but is really not. The intended meaning all along, as Al Gore said, was to be responsible, and be stewards of the Earth.


So the first book of the Bible tells us to take care of the Earth. And the last book of the Bible tells us God will not be happy with those who do not:

And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. - Revelation 11:18