Lewis McClary -

Discussion questions for Feb. 9, Genesis 1-3 and Jeanne Kay, "Concepts of Nature in the Hebrew Bible," pp. 86-104 in Yaffe.

1. Kay describes the despot/stewardship debate as it applies to ecology minded scholars from the “Judeo-Christian” traditions. Briefly describe this debate, state the strengths and weakness for each side (86-88).
   1. Is there a “Judeo-Christian” tradition as regards ecology? Do you think that “Judeo-Christian” concepts may have hindered the ecological movement in the past? Are these concepts affecting how modern Americans see the ecological movement today?
   2. Do you agree that the rest of books in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), i.e., more than the handful of commonly quoted texts, should be examined to discover and identify biblical belief (87-88)?
   3. What about Kay’s methods, i.e., she says she will take a
      synchronic literary approach and a “geosophical” approach (88). Describe these two methods, explain why Kay adopts them, and how this affects her results.
   4. Kay criticizes both approaches (despot/stewardship) as they are mostly based on English translations, and especially Kay criticizes the King James Bible for inaccuracies (87-88). Kay also criticizes the ethnocentric approach apparently adopted by some scholars in making their argument. How important do you think these observations are to Kay’s argument? Does the fact that the Bible has been published in English for 400 years now, is and has been taken by the general English-speaking populace to be what the Bible says? Doesn’t Kay’s approach mean that we reject significant English passages this would amount to re-educating the masses on their religious views? Do we now have to teach people what the Bible really says about ecology?
2. What is Kay’s new approach to studying the Hebrew Bible as it relates to ecological questions?
   1. Why does Kay prefer “the model of nature as God’s instrument of divine reward and retribution” to either the despot or stewardship models (88).
   2. What do the Hebrew words “nefesh” and “ruach” mean (89)? How does man claim superiority over the animals from a biblical context?
   3. What does Kay say about man’s biblical right to dominate nature (90-94)?
   4. What does Kay say about the Bible and Human arrogance towards nature (94-96)?
   5. What does Kay say about nature being punished for human transgressions in her section on “The moral landscape of the Bible” (96-97)?
   6. What does Kay say about nature-worship as it is described in the Bible? About the location of Worship (97-99)?
   7. Why does Kay focus on Judaism’s focus on life and choosing life (99-101)?
   8. What are Kay’s final conclusions (101-102)?
   9. What do you think of Kay’s reinterpretation of Genesis? How would you evaluate it?
3. How useful is Kay’s approach in her essay in motivating the “Judeo-Christian” elements in our society towards ecological concepts and ideals?
   1. Is re-educating the “Judeo-Christian” elements in our society worth the effort?
   2. How would we teach Jews and Christians what the Bible really says, supposing that Kay is totally accurate with her argument?
   3. If Jews and Christian did accept these religious ideas and concepts endorsed in Kay’s essay, how much would this motivate them to embrace and be active in ecological activities?
   4. Can you think of any other questions, observations or issues about Kay’s essay that should be discussed?