La Virgen María, un sí inteligente y reflexivo

APPENDIX 1

Focus Group Themes and Categories with Explanations Appendix 1 consists of explanations for each focus group theme that details what information in the focus groups led me to develop each theme and to keep my thinking consistent as I developed survey questions.

Number Theme Categories Explanation 1. Thoughts Regarding

Science

1) Misunderstanding Scientific Claims. 2) Distrust in Science

Throughout each focus group, I heard various participants express their distrust in scientific findings and their reluctance to believe in anything that was not presented as “factual.” This was at times coupled with the explanation that the Bible is truth or fact because it is the word of God and can be universally accepted. Whereas, science should be approached with caution.

2. God’s Sovereignty as a safety net.

1) Careless about

environmental concerns because of God’s absolute authority and sovereignty

2) A belief that there are principles that God has commanded we follow that contradict measures that could help the environment

Throughout each focus group, the belief in God’s sovereignty and absolute control over all things was expressed as a rational for ignoring

environmental issues or at least a framework for categorizing many environmental concerns as something Christians do not have to be concerned about.

3. Dominion Perspective 1) Supremacy of Man over Nature

2) Being made in God’s image pointing to supremacy of man and his desires.

At times, views were expressed that pointed towards a belief that God placed the earth’s resources on earth for the use by man and for the advancement of mankind. Therefore, as long as we use these resources to further man’s agenda, the use is without sin.

4. Imminent Biblical end to the earth.

1) Revelation/ eventual destruction Sentiment as a way to rationalize misuse of the environment 2) Belief that eventual

destruction- such as that discussed in Revelation- is imminent and there is nothing man can do about it.

The opinion was expressed, quite universally, that since there will eventually be a second coming of Christ and a “New Creation” after our current earth is destroyed, the movement of the earth closer to this point of destruction is part of God’s plan. Therefore, man does not have the ability or the responsibility to advocate or attempt to mitigate

environmental degradations.

5. Frustrations 1) Express sentiment that the issue of

Environmentalism is so complex and out of our control that real answers to these problems do not exist.

Often times many answers to questions poised in the focus groups were answered with the questions “I don’t know,” “how can we know,” “this is the way we are moving, what do we do,” etc. These occurrences

displayed frustrations regarding our ability to change the earth’s current path or even Christian’s ways of thinking about our role in the overall environment.

6. Politics 1) Reluctance to become involved in

Environmental issues due to the political nature of the issue.

2) Frustrations concerning the political nature of this issue.

The fact that this issue has become so contentious in the political sphere was often expressed to be a reason for Christians to approach environmental issues with caution, especially when it involves the public sphere.

7. Creation Care 1) Participants had initial thoughts about what Creation Care and Stewardship meant.

Several focus group participants help similar opinions regarding what exactly stewardship or “being a good steward” means.

8. Evangelization 1) The extent to which participants see a relationship between evangelizing the lost and caring for the

environment.

Participants were in some cases able to link evangelizing the lost and caring for the environment.

APPENDIX 2

Focus Group Representation Matrix

Appendix 1 is a matrix that details to what extent each category was represented in each of the three focus groups.

Code Theme Category Focus Group 1 Focus Group 2

Focus Group 3 T1C1 Thoughts Regarding Science 1) Misunderstanding

Scientific Claims. Strongly

Represented Represented Represented

T1C2 Thoughts Regarding Science 1) Distrust in Science Strongly Represented Strongly Represented Represented T2C1 God’s Sovereignty as a safety net. 1) Careless about environmental concerns because of God’s absolute authority and sovereignty Strongly Represented Strongly Represented Represented T2C2 God’s Sovereignty as a safety net.

1) A belief that there are principles that God has commanded we follow that contradict measures that could help the environment

Represented Represented Not Represented

T3C1 Dominion

Perspective

1) Supremacy of

Man over Nature _Represented Strongly _Represented Strongly _Represented Not

T3C2 Dominion

Perspective

Being made in God’s image pointing to supremacy of man and his desires Strongly Represented Strongly Represented Not represented T3C3 Dominion Perspective

Strong Opinions about Biblical Meaning of Dominion in Genesis l Not Represented Not Represented Strongly Represented T4C1 Imminent Biblical end to the earth. 1) Revelation/ eventual destruction Sentiment as a way to rationalize misuse of the environment Not Represented Represented Not Represented

T4C2 Imminent

Biblical end to the earth.

1) Belief that eventual destruction- such as that discussed in Revelation- is imminent and there is nothing man can do about it. Not Represented Strongly Represented Not Represented

T5C1 Frustrations 1) Express sentiment that the issue of Environmentalism is so complex and out of our control that real answers to these problems do not exist.

Strongly Represented Represented Not Represented T6C1 Politics 1) Reluctance to become involved in Environmental issues due to the political nature of the issue.

Represented Represented Represented

T6C2 Politics 1) Frustrations concerning the political nature of this

issue. Represented

Not Represented

Not Represented

T7C1 Creation Care Participants had initial thoughts about what Creation Care and Stewardship meant. Strongly Represented Strongly Represented Strongly Represented

T8C1 Evangelization The extent to which participants see a relationship between evangelizing the lost and caring for the environment

Represented Strongly Represented

Strongly Represented

APPENDIX 3