Christianity

MODULE 5:
CHRISTIANITY

Assess the contribution Hildegard of Bingen on Christianity (6 Marks)
Hildegard of Bingen, 12th century mystic and polymath, significantly contributed to Christianity through her published works such as her Biblical commentary Scivias, which included themes of salvation, redemption, eternal life and the sacraments and her “illuminations” paintings, which were symbolic of ecumenism, ecology, and justice, in turn, challenging some contemporary theological interpretations of the divinity and role of humanity in creation. Both publications portrayed God as a feminine figure which brought the issue of male dominance to the forefront of the Christian tradition. Her paintings made theological understandings of her visions accessible to the illiterate. In her time, she wrote to leaders such as Pope Anastasius “you embrace evil”, and Emperor Barbarossa and preached throughout Germany and France about the abuse of power in the Church, encouraging people to be more faithful to God. She saw creation as a blessing from God “the entire world has been embraced by the Creators kiss”. She helped unite the ‘holy trinity’ of art, science and religion in order to spread Gods word more effectively. In 1979 John Paul 2 referred to her as “a light to her people”, illustrating her far-reaching contribution to Christianity. Today, as her music, visions and love of creation are rediscovered, her impact continues to grow.

Analyse the ethical teachings of Christianity on environmental ethics (6 Marks)
Christian ethical teaching on environmental ethics is drawn principally from a biblical tradition which highlights the fact that God is the creator of all things and that human beings have a responsibility to work in partnership with God to ensure that the fragile environment is nurtured and protected. This rich tradition has been embraced at various times throughout history but it is only in recent decades that a considerable, consistent emphasis has been placed...