Disciplines
• Fisheries And Wildlife
• Forestry
• Natural Resources
• Parks Recreation And Tourism
• Soil
• Environmental And Atmospheric Sciences
Nature and religion: People's beliefs
about nature, and the relationship between
people and nature, often have religious overtones.
Naturalist and conservationist John Muir grew
up in a strict Calvinist home but later found
holiness in nature, saying at one point that
he wanted to "devote the rest of my life
to the study of the inventions of God."
Botanist George Washington Carver said that,
"Reading about nature is fine, but if
a person walks in the woods and listens carefully,
he can learn more than what is in books, for
they speak with the voice of God."
Many religious traditions
speak of sensing the presence of the divine
in nature. Even some who don't affiliate
with an organized religion consider the
great outdoors to be their private worship
space.
Religious beliefs:
Many faiths teach respect for the creatures
that share Earth with humans. A long debate
in Christianity has been over interpretation
of Genesis 1:28, in which God blessed the
man and woman he created (Adam and Eve)
and told them: "Be fruitful, and multiply,
and replenish the earth, and subdue it:
and have dominion over the fish of the sea,
and over the fowl of the air, and over every
living thing that moveth upon the earth."
Scholars and believers
have tried to discern whether "dominion"
means using animals for humans' purposes,
or that humans bear responsibility for a
benevolent stewardship of the natural world.
As awareness of environmental issues has
increased, the stewardship perspective has
grown popular.
The most famous Christian
saint associated with nature is St. Francis
of Assisi, who renounced wealth to live
a life of poverty amid the natural world.
He praised the earth, sun, plants and animals
and was known for preaching to birds and
picking worms off the road and carrying
them to safety. Founder of the Franciscan
Order, St. Francis is known as the patron
saint of animals and the environment.
In Islam, a saying of Muhammad,
the faith's founder, tells of the prophet
being asked whether those who are kind to
animals are rewarded. Muhammad reportedly
answered: "There is a reward for kindness
to every living animal or human." If
they must kill an animal, Muslims are commanded
to do so in a manner that causes the least
amount of fright and suffering.
Neo-paganism, a growing
faith movement in the United States that
includes Wicca and some Shamanistic faiths,
is characterized by an Earth-based orientation.
Neo-pagan rituals and practices often take
place outdoors, close to the nature they
hold sacred. Holidays often revolve around
the changing seasons.
Animistic religions often
believe that there is a spirit in every
tree, mountain or spring, and all have to
be respected.
Global warming:
Evangelical Christians made news in 2006
by expressing concern about climate change.
The Evangelical Climate Initiative - including
mega-church pastors, Christian college presidents
and other leaders - issued a manifesto called
"Climate Change: An Evangelical Call
to Action." Liberal and moderate faith
groups have long embraced environmental
concerns, but many conservative Christians
considered the scientific evidence inconclusive
and environmental concerns unrelated to
religious obligation.
The high-profile campaign
revealed disagreement among evangelicals.
Some support "creation care,"
a term for environmental awareness and action.
They see saving the earth as a pro-life
issue because it affects the well-being
and, potentially, survival of future generations.
Opponents believe God ordered humans to
dominate all living things, or that global
warming is part of the prophesied End Times.
According to a 2006 survey,
three-quarters of evangelicals - a powerful
social and political group - favor actions
such as slowing climate change or preventing
development of wild areas. A quarter are
strong supporters of environmental action,
and more than half found support for environmentalism
in their Christian beliefs. Two-thirds believe
climate change is happening and 70 percent
see it as a significant danger. More than
60 percent support taking steps to stop
it, and half favor doing so even if the
cost is high.
Issues today: The
environmental movement is drawing an increasing
number of religious people from a variety
of faith traditions, which suggests that
care of the Earth could unite people across
religious divides. Some religious believers
are interested in climate change for its
effect on social justice issues as well.
For example, if warming of the environment
contributes to more severe hurricane seasons,
people may protest for religious reasons
because damage from hurricanes often disproportionately
affects the poor.
Researchers can study people's
ideas about the origin of nature, such as
whether it is wrought by the hand of God,
or an independent, naturally occurring phenomenon.
Some people consider nature to be a holy
miracle. Wildlife is seen as a sanctuary
and a sacred space, whose contents and creatures
are also sacred creations. Others use religion
as a way to define humans' role in respect
to nature. Study of the natural world has
led to both theories of divine origin and
scientific invention, including the theory
of evolution. The natural world has long
held a spiritual pull on people, as well,
with spiritual meaning, purification and
discernment applied to retreats into the
wilderness for faiths including Judaism,
Christianity and Buddhism.
Those working in conservation
can work with religious groups to accomplish
aims. They may not always come from the
same perspective, but they may share the
same goals. Conservationists can use the
resources of religious organizations to
share information about environmental issues
(already seen with documentaries such as
Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth"
being shown at churches around the country).
Religious groups can inform environmentalists
and others about why the natural world is
important to them. This many even impact
how natural wonders are marketed to tourists
and nature lovers from around the world.
Researchers can study and develop ways people
of faith and environmentalists, scientists,
conservationists and naturalists can work
together.
Zygon:
Journal of Religion & Science
Ecotheology:
Journal of Religion, Nature & the Environment
Journal
for the Study of Religion, Nature &
Culture
American
Academy of Religion Syllabi Search
Religion
and Animals
Paul Waldau
Tufts University
Religion,
Nature and Environmentalism in America
Sarah Pike
California State University, Chico
Affiliation of Christian Geologists
Christian Academics
Christian Foresters Fellowship: (970) 491-6333
Evangelical Environmental Network
Fellowship of Christian Farmers International
• See a full list of professional associations and resources here.
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