Conservation Vs Religion

1. environmental movement needs to shift from anthropocrntric to biocentric perspective - "Preserving nature, the deep ecologists say, has an intrinsic worth quite apart from any benefits preservation may convey to future human generations" (73).

As global warming intensifies, glaciers melt and forests reduced，more and more people begin to be concerned about environment problem. Environment is the fundamental of our existence，so we need protect environment. Paul H. Rubin in his article “Environmentalism as religion” says “But there is another sense in which environmentalism is becoming more and more like a religion: It provides its adherents with an identity”(399). He thinks environmentalism like a religion, and environmentalism and religion have many same characteristic. I agree Rubin’s opinion. Like religion, environmentalism has difference tribe, environmentalist like a missionary, environmentalism and religion both have food taboos and they also

The issue of Deforestation has been high on the global environmental agenda for many years, and remains a serious problem today. In the tropics and many other parts of the world, nations continue to lose the valuable biodiversity, soil and water conservation, and climate regulation that natural forests provide. Christianity can only address this matter by continuing to combine an acceptance of the command to people to ‘multiply and replenish the earth’ (Genesis 1:28) with a balancing injunction to act as stewards of the environment. Charities such as Christian Ecology Link and World Vision work to increase awareness of the current ecological crisis and encourage adherents to live sustainably and make ‘green’ consumption choices.

Assess the claim that secular approaches to environment issues are of more help than religious ones. (35 marks)

Did you know that there are 13 species of animals who we may have to say goodbye to in 2015, or an estimated 2.2 billion tons of waste is yearly dumped into oceans? There is no need to research the litany of environmental changes; news such as global warming, air pollution, or resource scarcity that choke environmental problems to appear daily on TV screens and in newspapers. Even with these particularly cautions, many of us are still facing environmental catastrophes with overly optimistic attitudes, ignoring how serious the matter is. This form of the unrealistic expectation is similar to the blind development in our technological society that engenders a series of environmental and economic problems. Paul Ehrlich, [1] a Stanford University

In Roderick Nash’s article Island Civilization, Nash describes human impact on the environment and offers a solution to end our man-made plunder. The majority of this article is primarily, Nash stating his opinion in regards to civilization expanding beyond its environmentally sustainable limits. Nash believes that humans have failed our natural environment and are in the process of eliminating all traces of wildlife from our Earth. Nash points out facts that support his argument, and quotes multiple theologians on their similar views on our environmental issues.

In the race to preserve, conserve and maintain biodiversity and its functions in anticipation of the unprecedented and

Christian voice is correcting them or proclaiming the biblical model of man’s relationship to nature which: is unique and superior to the dominant free-market and environmentalist models. . According to Gardner and Stern (1996), in that place are exclusive approaches that have power to be implemented in companionships search to defend the environment. One like approach may take a closer look at holy and regarding duties beliefs and the effects of these beliefs on the environment. The idea to create values and beliefs in environmental issues are important components of having a safer and enjoyable world for its people and the world they live in. Christian and non-Christian, at hand, must see the environment and the shortcoming of business by reason of a proper conversion to an act or purpose of and preservation of the wealth the planet has to support life. Christians as the Bible originate directing the eye to what has to be published by word force in reference to human natures dependence and bounden duty to the nature and its resources. As Christians we should do what ever it takes to make sure this earth glorify God. If we are careless about science and economics — not caring about how they work and what they describe, creation’s economy will suffer (Christians Research Institute).

Religion and ecology are two concepts that rarely intersect in popular culture. Religious individuals are expressed as devout followers of strict doctrine where ecologists are often seen as free flowing lovers of peace. These polar opposite perceptions impact not only the cultural views of those practicing these beliefs, but they also influence the way each group is seen in the world. One religion that is commonly referenced in our society’s popular culture is Christianity. Due to its anthropocentric teachings, Christianity is often seen not just as the opposite of environmentalism, but also in many ways: the enemy. On the other hand, Christians are also viewed as individuals who contribute heavily to improving our world through many different positive campaigns focused around aiding both people and the world in which we live. So in this mix of many different reputations and ideas, where does Christianity truly stand? Does it help the environment or hurt it? Though the Christian faith has potential causes for ecological damage, its beliefs are largely misunderstood, and there are many more factors to explore in regards to the environmental crisis than one religious doctrine. Christianity is not solely responsible for the ecological crisis.

In the Historical Roots of Our Ecological Crisis, Lynn White argues that western Christianity is guilty and responsible for the current environmental crisis. He writes that Christianity gave human a reason to be a master over other living creatures and “nature objects”. I agree with White’s opinion that Christianity affected the nature negatively, but I expect no responsibilities for Christians. In this paper, I will write about why I support White’s idea, but not fully.

Instead of responding to God’s precious gifts that were given to us with faith, thanks and responsibility, most of these environmental problems are the result of human practices. This is the result of the different worldviews that people have. Worldviews determine our values and beliefs; help us to understand the world around us, and in general function works as a guide to life (Wright, 2003, p. 9). However, cultural and environmental conditioning tends to enslave us to ways of thinking and behaving, usually without us realizing it. While some view nature as being merely for men' use, others view nature as a consumable resource that we have been given, others as inexhaustible, others as something to use and replace, others as something to look at, but not to touch, others as a cosmic

The debate of whether humans as a species are destroying their planet and violently pushing life to extinction has only intensified in recent years. But evidence has proved what we don’t want to hear time and time again – humans, and our actions (direct and indirect) are heavily involved in the extinction of flora and fauna species across the globe. We carelessly dump enormous amounts of c02 into our atmosphere, leading to ocean acidification and global warming that kill millions of animals and plants, and continue desecrating fragile ecosystems and habitats, resulting in the slaughter of now-rare life forms. We tamper with our climate as if it is a rather interesting puzzle piece, not the planet that supports our own existence.

Rapid unfolding of devastating changes in the ecosystems, historically high air and water temperatures, resulting in escalating number and frequency of natural cataclysms, prolonged droughts and record rainfalls leading to massive floods, raising sea levels, exponentially increasing levels of air and water pollution - all these factors should prompt us to stop and reconsider the role of our contribution to the environmental chaos in the universe. Acknowledging all the emerging scientific data, the preservation of our environment becomes our principal personal duty not only to the future generations but even more so to ourselves. The gruesome perspective of the fulminant development of the destructive consequences of ever-rising consumerism,

Humanity’s most baffling affliction and puzzlement must be, to some degree, our and our environment’s origin. To the secularist it seems there are two possibilities for the beginning of mankind: The Big Bang, and Evolution. However, Christianity supplies one definite supposition: a universe created by an omnipotent ruler, who was never Himself created, but rather resides in eternity. [1] Human minds may be tempted to sway to the ‘comfort’ of believing in a life to which they glorify themselves and serve themselves only. Our conceptions of ethical code rely on our discernment of creation and the beginning of space and time. As such, if divine creation is properly chosen as valid by an individual, as Christianity provides, there is a God whom

White’s thesis in The Historical Roots of our Ecological Crisis states that in order to confront the expanding environmental crises, humans must begin to analyze and alter their treatment and attitudes towards nature. The slow destruction of the environment derives from the Western scientific and technological advancements made since the Medieval time period. “What people do about their ecology depends on what they think about themselves in relation to things around them” (RON p.7). Technology and science alone will not be able to save humans until we adjust the way of thinking and suppress the old ideas of humans power above nature. Instead, we need to learn how to think of ourselves as being