Jain Journal 1977 10

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 27

Christianity and Jainism as Ecological Models
ARVIND SHARMA
I
The manner in which one treats the world one lives in is influenced, it would appear, to a certain extent at least, by the theology of one's religion1. A striking example of this is provided by the differing attitudes towards abortion within the Christian Church.
In the nature of the relation with one's environment, the degree of its ensoulment envisaged in a theological system seems to be of significance. On the standard Christian view, for example, matter has no soul and although the animals may be seen as possessing some kind of a "psyche", it is at the level of man alone that the question of the possession of soul arises. Here again Christian theology is not quite uniform. Under the influence of Greek thought the dichotomy between body and soul tends to be recognised. But under the influence of Hebraic thought, body and soul tend to be looked upon as constituting a single entity. Thus whilst under the former view the immortality of the soul will be the key soteriological issue, a concern with resurrection will be the dominating concern on the second view.
Under the influence of such a theology one evolves, consciously or unconsciously, a world-view in which matter and animals are subordinate to man who in turn is, of course, subordinate to God. Thus what we have here may be, in general, called a subordinative ecological model. The fact that it is a subordinative ecological model does not necessarily make it an exploitative one. For the rest of the world may be subordinate to man but man is subordinate to God and functions under his direction. It is true that the directive in Genesis 1.28 does seem to a fiat for Man to rule over Nature but the Bible is not entirely wanting in checks and balances on this account?.
1 See, for instance, Bruce Allsopp, Ecological Morality (London: Frederick Muller Ltd., 1972) passim.
2 See Joyce Blackburn, The Earth is the Lord's? (Waco, Texas: World Books 1972) passim.