Spring Equinox Edition 2022, "Dominionism" (Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon, guest editor)
Guest Editor’s Introduction
by Rev. Dr. Dan D. De Leon
“You shall have dominion.” This divine mandate recorded in the first chapter of Genesis sets a clear precedent for humankind in relation to the rest of creation—the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, livestock and wild animals, every living creature that moves on the ground, and even the earth itself—or does it? The Anthropocene Epoch, the unit of geologic time in which scientists say we currently dwell, dominating other life, can arguably be seen as the tragic effect of such a presumptuous interpretation. Climate chaos and global warming. Habitat loss and animal extinctions. Changes in the chemical composition of the biosphere. These symptoms and so many more of the Anthropocene (which you will learn about more in this edition) are the result of humankind’s recent domination of the Earth.
So, should we scrap that divine mandate altogether as an antiquated Bible verse, teaching ourselves and future generations that the Creation account in Genesis 1 was an origin story for another time and context that have nothing to do with our superior age of modernity? Or could we reexamine that instruction from God to “have dominion” through a less anthropocentric lens in order to cherish and practice it more authentically, honorably, and sustainably? Taking the latter approach, we can appreciate the concept of dominionism in an entirely different way; a better, more wholistic, and even urgently necessary way.
In this spring equinox edition of AllCreation.org, contributors were asked to speak to the question of how they can faithfully be a [insert religious identity] and not be the center of the universe. So, for me, as a Christian, how can I practice the religion I espouse faithfully if I cannot assume that the Earth and everything in it exist for me to dominate? How can we be people of faith and not practice anthropocentric dominion of the Earth? The answers in this collective quarterly offering from AllCreation.org are everything from revelatory and convicting to compelling and hopeful.
On behalf of the management team of AllCreation.org, I invite you to take a deep dive into the interviews, essays, music, poetry, and photos offered by 12 contributors from four different religions and a handful of Christian denominations in this spring equinox 2022 edition. As you engage with each of these contributions, you might find yourself removed from the center of the universe as you understand it and placed on a more equitable, mutual plane of neighborly living with all creation.
With Hope,
Rev. Dr. Dan De Leon, Guest Editor
Table of Contents
Dominionism:
Exploring religious relationships with other life.
1. Nothing But A Word – a poem on the miracle of creation by Rev. Eleanor Colvin, pastor of First United Methodist Church in College Station, TX.
2. Dominionism –an interview exploring Genesis 1:26 with Dr. Norman Wirzba, professor of Christian Theology and Senior Fellow at Duke Divinity School, director of Facing the Anthropocene, and author of several renown books, in Durham, NC.
3. Old Ways to New Worlds – essay and song on the sacredness of Life by Pastor Kiya Heartwood, minister at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Brazos Valley in Bryan, TX.
4. Dominionism – an interview exploring how the Quran regards “dominion” with Imam Islam Mossaad, imam for the North Austin Muslim Community Center in Austin, TX.
5. Some thoughts on Dominionism – an essay on how Deuteronomy 30:19 calls us to change by Lisa Brenskelle, PhD., operational strategist at Chevron and Lutheran environmental leader in Houston, TX.
6. Dominionism – an interview exploring how the Jewish scriptures regard “dominion” with Rabbi Matt Rosenberg, a community rabbi, executive director, and geography professor in Sacramento, CA.
7. What's Love Got to Do with It? – a reminder to include all people in “all creation” by Kelly Wellman, director of sustainability at Texas A&M University in College Station, TX.
8. Liberating Scripture to Liberate the Planet – book excerpt reminding us to cultivate harmonius creation, from Rev. Brooks Berndt, environmental justice minister for the United Church of Christ, USA.
9. Discipleship and Defecatory Justice – a true call to throughtful discipleship from Sarah Nahar, MDiv., PhD. candidate, nonviolent action trainer, and interspiritual theologian in upstate New York.
10. Love Your Neighbor Under Your Feet – a personal story about connections with other life by Toni Klemm, PhD., geographer in Berlin, Germany.
11. Dominionism – an interview exploring how UUs regard “dominion” with Rev. Erin Walter, executive director of the Texas Unitarian Universalist Justice Ministry and musician in Bastrop, TX.
12. Contemplating Dominionism – photo essay about connecting the miracle of Life to God by Ryan Price, a commercial photographer and homesteader in College Station, TX.
Meet Guest Editor Dan De Leon
Rev. Dr. Dan D. De Leon is senior pastor at Friends Church, UCC, in College Station, TX, a newspaper columnist, and a recognized civil rights leader. He helps maintain campus ministries at several colleges and has served the United Church of Christ (UCC) at regional and national levels. He's also a musician, writer, spouse and dad, "madly in love with a world that resembles Jesus' utopian vision."
Cover image by Ryan Price.
See the email release of Dominionism here.
