1. At home in God’s earth.

2. Te Atua creates and sustains all life.

3. In groups read through Genesis 1& 2 and look at what it tells you about the creation of the natural world, animals and of humans. Are certain words or phrases used repeatedly? Is this a positive story?  This is a story with a religious truth: it tells us that(& why) God made the world not how. The story shows that God was pleased with what God had created and that it is goodness and harmony that were intended.

4.  Check out Genesis 1:12b,18b,21b,25b & 31. What does this tell you about how God views creation? o Now read Genesis 1:27 about God and humankind.

5. God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good!

6. God created humankind in God’s image. In the image of God they were created. Male and female God created them.

7. Think about this.  Both these scriptures are important to keep in mind as we work through this unit. They remind not only are we important to God but so are all people, all animals and the natural world. These scriptures give us an insight into how God views us! Remember that next time you criticise your self!

8. We believe that ‘God created all life’!

9. When I look at the heavens the work of your fingers, The moon and the stars that you have established, What are we that you are mindful of us? Mortals that you care for us? Psalm 8:3-4. Photo: G.Brebner Taylors Bay AKL

10. Church Teaching  Focus:  We have a specific responsibility to care for the environment in which we live not only to ensure our own survival, but also the well being of future generations.  He tangata do not have the right to misuse or exploit the environment of which God has made them stewards.  Within creation all life forms are interconnected and interdependent.  Respect for the pono of creation is central to the Church’s teaching.

11. Think about these and see if you agree.  Theologian Karl Rahner says that “the human person is an open ended mystery that can only find completion in God”.  Another theologian David Kelsey describes humans in this way – “to know truth and to be morally responsible”.

12. Fr Neil Darragh  Auckland theologian Fr Neil Darragh in his book At home in the earth challenges New Zealanders, and Christians in particular, to not only understand about our need to care for the earth but to take responsibility. Part of this responsibility is to care for the earth for the earth’s sake not just for other human beings. Fr Neil asks us to move from mastering or dominating the earth to caring for the earth. To do this we need to understand three things;

13. One  We are not the only ones who care for the earth; we are participants of the earth. What do you think this means? Is the “we” Fr Neil speaks of humans, or Christians? Do animals care for the earth? Do they waste resources?

14. Two  We need to focus on our interdependence, our i nterconnections and our interrelationships with all beings of the earth.  Look these words up if you don’t know what they mean.

15. Three  We also need to accept that there is conflict in our relationships, some creatures eat other creatures and two beings will compete for survival in the same space.

16. Brainstorm “signs of collapse and transition in our world”