Dominion Over Wildlife
Dr. Stephen Vantassel, University of Nebraska at Lincoln-Internet Center For Wildlife Damage Management
This Thursday, author, friend and fellow Nuisance wildlife control operator, Stephen Vantassel, the and Webmaster for The Internet Center Wildlife Damage Management Center http://icwdm.org will be joining us for an evening discussing his new book he wrote.
All are invited to join in this Thursday evening, Time: 04/09/2009 08:00 PM EDT. You can either call in 1-724-444-7444 call id 16456# or listen in to the program live at http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/16456.
Dominion Over Wildlife?
Interested in what the bible shares about our dominion over animals and wildlife?
An Environmental-Theology of Human-Wildlife Relations is available from Wipf and Stock publishers.
http://wipfandstock.com/store/Dominion_over_Wildlife_An_Environmental_Theology_of_HumanWildlife_Relations
Book Description:
For centuries Christians believed that God granted humanity dominion over the animal kingdom, meaning that we had a moral right to kill, manage, and eat animals including wildlife. Recently, however, environmental and animal rights activists have assaulted this traditional perspective. They argue that dominion as expressed in meat eating and hunting has resulted in species extinction and environmental degradation. Christian Animal Rights (CAR) activists suggest that the church must reevaluate its traditional beliefs in light of the fact that God’s original creation was free of human on animal violence. God, they argue, did not want man’s dominion to be expressed through trapping, killing, and eating of animals. These violent activities only came about after the Fall, as God condescended to our hardness of heart. CAR activists point to Christ’s sacrificial work of reconciliation as a model for modern Christian behavior: as Christ sacrificed for us, we should avoid eating meat and hunting as ways we can participate in Christ’s non-violent work of reconciling creation to himself. In this book, Stephen Vantassel investigates the biblical, ethical, and scientific arguments employed by the CAR movement concerning human-wildlife relations. In this regard, the book engages in practical theology by addressing several important questions: How should Christians treat our wildlife neighbors? Has the Church been wrong in its understanding of human dominion? Does God want Christians to avoid hunting, trapping, fishing, and adopt a vegetarian lifestyle? This book provides answers to these questions by detailing a theology the author calls, “Shepherdism.”
THEOLOGICAL CURRICULUM VITAE
I. ACADEMIC TRAINING:
2008. Ph.D. Theology (with Distinction). Trinity Theological Seminary. Newburgh, IN.
1987-1989. M.A.T.S. Old Testament. Summa Cum Laude. Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. So. Hamilton, MA.
1983-1987. B.A. in Biblical Studies and Philosophy. Summa Cum Laude and Pike Honors Scholar. Gordon College. Wenham, MA.
II. ACADEMIC AWARDS & SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS:
Hebrew Award: Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, 1989
Biblical Studies Award: Gordon College, 1987
Phi Alpha Chi “Lovers of the Truth of Christ”, Inducted 1987.
III. TEACHING AND RESEARCH EXPERIENCE:
A. CHURCH:
Bethlehem Baptist Church, Hampden, MA 413-566-5572
Preached numerous times and taught various adult Bible Study classes.
B. ACADEMIC:
Adjunct Faculty at Trinity College & Seminary. Newburgh, IN. June, 2002-Present
Special Education Teacher Chapin Alternative Program, Chicopee Public Schools 2003-2004.
Massachusetts Certified High School Teacher. 2000.
Taught Language Arts and Math.
Tutored students of all ages.
Assisted academically challenged high school students.
Lead Teacher for At-Risk Teens at Children’s Study Home which was subcontracted by
the Springfield Public School System. Jan, 2001-2003.
Taught Exploring Biblical Literature at Holyoke Community College, 2000.
Visiting Professor at Midlands Bible Institute, Wolverhampton, England. Nov. 1993; Feb. 2003
Temporary Faculty for Berkshire Inst. for Christian Studies Dec. 1990 and Sept. 1991.
Faculty for Zion Bible Institute in R.I. Fall, 1989. Courses taught: N.T. Survey,
Pentateuch and Theology II.
IV. MINISTERIAL AND CROSS CULTURAL EXPERIENCE:
Elder and Chairman of the Board, for Bethlehem Baptist Church 2004
Deacon for Bethlehem Baptist Church Mar. 2000-Sept. 2003.
Minister of Pastoral Care at Christian Life Center Feb. 1992- Feb. 1994.
Student Chaplain: South Shore Hospital 55 Fogg Rd. S. Weymouth, MA 02190. Rev.
Rosemary MacKay. Supv. Fall, 1991.
Medical Officer for Project Amigo’s Trip to Costa Rica, 1987.
Institute for Holy Land Studies in Jerusalem. June, 1986.
Nursing Home Ministry. Blueberry Hill Nursing Home. Beverly, MA 1986-7.
V. PRESENTATIONS AND CONFERENCES:
Panelist in Evolution vs. Creation Debate at Wilbraham United Church, Wilbraham, MA Jan 25, 2004. 7-9 P.M.
Panelist in Ethics of Hunting: A Debate at St. Joseph College in West Hartford, Connecticut on February 29, 2000.
Leader of Evangelical delegation to the Seminarians Interacting plenary meeting “Religious Perspectives on Plenty and
Responsibility.” Stony Point, NY. April 2-5, 1989.
Participation in Holy Cross-G.C.T.S. Dialogue. Sponsored by the National Conference of Christians and Jews. Oct. 11-13, 1988.
“Role of Women in the Church” at the National Conference of Christians and Jews. Stony Point, N.Y. March 6-8, 1988.
VI. PUBLICATIONS:
“A Biblical Assessment of Andrew Linzey’s View of Animal Rights” Emmaus Journal 12(2003): 177-195
“EMS Stress Training Concept ‘Kobayashi Maru’ Scenarios” Domain Spring, 2003.
“Ministering to Preacher’s Kids” Discipleship Journal July,/August, 1995.
“Celibacy: The Forgotten Gift of the Holy Spirit” The Journal of Biblical Counseling. Spring, 1994.
“The Benefits of Philosophical Studies in Christian Education.” Educator. April 1991.
“An Overview of Vander Goot’s Hermeneutics.” Church Divinity. Sept. 1988.
Asst. Editor and Contributor to the Spectrum. G.C.T.S. 1988-89.
Book Reviews for Paraclete; Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society. March 2003; Emmaus Journal Dec, 2003.
C.S. Lewis’ Dangerous Idea: Review Emmaus Journal Vol 12:2 pp. 320-321.
VII. OTHER LIFE EXPERIENCES:
Webmaster of www.wildlifedamagecontrol.com 1998-2004.
Emergency Medical Technician, licensed in Massachusetts.
Assistant Editor for Wildlife Control Technology Magazine 1999-2001.
Founder of Wildlife Removal Service Inc. 1994-98.
Former NWCO Correspondent for the National Animal Damage Controllers Assoc.
Hospital Orderly, Johnson Memorial Hospital. Stafford Springs, CT. 1990-1991.
Previous Podcasts with Stephen Vantassel
Stephen Vantassel’s Perspective On Anti Animal Rights
NWCO Chimney Concerns & Trapping
Related Posts
No related posts.
