Wizja przyrody w pismach Lutra i Kalwina i jej wkład w chrześcijańską ekologię

Abstract

Both Luther and Calvin were mainly interested in the works of Christ and all aspects of His life and death. In the context of Christ, they were also asking about the man and his salvation and place in the world. In this way they were giving superiority to man over things and to God over creation. Both Luther and Calvin were reminding untiringly, that special value of creation is revealed fully in its relation to the Creator. In Him the nature finds fully the roots and the goal of life. Beautiful in itself, it will become even more beautiful at the end of time, when it will reveal in its fullness the greatness of God’s plans in relation to the man and in relation to the nature. Therefore, man cannot treat the nature in an utilitarian way using it egotistically for purely earthly goals. The theocentrism of the man does not exclude the nature, with which he is tightly connected. Being the work of God’s omnipotence, nature is already rejoicing in His beauty, harmony and complementing its diversity. The fullness of this beauty will be reached at the end of times, when God will become „all for everyone” The nature is the environment of man’s life, but this is not the only place to seek out its uniqueness. Its dignity is hidden in itself, its origin to God and love, in which God created it and sustains in existence. Calvin encouraged therefore, to not pass-by the beauty of creation, but to stop and admire its richness. His words have invariable value: „When we contemplate in the whole creation, as in a mirror, all the treasures of His wisdom, justice, goodness and might” – he wrote – ,,we shouldn’t run through them, as we would say, with a mere glance, but we should linger over them, and reflect seriously and faithfully, and constantly remember them”