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These seem to be almost a secret. What do you think?
Points of Religious Agreement in Environmental Ethics
A review of environmental ethics in each of the world's religions show that religious traditions agree, to a greater or lesser extent, on the following important points:
| The natural world has value in itself and does not exist solely to serve human needs. | |
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| There is a significant continuity of being, between human and non-human living beings, even though humans do have a distinctive role. This continuity can be felt and experienced. | |
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| Non-human living beings are morally significant, in the eyes of God and/or in the cosmic order. They have their own unique relations to God, and their own places in the cosmic order. | |
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| The dependence of human life on the natural world can and should be acknowledged in ritual and other expressions of appreciation and gratitude. | |
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| Moral norms such as justice, compassion and reciprocity apply (in apropriate ways) both to human beings and to non-human beings. The well-being of humans and the well-being of non-human beings are inseparably connected. | |
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| There are legitimate and illegitimate uses of nature. | |
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| Greed and destructiveness are condemned. Restraint and protection are commended. | |
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| Human beings are obliged to be aware and responsible in living in harmony with the natural world, and should follow the specific practices for this prescribed by their traditions. |
* The research supporting this conclusion can be found in Kusumita P. Pedersen, "Environmental Ethics in Interreligious Perspective," in Explorations in Global Ethics: Comparative Religious Ethics and Interreligous Dialogue,eds/ Sumner B. Twiss and Bruce Grelle, Boulder, CO. and Oxford, U.K.: Westview Press, 1998. Reprinted with permission of Libby Bassett, John T. Brinkman, Kusumita P. Pedersen, editors, Earth and Faith (United Nations Environment Programme: New York, 2000), page 78.
Some sources of information for religion and environment:
Alliance of Religion and Conservation, Martin Palmer, ARC/ICOREC, 3 Wynnstay Grove, Manchester, M14 GXG, UK. Tel: 44(0)161 248-5731 / Fax: 44(0)161 248-5736 / E-mail: icorec@icorec.nwnet.co.uk
Forum On Religion and Ecology, Mary Evelyn Tucker and John Grim, coordinators. Department of Religion, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA 17837, USA. Tel: (570)577-1205 / Fax: (570)577-1064 / E-mail: mtucker@bucknell.edu / Web: www.environment.harvard.edu/religion
National Religious Partnership for the Environment, Paul Gorman, Executive Director, 1047 Amsterdam Ave., New York, NY 10025, USA. Tel: (212)316-7441; (212)316-7547 / E-mail: nrpe@nrpe.org / Web: www.nrpe.org
Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences (IFEES), 93 Court Rd., Birmingham B12 9LQ, UK. Tel: 44(0)121 440 3500 / Fax: 440-8144 / Web: www.webofcreation.org
United Nations Environment Programme, New York Office, DC2-803, Unted Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA. Tel: (212)963-8210 / Fax: (212)963-7341 / E-Mail: uneprona@un.org
