The human-induced natural crisis provokes again the question between man and nature. Here, the biblical dogma >Subdue the earth< has marked deeply the nature forgotten life orientations of the modernity. Through a biblical-theological rereading of Genesis 1, this dogma is radically brought into question. In the biblical creation texts, an origin utopian view on the nature can be discovered which coincidences largely with the secular nature ethics and conveys a basic trust in nature as a gift of God. Through a new understanding of the texts in dialogue with the philosophy, the deep misunderstanding of Genesis 1 are revised as submission order and the questionable conception of god and man are enlightened and revised from the ground up.



Prof. em. Dr. Christof Hardmeier teaches Old Testament at the University of Greifswald.

Prof. Dr. Konrad Ott teaches philosophy and ethics of the environment at the University of Kiel.