Is Environmentalism a Religious Issue?

Is Environmentalism a Religious Issue?

Recently I had a revelation when watching a documentary about how various religions are becoming more environmentally minded. Surely if all the religious leaders of the world began to preach about the responsibility of people to care for the Earth, there would be huge positive implications for the environmental movement.

Many Americans have never thought about how religion relates to environmentalism. Have you? Well it does – in a big way! And in fact many of the arguments for and against the protection of nature and biodiversity stem from religious teachings.

As a result of my recent revelation I jumped at the chance to take a course this semester at the Nicholas School about Spirituality and Ecology. Through the class we’ve been introduced to a Communications Handbook entitled Ethics for a Small Planet produced by The Biodiversity Project. In it, world religions are grouped into three broad categories based on their thoughts about biodiversity and the natural world. This is an extremely simplistic version of religious-environmental views, but interesting none the less. They are:

• Earth-based, Animistic, and Pantheistic Religions: humans relationship with nature is one of kinship as opposed to management or oversight and it is based on harmony with nature across generations
• Asian and Eastern Religions: humans living in harmony with nature and showing respect for all living beings has great significance
• Monotheistic Religions: humans have the responsibility of being stewards of the Earth, but they may also be viewed as dominators of the Earth

No matter if you practice Christianity or Buddhism, Zoroastrianism or Shinto, are atheist or agnostic, your religious, cultural and/or spiritual beliefs have influenced the way you treat nature. The Bible, other sacred texts, and oral spiritual traditions passed down over generations make thousands of references to the environment. The interpretation of these texts and words continuously shape views about human being’s relationship with the Earth and other living creatures. While some religious views put humans on a pedestal giving them the right to exploit the Earth’s resources, other views see humans as caretakers of a sacred Earth and on an equal level with all living things.

One interesting attempt by the Sierra Club, the USA Human Society and the National Council of Churches to get the word out about the relationship between environmentalism and the environment is The Green Bible. This "new" version of the Bible highlights over 1,000 references to the Earth using green text. Their hope is that The Green Bible will "equip and encourage people to see God's vision for creation and help them engage in the work of healing and sustaining it.”

I can’t hope that green words alone will inspire people to action. I can hope, however, that environmentalists and religious leaders alike will help to open up a wider dialogue about how environmentalism is a religious issue – and hopefully that will open a subsequent dialogue about the role that religious and spiritual people inherently have in dealing with environmental issues.

So the next time you pray, or go to the synagogue, or find yourself in a spiritual moment, stop and take some time to think about how your religious or spiritual views have shaped your environmental ethic. You may be surprised at what you find!

photo from: www.jerryrussell.com/pages/RelignCovr.htm