A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF CURRENT AMERICAN AGRICULTURAL STRUCTURE IN LIGHT OF THE CHRISTIAN ETHICAL PRINCIPLES OF JUSTICE AND STEWARDSHIP

This dissertation attempted to examine the current structure of American agriculture in light of the Bible's teachings on justice and stewardship. A related goal sought to define the ideal of American agricultural structure if it were consistent with the ethical principles of justice and stewardship.;Various recent government studies and private reports were examined to determine current American agriculture structure and its causes. Chapter two primarily focused on how government economic, credit, tax, and commodity programs have shaped the current structure of American agriculture.;Since all persons eat and are therefore involved in, and have a stake in agriculture, an attempt was made to detail the effects of current American agricultural structure. Chapter three surveyed the impact of the structure on the American economy and on American society. It further examined the current structure's impact on the environment--soil and water resources, and on ultimate food security.;The fourth chapter contained examples of the Bible's teachings on creation, covenant, justice, and stewardship. The Bible teaches that God is the creator and owner of the earth and that Christians live in a covenant relationship with God which calls for the earth to be structured in a manner that leads to economic justice and the proper stewardship of the earth's natural resources. The chapter concludes by listing Scriptural principles or "middle axioms" which should guide the Christian's relationship with the earth.;The first step was to examine historically the role of agriculture in American economic, political, and social thought. The thought of Thomas Jefferson and the founding fathers of America was introduced in Chapter one which further examined various agricultural movements throughout American history and the role of religious thought in attempting to shape American agricultural structure. The difference between "intensive" and "sustainable" agriculture was explained.;The final chapter critiqued current American agriculture structure which revealed that the current structure is producing an unjust society and poor stewardship of the earth. It detailed the biblical ideal for American agriculture based on scriptural principles. It concluded with practical suggestions for Christian social concern to bring about a just American agricultural structure that would encourage ethical stewardship of the earth's resources. (Abstract shortened with permission of author.).