Nature And Technology In The World Religions (a Discourse Of The World Religions)

Technology and the control of nature have arisen from the endeavor to reduce the neediness of human life. Since this reduction is also the goal of religions, there is a necessary proximity between religion and technology. The relationship of humans to nature and technology is an object of religious doctrine and ethics in all of the world's religions. The interpretations and the norms of the treatment of nature in economy and technology, but also the veneration of nature in nature-mysticism and its elevation in cult and sacrament, are forms of expression of the relationship to nature in religions. The development of the modern control of nature through technology appears to be connected to the biblical commission to rule over nature. Buddhism and Hinduism, however, also interpret technology and human control of nature. Technological power raises the question of how the normativeness of the created order intended by religion's concept of creation relates to the human freedom to reshape creation. What answers do religions give to the question of the humane form of technology and the limits to technological power and human control of nature? Leading scholars of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism have created with this volume a first-hand source of information which enables the reader to gain a better understanding of these five world religions and their teachings on nature and technology. Front Matter....Pages i-x Nature and Technology in the Religions....Pages 1-17 Humankind’s Relationship with Nature and Participation in the Process of Creation Through Technology in the View of Judaism....Pages 18-28 The World as Creation and Creation as a Cosmotheandric Reality in Christianity....Pages 29-46 Humankind’s Relationship with Nature and Participation in the Process of Creation by Technology from an Islamic Point of View....Pages 47-58 Discussion of the Relationship to Nature and Technology in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam....Pages 59-63 The Process of the Deification of the Human Person and Technology in Eastern-Orthodox Christianity....Pages 64-80 Discussion of the Deification of the Human Person and the Role of Technology in Eastern-Orthodox Christianity....Pages 81-82 Naturalism and Humanism in Creation and Construction in Hinduism....Pages 83-98 Veneration of Nature, Use of Nature, and Self-Improvement of Humankind by Technology in the Śramaṇa Tradition (Buddhism and Jainism)....Pages 99-120 Discussion of the Relationship to Nature and Technology in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism....Pages 121-124 An Attempt to Synthesise from a Hindu Perspective the Received View of Creation, the Relationship between Humans and Nature, and the Role of Technology....Pages 125-137 Concluding Discussion of the Relationship to Nature and the Interpretation of Technology in the World Religions....Pages 138-139 Conversation between the Representatives of the World Religions after the Conclusion of the Public Discourse....Pages 140-145 Back Matter....Pages 146-155

Leading scholars of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism have created with this volume a first-hand source of information which enables the reader to gain a better understanding of these five world religions and their teachings on nature and technology.