Environmental crisis and its causes

Ashford 3: – Week 2 – Discussion 1

Your initial discussion thread is due on Day 3 (Thursday) and you have until Day 7 (Monday) to respond to your classmates. Your grade will reflect both the quality of your initial post and the depth of your responses.
 

Environmental   Crisis and Its Causes

 Do you agree that we face an environmental crisis? If not, reread Gottlieb’s description of “eight areas of acute concern” on p. 6-9 of This Sacred Earth: Religion, Nature, Environment and explain why you do not believe these areas constitute a crisis. If, on the other hand, you agree that there is a crisis, explain what philosophical/religious ideas, in your opinion, have led to this crisis. We read at least four theories: Western civilization (see the article by White), Christianity (see Peterson), Patriarchy (see Ruether), and the Enlightenment (see Weiming).  Which of the problematic ideas, if any, do you believe is the most fundamental root of the problem?  Why? Defend your claims by citing specific passages in the assigned texts.
 

Review your classmates’ posts. As you examine the topics that your classmates present, try to add to their arguments or point out things that they may have overlooked. If they present an explanation of the root causes that differs from your own, attempt to critique their view or harmonize your own view with their view. Utilize the articles from the readings in Week Two to make your arguments stronger and to supplement the claims that you make. Remember that all opinions should be backed with as much logical reasoning and factual evidence as one can gather.
 

Attend discussion on at least four separate days, and post a total of 800 words. There is no required word count for individual posts as long as all your posts together total 800 words. Nor is there a minimum number of posts, but you must post on at least four separate days by Day 7.
 

Carefully review the Grading Rubric for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your discussion.