The perspectives on creation may vary to a certain extent based on one’s philosophy, set of personal values, and other important contributors to shaping the perception of the subject matter. Personally, I used to take the idea of creating mostly for granted, sparing very little time to contemplate the role that other living beings perform in the universe. Therefore, the Biblical idea of all creations originating from the same Divine source, while unambiguously obvious, never occurred to me as a great revelation.
It was only upon reading Clough’s book and challenging my own perspective on what value other living creatures hold for me that I realized how crucial it was to appreciate every form of life. Therefore, there has been a massive change in my understanding of the significance of animals and plants, as well as any other forms of life inhabiting the Earth. Particularly, what used to be considered an insignificant part of my life and culture became a crucial point of concern and the focus of my further spiritual development.
In retrospect, the opinions that I used to hold before familiarizing myself with the philosophical and theological perspective offered by Clough stemmed partially from the sociocultural environment in which I was raised. The current trend of consumerism that penetrates every aspect of people’s lives has defined a substantial portion of people’s belief systems, thus affecting their spirituality and outlook on other living beings. For the most part, the propensity toward consumerism has defined people’s attitudes toward living beings ranging from indifferent to exploitative. Therefore, a change is needed in the perception of life as a concept, as well as the extent to which people cherish it.
As a result, I discovered the connection between Christian philosophy and sustainability. Apart from recognizing the value of human life, the significance of the existence of other living things also must be accepted and woven into the tapestry of people’s lives. Although the transience of life remains an undeniable part of the reality created by God, the inherent significance of every form of life as the manifestation of His existence and essence imbues these lives with tremendous and unbounded meaning. While I used to overlook the specified ideas, they have gained tremendous poignancy and importance for me after considering Clough’s ideas and reasoning. Overall, reading the book was another major step in my spiritual development, encouraging me to accept sustainable views on nature and its resources, as well as my perception of animals as the creations of God.