DARI PARADIGMA “MEMANFAATKAN” KE “MERANGKUL” ALAM

Abstract

The recent issue of ecological disasters has been widely discussed inevery corner of the world. Nobody who knows how huge is the devastation of nature could turn away from being mindful of the crisis. This emense problem has also been linked to religion. With regards to christianity, at least since the medio of 1960s, to use the publication of the famous article written by LynnWhite, Jr. as a signpost, people has been made aware that anthropocentrism that dominates Christian teachings about nature could be the source for the negligence towards non-human beings. As White has argued, unless the anthropocentric paradigm is changed to the one that makes people see non human beings as important as human beings, it is impossible to expect the destruction of nature by human beings will be put to an end. This article is a response towards the calling for a paradigm change. But, before offering a suggestion for a new way of looking Christian teachings, particularly theway the Bible should be read, this writting will discuss some concepts which correspond to the main issue. The heat issue here is whether sacralization of nature which held strongly by the ancestors should be brought back into current realization. In other words, whether christianity should learn from indigenous believes for a wisdom which may save the nature.