Hi Richard,

I can see your point around the stewardship thing and how that might have got us into trouble. Perhaps the stewardship idea only works in a perfect world (which in the story is in fact the case). Maybe dropping the word would be good. My understanding of the concept would be similar to the way you expressed it. I like the brother and sister idea and the interdependence it implies. I also agree with the ideas around injustice. I suppose by exploring the Near Eastern texts (in a extremely limited and piecemeal way!) I was trying to point out that an appreciation for creation is part of the narrative. Perhaps the narrative is better expressed in St.Francis. I’m just not sure the difference is as great as we make it out to be. I’m also not arguing that everything in the biblical narrative is a helpful approach to the ecological crisis. I think what I’m hoping, and to an extent believe, is that there are pointers in the narrative which we can identify with, which can become part of our story today. I agree with all you said, but still feel the narrative has something to offer. I think you might have been implying that when focussing in on the justice issue?

Brian