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Year 9 - Religious education

Stewardship versus dominion

Changing world: How should the Earth's resources be used?

Unit Summary

In this unit pupils will investigate how worldviews adapt teaching in the light of contemorary concerns. They will examine how Christians and Jews have responded to ideas of dominion with a focus on responsibility for the earth. They will examine attitudes to animals and Islamic ideas of reason.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explain how Judeo-Christian beliefs about stewardship and dominion influence some human attitudes toward the environment.

Key Notes

  • Philosophy helps us explore big questions about how we treat the world, using reason and logical thinking.
  • Dominion is a belief that humans were given power by God to rule over the Earth.
  • Stewardship teaches that humans have a responsibility to care for the world God created and protect it.
  • Mary Midgley argued that anthropocentrism contributes to environmental destruction.
  • Instead, she believed humans should see themselves as part of nature, not above it.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • stewardship: looking after the world on behalf of God
  • dominion: having God-given power or control over the Earth's resources
  • anthropocentric: seeing humans as central and the most important part of the universe
  • Judeo-Christian: beliefs shared by Judaism and Christianity

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Students might think that there is only one interpretation of Genesis passages linked to creation.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain the lesson in two key points.

Philosophy helps us explore big questions about how we treat the world, using reason and logical thinking. Dominion is a belief that humans were given power by God to rule over the Earth.

2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'stewardship'

looking after the world on behalf of God.

3. Correct this common mistake.

Mistake: Students might think that there is only one interpretation of Genesis passages linked to creation. Correction: Genesis passages can be interpreted to argue for either dominion or stewardship. Most Christians in the UK today take a stewardship interpretation.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 9 Religious education guide library.