Man and the Environment

The quest for a harmonious relationship between humanity and the environment quickens as ecological problems increase. In response to the various solutions offered by scientists, Anestis G. Keselopoulos proposes a theological solution, first put forward by the Byzantine mystic St Symeon, The New Theologian. St Symeon's perception of the human being relative to the universe provides a gauge for use of scientific data. St Symeon expounds on the misuse of material goods, social inequality due to privatising what belongs to the community and waste due to excessive wealth; he also bemoans the rape of the earth. Claiming that the duty of the human being is to elevate creation to a state of beauty consistent with that of the Creator, St Symeon charges humanity with the task of perceiving the "Word of God" within creation and bringing it to fruition.