Responses to Heather and Stephen

Heather

Urban form theory and procedural planning theory are applicable to the subject of urban planning in the US, and the biblical perspective you provide is also appropriate: as you point out, Psalms 69:35 states, For God will save Zion and build cities of Judah, that they may dwell there and possess it. This shows that God wants His people to care for the creation that he made and to value its beauty and order. This, therefore, is something to be considered by urban planners. Urban form theory and procedural planning align well with this perspective.

I would say, however, that procedural planning is more about inclusivity than it is about how the built environment impacts lives (Calderon, 2020). Still, together they help to show a comprehensive approach to bringing Gods word to the built environment. Urban form theory is an approach that focuses on the physical form of the built environment and how it shapes human behavior and social interactions. This theory is aligned with the biblical perspective in that it recognizes that the built environment has a...

Procedural planning theory, on the other hand,...…the biblical perspective emphasizes the importance of individuals and communities taking responsibility for their own well-being, rather than relying on the government or other external forces to solve their problems. Utopian models, however, rely heavily on government planning and control to create the perfect society.

The biblical perspective recognizes the importance of human agency and free will. Utopian models, on the other hand, often involve a high degree of control and manipulation of individuals and communities in order to achieve the desired outcome.

Ultimately, the utopian model in urban development assumes that human nature is perfectible and that societal problems can be eliminated through the design of the built environment (Sijmons, 2020).

References

Sijmons,…