As scientific studies suggest a grim outlook for the future of the Earth, religious groups and interfaith organizations are taking notice and organizing efforts to promote environmental awareness.
As part of Earth Week, a Religion & Environment Roundtable is being held today at Ohio University that will allow various Athens religious organizations and faculty members the chance to discuss the role of religion in environmental issues, focusing on climate change.
Rachel Cook, a senior English major, is coordinating the roundtable after developing an interest in interfaith environmental activism over the past few years.
Cook wrote in an e-mail that she hopes religious groups can come together to address the goals of environmental improvement.
I find this discussion of religious communities and bringing back the value of community in general as the only way to address our current environmental crisis
she said.
Because values and morals are shaped greatly by religious beliefs, the way in which humans interact with and care for the environment is influenced by their faith. Many religions embrace human harmony with nature, especially non-Western faiths, said Matthew Ozea, an OU graduate student in International Affairs.
Whereas the West (culture) promotes a view where humans are the center the East (culture) promotes a more eco-centric view Ozea said.
He said an example of this is the Theravada Buddhism religion in Thailand, where a small sect of monks is taking an engaged role in the country's growing crisis of deforestation.
These conservation monks are adapting the dharma, or teachings of the Buddha, to apply to environmental concerns,
Ozea said. He said that he feels the Buddhist belief of the interconnectedness of all living things is one of the most powerful ideas toward any positive environmental ethic.
Hinduism is another religion that displays a large connection to the natural world. Hindus believe in the idea of ahimsa, or nonviolence, which permeates all things, including the environment, Ozea said.
Locally, the Central Avenue United Methodist Church in Athens, 73 Central Ave., is taking an active role in environmentalism. Senior Pastor Paul Risler said he plans to include messages advocating conservation and lifestyle changes into his next few sermons.
The messages, titled God is Green
will address the Christian belief of God as the creator of all and reinforce the concept that humans have a responsibility to help God redeem creation, he said.
Risler, who bikes to work each day, also said the church is planning a sort of car fast
a day during which the congregation will either walk or a bike to church. He called the fast more of a symbolic gesture than
anything, but said he hopes it will challenge the congregation to be more aware of environmental concerns.
Michele Morrone, an associate professor of environmental health science and industrial hygiene at OU, said she thinks religious movements could help to mobilize people toward a common goal of ecological progress.
I believe we really need a critical mass of people to help solve environmental problems
and the religious community offers the opportunity to expand that critical mass
Morrone said.
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