SciELO - Scientific Electronic Library Online

 
vol.78 issue2Racism amongst white Afrikaner adolescents: The challenge of I-Thou (Buber) relationsLifestyle and leadership according to Paul's statement of account before the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:17-35 author indexsubject indexarticles search
Home Pagealphabetic serial listing  

Services on Demand

Article

Indicators

Related links

  • On index processCited by Google
  • On index processSimilars in Google

Share


HTS Theological Studies

On-line version ISSN 2072-8050
Print version ISSN 0259-9422

Abstract

RABIE-BOSHOFF, Annelien C.. Imago mundi: Justice of peace. Herv. teol. stud. [online]. 2022, vol.78, n.2, pp.1-7. ISSN 2072-8050.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/hts.v78i2.7611.

The question of how human beings are to understand their role in creation is of particular interest in our current time of extreme exploitation of the earth and severe environmental degradation. Historically, critiques have been raised against the Judeo-Christian interpretation of the biblical command to subdue the earth and rule over the animals. In all sincerity, the question then needs to be asked what Christian theology has to offer in response to these critiques. Having considered the various interpretations of the meaning of the biblical command to subdue and rule, and with the understanding that the spiritual gifts of wisdom, understanding, knowledge and an ability to perform work have been bestowed by God on human beings, the proposition that this article offers is an alternative understanding of the role of human beings tendered in terms of 'the justice of the peace'. The Hebrew understanding of peace (shalom) is used as a basis; shalom does not refer to an absence of war but points to life and maintaining the balance and harmony in creation for life in all its varied forms to prosper. In the context of the imago mundi, it is proposed that human beings have been divinely appointed to uphold justice in creation and rule by keeping the peace (shalom). CONTRIBUTION: The metaphor of 'the justice of the peace', used concomitantly with the verbs 'subdue' and 'rule' within ecotheology, offers a viable alternative to the idea of 'stewardship' of creation. This article focuses attention on possible alternative interpretations of the two verbs, contributing to an understanding of our relationship with creation

Keywords : imago mundi; dominion; stewardship; justice; shalom; balance; life; spiritual gifts.

        · text in English     · English ( pdf )

 

Creative Commons License All the contents of this journal, except where otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License