Imaging God: Dominion as Stewardship

by Douglas John Hall

The deterioration of our natural environment under the impact of a rampant technological society is one of the major crises of our time. For many analysts, a primary cause of this crisis is the influence on Western culture of the Judaeo-Christian concept of the human being as having dominion over the rest of creation. In this book, Douglas John Hall does not attempt to exonerate historical Christianity from that charge. But, he argues, confession alone is not enough. The crisis of nature forces us to rethink our whole understanding of the relation between humanity and nature - an understanding that is based on the concept that human beings are created in the image of God ('imago Dei'). Hall carefully examines the biblical, historical, and theological meanings of this term, which, more than any other biblical expression, became Christianity's symbolic way of designating the essence of the human. Hall argues that the image of God is not an endowment - it is not something that human beings have; rather, it is a quality that pertains to our relationship with God. We should think of 'imago' as a verb, not a noun, he says. The human vocation within the created order is to image the Creator. When this is applied in a consistent and serious way, the idea of human dominion over all of nature must be radically reinterpreted. Taking the Lordship of Jesus as an authentic model for understanding our human relation to the natural order means that dominion is expressed not as mastery but as service - sacrificial service of the others with and for whom one is responsible. Thus the concept of dominion as stewardship eschews any idea of ownership or superiority in relation to nature, yet assumes a special accountability for its welfare. A provocative and original work, Hall's book retains the biblical centrality of 'homo sapiens' while at the same time raising both nature and God to a new kind of prominence in the dialogue that is life.

248 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Douglas John Hall was an Canadian emeritus professor of theology at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, and a minister of the United Church of Canada. Prior to joining the McGill Faculty of Religious Studies in 1975 he was MacDougald Professor of Systematic Theology at St Andrew's College in the University of Saskatchewan (1965–1975), Principal of St Paul's College in the University of Waterloo (1962–1965), and minister of St Andrew's Church in Blind River, Ontario (1960–1962).

Reviews

[Allison Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely an interesting take on our relationship with the rest of creation being a (or maybe according to the author) the primary way of bearing our Creator's image. I can't say that I agree with all of his claims but I can get to some of his conclusions on our responsibility to steward creation well. And maybe, just maybe, this means giving up things that we would rather not, for the sake of creatures who were made with value by the same God who made us. It's definitely worth thinking about and thus reading.

[Anna Wolfová · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting take on environmental theology. Some chapters are filled with complicated theological concepts while others are quite repetitive and not that all that innovative. But overall, I really liked the point of view this book offers. It was very refreshing to see someone who is a part of the Church reflect not only the environmental crisis, but also feminist critique and animal rights in the context of the Christian practice, as it doesn't always seem to be in accordance with the Biblical thought.