As we see the results of our lack of understanding of how the earth works, we are made aware that everything is intricately linked with everything else. The actions of one species affects others, and the natural balance of the earth is tilted when humans exploit the land, water, and air. When we adulterate our food supply and use chemicals that are remnants of WW II looking for a new lucrative market, we see that we have been assaulting this beautiful blue bauble in the sky under the misguided idea that we were given dominion over the earth.
That self-serving term has done more damage than any other in harming our planet and our own lives and the lives of animals, forests, and waterways. We pollute with impunity, using the bible as our source of authority. Yet, when one truly investigates the translations done and the authorship of many of the books within the bible, one sees that everything was arbitrarily entered as the undeniable word of God and there were also many mistaken translations in the process. However, as we advance as civilization in our understanding...seeing the results of our hubris in attempting to "tame" the earth, we have to go back and wonder.
Dominion is a word associated with a warring mentality where dominating is part of the hierarchy of authority. This certainly describes the warlike nature of tribes throughout the patriarchal world. Yet, there is another word that truly represents the covenant between human and the earth, and that is stewardship. Stewardship implies an intelligent and responsible use of input to guide things into their natural good. It does not defile. It does not threaten. It does not destroy. It is a pure stewarding of life, knowing that the earth does not belong to us...it belongs to the Creator, and we are merely tenants who are given the right to live and tend all the areas of life in good faith and good stewardship.
To fully understand how this applies, two sites are included. One is from a more religious point of view and the other is from the Greening Earth point of view. Both lead to the same point...we are deeply in need of becoming the care givers to this planet that we are indebted to for life and sustenance. After all, without the gifts of the earth, we would no longer exist, and if we do not truly comprehend how important it is to change our ways in relation to this bountiful and beautiful place, we won't.
http://blog.tifwe.org/four-principles-of-biblical-stewardship/?gclid=CNmVnZSv970CFY17fgodTh0A4Q