Wendell Berry's 'Christianity And The Survival Of Creation'

1-Wendell Berry, “Christianity and the Survival of Creation,” pages 299-310; Q 1-9

1. Reread the address by Berry, marking his major points by marginal notations.

• The problem of Christians destroying nature

• Humans do not own the world

• God’s made the world good, and for His pleasure

• A holy life is not compatible with a life that wastes nature

• Christian’s put too much emphasis on the church building containing God’s presence

• Be denying the importance of nature God’s creation Christians are participating in a form of blasphemy

• The problem of dualism of body and soul

• Crediting God with creation a Christian must pay attention to importance of economic life

• Every art is to be seen as a services to creatures and God

• Modern Christianity

Berry also states how “Work connects us both to Creation and to eternity” (Berry 305). He finds that a Christian’s work not only reflects their feelings of the Creator, but also brings them closer to the creation.

Dorothy L. Sayers defines a Christian’s work as a “...natural exercise and function of man- the creature who is made in the image of his Creator” (Sayers 194). Sayers summarizes her view on work by saying, “...it is the duty of the Church to see to it that the work serves God, and that the worker serves the work” (Sayers 198). Sayers finds the duty of work to rest not only with the Christian, but also with the church.

8. a. What points does Berry make in part V of his address that provide insight into the subject of Christian aesthetics?

Berry points out that art comes does not birth something new rather “...it begins in other arts, in attitudes and ideas antecedent to any art, in nature, and in inspiration” (Berry 305). He also discusses how art should be used to bring glory to God.

b. How does Berry relate the two subjects of ecology and aesthetics?

Berry explains how art honors nature by depicting it and using it as a starting