bengreenfieldfitness.com/shadeofgreen Let's face it: Christians don't seem to be very good environmentalists. We have been shockingly bad at using our Bibles and our brains when it comes to conservation and the environment. Unhinged environmentalism is not the answer, but neither are ignorance and apathy. It's time for something different, and my guest on today's podcast - Dr. Gordon Wilson - feels that Christian responsibility for the natural world goes back to the very beginning, when God commanded us to "fill the earth and subdue it." This so-called "Dominion Mandate" is an authoritative alternative to both environmental activists and to those who think "conservation" is a word progressives made up. So what does "dominion" mean for us, living in a world of constant reports about impending global meltdown; of oils spills, pollution, and strip-mining; of extinction threats both real and imagined? Gordon and his new book A Different Shade of Green: A Biblical Approach to Environmentalism and the Dominion Mandate contains a compelling Christian approach to biodiversity, conservation and other environmental issues, offering solutions and correcting errors while teaching us how to give thanks for and rule over all of creation. Dr. Wilson is currently a Senior Fellow of Natural History at New Saint Andrews College in Moscow, Idaho. Before coming to NSA he was a faculty member at Liberty University from 1991 2003.  He has also taught on a part-time basis at the University of Idaho and Lynchburg College. Gordon received his Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Public Policy from George Mason University in 2003, and also earned his M.S. in Entomology (1989) and B.S. in Education/Biology (1984) at the University of Idaho. He has published his dissertation research on the reproductive ecology of the Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene Carolina Carolina) in Southeastern Naturalist and The Herpetological Bulletin. He regularly writes popular natural history articles for Answers Magazine and has recently published a biology textbook called The Riot and the Dance: Earth. He is also the narrator of a two part nature documentary series called by the same name. During this discussion, you'll discover: Opening remarks from Ben -How we've lost our perception of the intelligence of plants...10:00 The Lost Language of Plants by Stephen Buhner Christianity began process of removing sacred intelligence of all life after the fall of the Roman Empire "Dominion mandate" Nature is created by God for people; views creation as a mere resource rather than part of the creation Protestantism reduced sacredness to only Jesus Eastern Orthodox Christianity Movement within Christianity to renew an understanding of the sacred elements of the planet Human inventions has limitations: design flaws, human biases, etc. Reductionism: we examine systems by taking them apart This is not sufficient to fully understand the planet -Biophilia, and perceiving all of nature with the emotional bond we have with family and pets...14:30 The Lost Language of Plants by Stephen Buhner Loss of biophilia aggravated by: Not growing up in nature leads to a lack of appreciation for it The idea that Earth and nature is not "alive" Public school curriculum by and large have this loss of biophilia Earth in Mind by David Orr Television has deleteriously affected imagination, creativity, storytelling, dreaming Television is to dreaming what junk food is to real food We've lost our connection to the sacredness of the universe with the advent of modern media and technology Two barriers to our understanding of our environment: Indoor television (video games to a lesser extent) Reductionistic scientism in a public school scenario Indigenous peoples will say their understanding of plants and plant medicine came from the plants themselves Ayahuasca supposedly revealed to people by the plants themselves Christians and scientists should spend more time in nature and perceive the sacred intelligence