Yale University has a new program called 'religion and environment'. This program attempts to bring two normally repelling ideas together in harmony based on different perspectives of religion. No matter your beliefs, the environment and religion go hand in hand. Religions all over the world must decide their place within creation.
In the beginning of time, God bestowed humans resources to manage and take care of. Many religions believe that it is the duty of the privileged to help those who are less privileged. Every human relies on the environment for day to day needs. Taking care of the environment, therefore, results in helping others.
Religion and the environment are not opposing forces. Religion recognizes a creator, and the environment is part of his creation. Therefore, you cannot support one and not the other.
I read an article called Religion and Environment by Willis Jenkins and Christopher Key Chapple. This article discussed the relationship between religion and environment from different world views. I found out that many Asian religions approach environmental issues as moral issues as well. Yoga (practiced in Hundu, Buddhist, Jaina, and Gandhian customs), display such unison. Also, the beliefs of "plant sentience, stability, and karma" have all played roles in connecting religion and environment. India, for example, has made environmental changes based on their religion. One change that was made was tree protection due to the belief of tree worship.
Jenkins also asserted in his article that people who call themselves Christians approach environmental issues in different ways, depending on their encounter with God. Many denominations teach to "appreciate beauty, revere sacraments, and respect creation". From my experience as a Christian I found this statement to be accurate. Many Christians view the environment in different ways, but I would say that most have at least some amount of respect for creation.
After reading this article, I agree that most religions have an interest in environmental health. I believe that more and more people will accept combining religion and environmental studies into one category alongside their separate categories as time goes on.
Article Link:
( http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/pdf/10.1146/annurev-environ-042610-103728 )
While I agree that it is our job to take care of the things that god has given us, it only reflects the teachings of oe religion.You have to take into consideration what linking religion to environmentalism might cause. By creating a link between religion and environmentalism might have a negative impact on people who do not have religious views. There are also religions that can be very violent and destructive.
ReplyDeleteGood point. :) I didn't think of that.
ReplyDeleteI understand your position Kaitlyn, just as I understands Chase's too. I agree that most religions have an interest in environmental health (Earth) because just as you said, " Religion recognizes a creator, and the environment is part of his creation. Therefore, you cannot support one and not the other." The only thing that came to mind upon conjoining the two would be that many people don't necessarily have a religion, and so there might be tension amongst them and people who considers themselves Jewish, Christians, Baptist, et cetera because the "religious" folks will feel as though the "nonreligious" folks don't care about planet Earth. Again, it seems as though it'll lead to only more controversy. After all, everything else does right?
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