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Farmer-poet Wendell Berry’s environmental ethics were deeply rooted in his Christian faith and belief in caring for creation
Confirmed
In Short: Wendell Berry’s environmental ethics were deeply rooted in his Christian faith, particularly the teachings of Genesis, which emphasize that humans are caretakers of the Earth rather than its owners.
Wendell Berry’s environmental ethics were deeply rooted in his Christian faith, particularly the teachings of Genesis, which emphasize that humans are caretakers of the Earth rather than its owners. In his writings, Berry often quoted Genesis 2:15, 'Keep it,' to underscore the responsibility of humans to tend the planet.
Berry’s Christianity-infused agrarianism began in the 1970s and played a significant role in popularizing family-run farms, organic farming, and farm-to-table establishments. His work laid the groundwork for the modern creation care movement, which advocates for environmental stewardship and repairing the harm humans have done to the environment.
The Christian environmental movement that Berry helped to pioneer in the 1980s has evolved into a broad movement that calls for Christians to embrace stewardship, creation spirituality, and ecojustice. Today, his beliefs are reflected in the concept of creation care, which emphasizes the importance of caring for the Earth as a reflection of God’s love and responsibility.
Throughout his 92 years, Berry farmed his Lane’s Landing homestead in Kentucky using methods that respected the land. He increasingly saw his ethic violated by the industrialization of agriculture and the dominionist theology that some Christians advocate, which holds that humans have a God-given right to exploit the Earth’s resources. Berry opposed environmentally destructive practices such as mountaintop-removal coal mining, which led to the destruction of streams and forests in his native Kentucky.
What's confirmed
- He wrote, “We are allowed to make no exceptions – every person’s obligation toward creation is summed up in two words from Genesis 2:15 : ‘Keep it.’” In contrast, the dominionist view emphasizes Genesis 1:28, which has been interpreted by some to mean that humans are to subdue the Earth and to establish Christian dominance.
- The modern creation care movement began as part of a wider network of American social justice movements.
- You might recognize his belief system in what’s known as creation care today.
What's still developing
- In 2011, he participated in a multiday sit-in protest of the mining practices, saying, “I intend to stay interested in it and involved as long as the Lord spares me.” I am a scholar of American Christianity and have spent my career researching and writing about how Christians practice their beliefs.