Climate change, environmental issues, and religious faith
I have worked in the environmental policy field for over three decades, work that includes climate change science and policy. I have also studied the world's primary religions. We can consider the relationship of faith and concerns about the environment. Should people of faith commit to being advocates for a healthy planet and be good environmental stewards? Here is an interesting article that relatea to this topic.
https://www.nbcnews.com/science/climate-change/evangelical-christian-environmentalists-push-climate-votes-election-rcna174018
I found this piece as well that offered an interesting perspective by going into the idea that God would not allow humans to destroy the earth and displaying how that affects certain demographics' belief in and appointed significance to climate change and active response to its consequences through changes in policy and regulation. While it's important to have civilized conversations on this matter, sometimes there must be a consensus that certain groups will by nature of their belief, not be willing to internalize that climate change is human-created because doing so forsakes their understanding of god. It's an interesting discussion to have and I myself really wouldn't be certain how to approach it. https://www.prri.org/research/the-faith-factor-in-climate-change-how-religion-impacts-american-attitudes-on-climate-and-environmental-policy/
ReplyDeleteFrom doing some research on Christian faith in relation to the climate crisis, it seems as though people have a wide range of interpretations and opinions on the matter. In Genesis, it talks about 'caring for and cultivating the Earth,' which some may see as a call to action for the climate change. Others have the view that God's creation couldn't possibly be destroyed by humans, like what Jess stated above. In my opinion, it is important for everyone to be as informed as possible on topics like climate change. Having people of faith advocate for environmental change could possibly allow those who do not view climate change as an issue because of their faith to change their opinions, because the argument will be coming from a source that they can connect with and relate to through faith.
ReplyDeleteTo answer the main question, yes. I believe people of faith should commit to be advocates for climate because I believe it is an issue everyone should be working to address. I am not saying people should or need to change their faith because of climate change, but it is a world altering issue that has the potential to affect everyone, regardless of their religious affiliation. Despite this, I understand that there is a complicated relationship between some religions and their views on climate change. Not every religion includes beliefs that would lead to its members involvement in climate protection actions, as can be seen in a study regarding American's beliefs about climate change and their religion. However, action does not have to be linked to a person's religion, and it is in every person's best interest to support and be involved in actions to help the climate.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.prri.org/research/the-faith-factor-in-climate-change-how-religion-impacts-american-attitudes-on-climate-and-environmental-policy/
I think people with strong faith should definitely be advocates for a healthy planet. Most faiths put a great importance on being kind to everyone and everything. In my opinion, the best way to be kind to everyone is to be kind to the planet. Since the planet is our shared home, it is of upmost importance that we treat it with care and respect, we owe it to our neighbors and fellow habitants of earth. I think that faith fits perfectly into this belief. Specifically in faiths that follow the Bible, there are many quotes about how it is important to care for the Earth. I found many here: https://www.openbible.info/topics/taking_care_of_the_earth. This abundance of quotes regarding this from the bible makes me believe those that are very committed to their faith and following the teachings of the bible should be the ones that care the most about climate change. Which is why I find it very interesting that a huge amount of that community believes that climate change exists. I read about it in this journal: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0096340215599789
ReplyDeleteI myself am not religious. I personally find that religion tries to make rules in a climate of significant entropy. Despite this, I also have met many religious people and I have found them to be disproportionately kind, accommodating, and understanding of others. In the article about evangelical environmentalists, I find it quite silly that students should tie fixing climate change to the text of their faith. While I think this connection might be persuasive, I think it hurts the idea of religion. The religious text should guide its followers, not command them. Do I think that people of faith should exist as climate advocates? Yes, I think everyone that can, should. Do I think it is solely these people's responsibility to be the environmental stewards? No. While I would hope that their faith would guide them to help in making positive environmental changes, their actions are still their choice. I don’t believe that someone who is not an advocate for a healthy planet should be condemned from faith. In the same sense I don’t believe that all members of a faith must be environmentalists. Although I believe it would be a positive notion that religion is tied to climate activism, at the end of the day, religious people are just people, and they have the right to make personal decisions.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352250X15001876
https://theheartman.wordpress.com/2021/01/12/is-the-bible-an-instruction-manual/#:~:text=PLEASE%2C%20do%20not%20try%20to,every%20day%20throughout%20all%20time.
I agree with your view that religion can work hand in hand with environmentalism, but shouldn't be the sole purpose or responsibility of those practicing religion. While I have limited knowledge of many religions, in my experience there is room for interpretation in many areas, and so I don't believe painting religious faith as some sort of anti-environmental entity is right. At the end of the day people can choose to believe what they wish and think is right.
DeleteThis article (https://www.unep.org/about-un-environment-programme/faith-earth-initiative/religions-and-environmental-protection?utm_source=chatgpt.com) talks more about how nature is viewed across various religions.
Hello Dr. Walker, I think that someone's religious views should impact how they view climate change. A person's religious views have a huge impact on how they view the world, it is what they base their beliefs on, outlook on life, and how they react to events in their life. With all the ongoing climate change discussions going on, Christians, for example, would probably turn to the Bible for help and guidance for what they should do or how they should react to the information they are seeing about an alarmingly raising global temperature. According to openbibleinfo.com there is a bible verse from Psalms that states, "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein" (Psalm 24:1). This verse suggests that while people are not the ones who own the power of creation (that is God's job) they are caretakers, and they in turn should be taking care of the earth. Openbibleinfo.com has 100 verses about climate change, and many of these 100 verses talk about how humans should take care of the Earth and God's creation. This should be evidence enough for someone of the Christian faith to go and do something about climate change, or at least care about climate change. The UN Environment Programme reported on religious leaders who got together to "appeal for climate-responsible finance as a moral imperative towards children." This reporting demonstrated how when it comes down to it, having a sustainable future is important for children. Climate change is real, and someone's religious faiths should not conflict with the issues climate change poses, instead it should motivate them more to do something about it. The spread of misinformation is alarming, especially when the Bible, the main source of guidance for Christians explicitly says to take care of the Earth, and so many think that climate change is not "real" or not "their problem". Therefore, people of faith should be committed to being advocates for a healthy planet, not only because the Bible tells them so, but so they can help the children of the future; the Earth is ours to take care of, and no religious view should be the reason it stops someone from doing so.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.openbible.info/topics/climate_change
https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/press-release/religious-leaders-unep-appeal-climate-responsible-finance-moral
As a person who cares what people think, I believe everyone should do so, and therefore care what other people think and their religious beliefs are going to be a big part of those things that they care about. This means we have to respect their beliefs and try to understand their side. As a believing Evangelical Christian I feel that this topic is target towards me, and I think, at least they way I view it, is that many people are looking at this wrong. I do think climate change is real, and based on the scientific evidence I have seen we are causing it. However, I believe that the world was not made to last forever, in Revelation in the bible, it talks about how there will be a second coming of Christ and there the earth will be restructured. There will be earthquakes and there will be change, and Christ will come down from heaven defeat Satan and reign on the earth for 1000 years. I think that will happen before climate change will destroy the earth. This is why I believe that we should care for our planet, but we don't have to invest in making the planet 100% carbon neutral, I think that caring for each other and helping each other is a better use of money, and we can work to slow climate change, but stopping it won't stop the planet from being destroyed in the end so the best thing we can do is help each other and share the love of Jesus Christ.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%201&version=NASB1995
I don't think religion really has a direct affect on what people think on climate change. The article seems to be leaning on the fact that Christians make up most of conservatives, and that conservatives vote for Trump and Trump says that climate change is a hoax therefore the Christians dominantly believe climate change is a hoax. Though I side for neither, this seems to be a form of fallacious logic by stringing similarities. The article also shows how Christians are using the religious teaching of 'love thy neighbor' to support the climate. Christianity is such a large population that it can't realistically be caged into political views fairly and I think everyone gets a choice to do something about the climate regardless of spiritual belief.
ReplyDeleteHello Dr Walker, although this was a topic I was not aware about, I think it is very interesting to dive deeper on this topic. Although at the end of the day, we need to respect other peoples religion, I believe that we should show them true 100% facts. I think that It would be up to the person and their beliefs to decide what to do. Maybe after some information, they would change their minds on how it is perceived.
ReplyDeleteHi Dr. Walker. I don't think religious affiliation has too much to do with your opinion on climate change. With that said my opinion can be flawed as I have not done too much research into this topic myself. What I can talk about, however, is my personal opinion as a Christian. As mentioned above by someone else, I believe that my religion does call me to protect and help the Earth. Ill use an analogy to explain my logic in this. My father build up a house and a garden. Eventually, he passed it all down to me, his son. As his child, I feel inclined to take care of the house and garden me made because, if nothing else, out of respect and love for my father and what he has created for me and the hard work he did to create it.
ReplyDeleteHello Dr. Walker. Faith can play a powerful role in shaping attitudes toward environmental stewardship. Many religious teachings emphasize care for creation, aligning well with the principles of sustainability and responsibility for future generations. Advocates of faith-based environmentalism can bridge ideological divides, inspiring action on climate issues in communities that might otherwise be hesitant to engage.
ReplyDeleteThe article you shared highlights how these efforts can translate into meaningful policy influence, such as climate-conscious voting. Do you think faith communities could be pivotal in driving broader societal commitment to climate action?