Human-Environment Relations Religious roots of various attitudes

Human-Environment Human-Environment RelationsRelations

Religious roots of various attitudesReligious roots of various attitudes

Judaism/Christianity/IslamJudaism/Christianity/Islam

Everything in nature was created by a single Everything in nature was created by a single supreme being with unlimited powers.supreme being with unlimited powers.

Nature as God’s HandiworkNature as God’s Handiwork

““But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the sky, and they will tell you; or the birds of the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth and it will teach you; the speak to the earth and it will teach you; the fish of the sea, they will inform you. Who fish of the sea, they will inform you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of among all these does not know that the hand of the Eternal has done this?” the Eternal has done this?” (Job 12:7-9) (Job 12:7-9)


A single, supreme God created man and A single, supreme God created man and woman, who lived in perfect harmony with woman, who lived in perfect harmony with nature, and had all their needs provided for by nature, and had all their needs provided for by nature until they committed an act of evil. All nature until they committed an act of evil. All of humankind was subsequently punished for of humankind was subsequently punished for this act by being forced to work in order to this act by being forced to work in order to survive. Struggling against nature is therefore survive. Struggling against nature is therefore part of humanity’s “fallen” condition.part of humanity’s “fallen” condition.

Nature as Place of Exile & PunishmentNature as Place of Exile & Punishment

And to Adam, the Lord said: And to Adam, the Lord said: "Because you have "Because you have listened to your wife, and have eaten of the tree of listened to your wife, and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat: Cursed be the which I commanded you not to eat: Cursed be the ground because of you; in toil shall you eat of it all ground because of you; in toil shall you eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles shall it the days of your life; thorns and thistles shall it bring forth to you; and you shall eat the plants of bring forth to you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. In the sweat of your brow you shall eat the field. In the sweat of your brow you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, since out of it bread, till you return to the ground, since out of it you were taken; for dust you are and unto dust you you were taken; for dust you are and unto dust you shall return" shall return" (Gen. 3, 17-19). (Gen. 3, 17-19).


Humankind was granted dominion over the Humankind was granted dominion over the earth by a single, supreme God. A particular earth by a single, supreme God. A particular way of treating the environment would only be way of treating the environment would only be bad in this God’s eyes if it resulted in harm to bad in this God’s eyes if it resulted in harm to another person or was in violation of one of another person or was in violation of one of God’s commandments.God’s commandments.

DominionDominion

““And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. thing that moveth upon the earth.

And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. ” yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. ”

Genesis Genesis

DominionDominion

““Each thing that God has created is a wondrous sign, Each thing that God has created is a wondrous sign, full of meaning; pointing beyond itself to the glory full of meaning; pointing beyond itself to the glory and greatness of its Creator, His wisdom and His and greatness of its Creator, His wisdom and His purposes for it. ‘He Who has spread out the earth for purposes for it. ‘He Who has spread out the earth for you and threaded roads for you therein and has sent you and threaded roads for you therein and has sent down water from the sky: With it have We brought down water from the sky: With it have We brought forth diverse kinds of vegetation. Eat and pasture forth diverse kinds of vegetation. Eat and pasture your cattle; verily, in this are signs for men endowed your cattle; verily, in this are signs for men endowed with understanding.’”with understanding.’”

Islamic Organization for Medical Sciences, ISLAMSET Islamic Organization for Medical Sciences, ISLAMSET http://www.islamset.com/env/section1.htmlhttp://www.islamset.com/env/section1.html


A single, supreme God created both A single, supreme God created both humankind and nature and meant for humankind and nature and meant for humankind to assume stewardship (benign humankind to assume stewardship (benign authority) over nature. A particular way of authority) over nature. A particular way of treating the environment might be bad if it treating the environment might be bad if it shows a lack of respect for God’s creations.shows a lack of respect for God’s creations.

StewardshipStewardship

““Because God has chosen the sphere of nature as the Because God has chosen the sphere of nature as the setting for human interaction, his covenant with us setting for human interaction, his covenant with us gives us the responsibility of caring for, nurturing, gives us the responsibility of caring for, nurturing, respecting, sustaining, and replenishing his creation. respecting, sustaining, and replenishing his creation. We often respond by viewing nature as a commodity We often respond by viewing nature as a commodity to be done with as we please. However, God’s to be done with as we please. However, God’s relationship to non-human nature, which has intrinsic relationship to non-human nature, which has intrinsic value, calls for a higher ethic.”value, calls for a higher ethic.”

Global Stewardship Task Force, Abilene Christian University, Global Stewardship Task Force, Abilene Christian University, http://emc2.acu.edu/christian_stewardship/christian_stewardshhttp://emc2.acu.edu/christian_stewardship/christian_stewardship.htmlip.html

StewardshipStewardship ““In Genesis 2:15 humans are told to ‘abad’ the garden In Genesis 2:15 humans are told to ‘abad’ the garden

in which they have been placed. This Hebrew word is in which they have been placed. This Hebrew word is most commonly translated as ‘tend’. This might most commonly translated as ‘tend’. This might imply that we look after the garden so that it serves imply that we look after the garden so that it serves us. Elsewhere in the Old Testament, however, ‘abad’ us. Elsewhere in the Old Testament, however, ‘abad’ is translated as to ‘serve’ (eg Genesis 25:23; 27:29; is translated as to ‘serve’ (eg Genesis 25:23; 27:29; Ex 14:12). In other words, our task is to operate Ex 14:12). In other words, our task is to operate within our particular garden (ie the area we can within our particular garden (ie the area we can influence) in a way that primarily benefits the garden influence) in a way that primarily benefits the garden - so as to be the garden’s servant.”- so as to be the garden’s servant.”

John Ray Initiative, John Ray Initiative, http://www.jri.org.uk/brief/windsor_2000.htmhttp://www.jri.org.uk/brief/windsor_2000.htm

StewardshipStewardship

Muhammad: “Created beings are the Muhammad: “Created beings are the dependents of God, and the creature dearest dependents of God, and the creature dearest unto God is he who does most good to God's unto God is he who does most good to God's dependents.”dependents.”

Islamic Organization for Medical Sciences, ISLAMSET Islamic Organization for Medical Sciences, ISLAMSET website: http://www.islamset.com/env/section1.htmlwebsite: http://www.islamset.com/env/section1.html


Nature as a place of punishmentNature as a place of punishment Nature as human property (dominion)Nature as human property (dominion) Nature as dependent on human care Nature as dependent on human care

(stewardship)(stewardship) All three reflect a single idea:All three reflect a single idea:

Alienation from natureAlienation from nature People are separate from naturePeople are separate from nature Nature exists “out there” and people (a) suffer Nature exists “out there” and people (a) suffer

from it, (b) exploit it, or (c) have to maintain itfrom it, (b) exploit it, or (c) have to maintain it

Indo-European PolytheismIndo-European Polytheism

Nature arose from a process of procreation Nature arose from a process of procreation (e.g. between the sky and the earth) which (e.g. between the sky and the earth) which gave birth to the first generation of gods (e.g. gave birth to the first generation of gods (e.g. sun, moon, sea, time, mountains), who in turn sun, moon, sea, time, mountains), who in turn produced the other gods. These gods have produced the other gods. These gods have human emotions and attitudes (jealousy, lust, human emotions and attitudes (jealousy, lust, creativity, courage, etc.) and may take human creativity, courage, etc.) and may take human form. They also may interfere in human form. They also may interfere in human events for noble or base reasons.events for noble or base reasons.

Indo-European PolytheismIndo-European Polytheism

Living religionLiving religion HinduismHinduism

Dead religionsDead religions Greek Greek RomanRoman NorseNorse

Nature as Immanent gods Nature as Immanent gods andand place place of punishmentof punishment

Greek Creation MythGreek Creation Myth Darkness and emptiness, bird with black wings (Nyx) lays egg. Out of egg Darkness and emptiness, bird with black wings (Nyx) lays egg. Out of egg

hatches Eros, god of love. Half of shell becomes sky and other half hatches Eros, god of love. Half of shell becomes sky and other half becomes earth. Eros makes them fall in love. becomes earth. Eros makes them fall in love.

Uranus (sky) and Gaia (earth) have many children (the Titans). One of Uranus (sky) and Gaia (earth) have many children (the Titans). One of them Kronus, swallows his children until wife, Rhea, hides youngest them Kronus, swallows his children until wife, Rhea, hides youngest (Zeus) and gives Kronus a rock wrapped in swaddling cloths to swallow. (Zeus) and gives Kronus a rock wrapped in swaddling cloths to swallow.

Zeus grows up & sets free his siblings. They conquer Kronus and furnish Zeus grows up & sets free his siblings. They conquer Kronus and furnish Gaia with life and Uranus with stars. Zeus summons his sons and tells Gaia with life and Uranus with stars. Zeus summons his sons and tells them to go to Earth and create men and animals and give each one a gift. them to go to Earth and create men and animals and give each one a gift. Epimetheus uses up all the gifts on the animals so Prometheus gives man Epimetheus uses up all the gifts on the animals so Prometheus gives man fire although only the gods were supposed to have it. fire although only the gods were supposed to have it.

Zeus becomes furious and sentences Prometheus to have his liver pecked Zeus becomes furious and sentences Prometheus to have his liver pecked by a vulture every day till eternity. To Epimetheus he presents a beautiful by a vulture every day till eternity. To Epimetheus he presents a beautiful wife, Pandora, but he gives Pandora two gifts, curiosity and a box she is wife, Pandora, but he gives Pandora two gifts, curiosity and a box she is not supposed to open. Pandora opens the box and out fly all of the horrors not supposed to open. Pandora opens the box and out fly all of the horrors which plague the world today--which plague the world today--pain, sickness,pain, sickness, envy, greed. envy, greed.

Animism in Greek thoughtAnimism in Greek thought There was a clear pool, with shining silvery waters, where There was a clear pool, with shining silvery waters, where

shepherds had never made their way…Its peace was shepherds had never made their way…Its peace was undisturbed by bird or beast or falling branches.undisturbed by bird or beast or falling branches.

Narcissus, wearied with hunting in the heat of the day, lay Narcissus, wearied with hunting in the heat of the day, lay down here…down here…

As he lay on the bank, he gazed at the twin stars that were his As he lay on the bank, he gazed at the twin stars that were his eyes, at his flowing locks, worthy of Bacchus or Apollo, his eyes, at his flowing locks, worthy of Bacchus or Apollo, his smooth cheeks, his ivory neck, his lovely face …smooth cheeks, his ivory neck, his lovely face …

No thought of food or sleep could draw him from the spot… “I No thought of food or sleep could draw him from the spot… “I am in love and see my loved one, but that form which I see am in love and see my loved one, but that form which I see and love, I cannot reach”…and love, I cannot reach”…

……his body was nowhere to be found. Instead of his corpse, his body was nowhere to be found. Instead of his corpse, they discovered a flower with a circle of white petals round a they discovered a flower with a circle of white petals round a yellow center.yellow center.

Animism in Greek thoughtAnimism in Greek thought Byblis confessed her passionate love to her brother Caunus, Byblis confessed her passionate love to her brother Caunus,

was rejected, went madwas rejected, went mad ““The woods were thinning when, weary with her pursuit, The woods were thinning when, weary with her pursuit,

Byblis collapsed and lay where she fell, her hair spread out Byblis collapsed and lay where she fell, her hair spread out upon the hard ground, and her face pressed into the fallen upon the hard ground, and her face pressed into the fallen leaves. …She uttered not a word, but lay digging her nails leaves. …She uttered not a word, but lay digging her nails into the green grass, watering the meadow with a river of into the green grass, watering the meadow with a river of tears. They say that the nymphs fashioned a channel for these tears. They say that the nymphs fashioned a channel for these tears, which could never run dry…so Byblis … was consumed tears, which could never run dry…so Byblis … was consumed by her own tears and changed into a fountain, which even now by her own tears and changed into a fountain, which even now wells up in that valley, beneath a dark ilex tree, and still bears wells up in that valley, beneath a dark ilex tree, and still bears the name of its mistress.”the name of its mistress.”

Greek thoughtGreek thought

Many tragic and melodramatic tales could be Many tragic and melodramatic tales could be recalled by looking at trees, flowers, etc.recalled by looking at trees, flowers, etc.

Nature as a collection of gods, goddesses, and Nature as a collection of gods, goddesses, and transformed peopletransformed people

Motif of punishment is present, but not Motif of punishment is present, but not punishment of current inhabitants—punishment of current inhabitants—punishment as a kind of geological forcepunishment as a kind of geological force

Buddhism/HinduismBuddhism/Hinduism

Nature is populated by an infinite number of Nature is populated by an infinite number of perfect living souls, clothed in various forms perfect living souls, clothed in various forms of matter (from worm flesh to human flesh) of matter (from worm flesh to human flesh) that makes them imperfect and confused. that makes them imperfect and confused. When a being dies it is reincarnated again into When a being dies it is reincarnated again into the world of illusions and suffering. This the world of illusions and suffering. This happens again and again until a being achieves happens again and again until a being achieves enlightenment, which it can only do in human enlightenment, which it can only do in human form.form.

Buddhism/HinduismBuddhism/Hinduism

To kill another living being is to cause the To kill another living being is to cause the suffering of another perfect being which is in a suffering of another perfect being which is in a sense an equal, and also a part of oneself. This sense an equal, and also a part of oneself. This harm weighs upon the killer like a debt to the harm weighs upon the killer like a debt to the universe and acts to delay his or her universe and acts to delay his or her transcendence of the world of illusions and transcendence of the world of illusions and suffering.suffering.

BuddhismBuddhism

The things that make up the world, including The things that make up the world, including people, are not really separate from each other; people, are not really separate from each other; the perception of separate things is an illusion. the perception of separate things is an illusion. The path toward enlightenment involves The path toward enlightenment involves conquering the desire to possess and control conquering the desire to possess and control things, because this desire, and our efforts to things, because this desire, and our efforts to satisfy it, maintain the illusion of the self as satisfy it, maintain the illusion of the self as separate from the rest of the universe.separate from the rest of the universe.

Experience as IllusionExperience as Illusion ““MayaMaya, as per Hindu thought, is illusion, and what mankind , as per Hindu thought, is illusion, and what mankind

understands to be reality is in fact the dream of Brahma. understands to be reality is in fact the dream of Brahma. Brahma is the creator and great magician who dreams the Brahma is the creator and great magician who dreams the universe into being. The dream itself is maintained by Vishnu, universe into being. The dream itself is maintained by Vishnu, the Preserver, who uses maya to spin the complex web that we the Preserver, who uses maya to spin the complex web that we know as reality. It is not that the world itself is an illusion, know as reality. It is not that the world itself is an illusion, only our perception of it. Whereas we suppose the universe to only our perception of it. Whereas we suppose the universe to be made up of a multitude of objects, structures and events, be made up of a multitude of objects, structures and events, the theory of maya asserts that all things are one. Rational the theory of maya asserts that all things are one. Rational categories are mere fabrications of the human mind and have categories are mere fabrications of the human mind and have no ultimate reality.”no ultimate reality.”

A Tribute to Hinduism, A Tribute to Hinduism, http://www.atributetohinduism.com/Hindu_Cosmology.htmhttp://www.atributetohinduism.com/Hindu_Cosmology.htm

Hinduism/BuddhismHinduism/Buddhism

The cycle of death and reincarnation is a cycle The cycle of death and reincarnation is a cycle of suffering and pain. To achieve release from of suffering and pain. To achieve release from this cycle, people must avoid activities that this cycle, people must avoid activities that contaminate them in a spiritual sense. People contaminate them in a spiritual sense. People with a low social status are delegated the task with a low social status are delegated the task of killing animals so that high-status people do of killing animals so that high-status people do not have to suffer from this form of spiritual not have to suffer from this form of spiritual contamination.contamination.

Hindu/Buddhist views of natureHindu/Buddhist views of nature

Nature and humanity are part of the same orderNature and humanity are part of the same order People and animals are both caught up in the cycle of People and animals are both caught up in the cycle of

death and rebirthdeath and rebirth Suffering is not a form of punishment, but part of the Suffering is not a form of punishment, but part of the

universal condition of living thingsuniversal condition of living things To harm part of nature is to harm oneselfTo harm part of nature is to harm oneself

Do not harm cowsDo not harm cows Harm other animals only if necessaryHarm other animals only if necessary Delegate this task (butchering) to “polluted” peopleDelegate this task (butchering) to “polluted” people

TaoismTaoism

Nature provides a model for the way to Nature provides a model for the way to achieve satisfaction and contentment during achieve satisfaction and contentment during one’s life. Nature achieves incredible things one’s life. Nature achieves incredible things without exerting itself, forcing things, or without exerting itself, forcing things, or developing plans of action. Just as a river developing plans of action. Just as a river simply wears down rough stones by following simply wears down rough stones by following the path of least resistance, people can achieve the path of least resistance, people can achieve much by following the path of least resistance.much by following the path of least resistance.

TaoismTaoism

Only fragmented pieces of reality can be Only fragmented pieces of reality can be captured in words. Nature itself speaks more captured in words. Nature itself speaks more truly about the meaning of existence than any truly about the meaning of existence than any religious beliefs that can be put into words.religious beliefs that can be put into words.

Platonism (Greek philosophy)Platonism (Greek philosophy)

Nature is a collection of imperfect Nature is a collection of imperfect approximations subject to various forms of approximations subject to various forms of corruption. For example, the horizon corruption. For example, the horizon approaches flatness but never is entirely flat. approaches flatness but never is entirely flat. The path toward understanding of nature lies The path toward understanding of nature lies in recognizing the ideal forms which natural in recognizing the ideal forms which natural phenomena only approximate. phenomena only approximate.

AnimismAnimism

The natural world contains places, plants, and The natural world contains places, plants, and animals with special powers. People can animals with special powers. People can benefit from these powers if they use benefit from these powers if they use metaphorical logicmetaphorical logic to determine what those to determine what those powers are. E.g. a plant that oozes red fluid powers are. E.g. a plant that oozes red fluid should have special powers over diseases that should have special powers over diseases that lead to excessive bleeding.lead to excessive bleeding.

Scientific RationalityScientific Rationality

The natural world contains places, plants, and The natural world contains places, plants, and animals with special powers. People can animals with special powers. People can benefit from these powers if they use benefit from these powers if they use rational-rational-analytic logicanalytic logic to determine what those powers to determine what those powers are. are.

e.g. a plant that causes paralysis may contain e.g. a plant that causes paralysis may contain chemicals that are useful during surgery to chemicals that are useful during surgery to prevent convulsions. prevent convulsions.

ScientismScientism

Nature is the product of laws and forces, not of Nature is the product of laws and forces, not of conscious creation. People are not judged on conscious creation. People are not judged on the basis of their treatment of nature except by the basis of their treatment of nature except by other people, and nature has no value unless it other people, and nature has no value unless it is of use to people (for example as a source of is of use to people (for example as a source of food, building materials, chemicals, or food, building materials, chemicals, or knowledge).knowledge).

Scientific view of natureScientific view of nature

ResourcesResources

PantheismPantheism

The entire universe is a living, conscious The entire universe is a living, conscious being. People, like everything else, are part of being. People, like everything else, are part of this being. What people call “God” is in this being. What people call “God” is in everything equally and cannot be separated everything equally and cannot be separated into creator and creations. People should into creator and creations. People should therefore treat all of nature with respect, awe, therefore treat all of nature with respect, awe, and humility.and humility.

PantheismPantheism ““Nature does not work with an Nature does not work with an

end in view. For the eternal and end in view. For the eternal and infinite Being, which we call God infinite Being, which we call God or Nature, acts by the same or Nature, acts by the same necessity as that whereby it necessity as that whereby it exists.”exists.”(Spinoza, (Spinoza, The EthicsThe Ethics, iv. Preface), iv. Preface)

““Individual things are nothing but Individual things are nothing but modifications of the attributes of modifications of the attributes of God, or modes by which the God, or modes by which the attributes of God are expressed in attributes of God are expressed in a fixed and definite manner.” a fixed and definite manner.” (Spinoza, (Spinoza, The EthicsThe Ethics, i.25.), i.25.)

Larry King: Larry King: Do you believe in God?Do you believe in God?

Stephen HawkingStephen Hawking Yes, if by God is meant the Yes, if by God is meant the

embodiment of the laws of the embodiment of the laws of the universe.universe.

((Larry King Live, December 25, 1999)Larry King Live, December 25, 1999)

““god is not the voice in the god is not the voice in the whirlwindwhirlwindgod is the whirlwind.”god is the whirlwind.”(Margaret Atwood “Resurrection”)(Margaret Atwood “Resurrection”)

PantheistsPantheists

Albert EinsteinAlbert Einstein Georgia O’KeeffeGeorgia O’Keeffe Henry David ThoreauHenry David Thoreau Rachel CarsonRachel Carson Margaret AtwoodMargaret Atwood Stephen HawkingStephen Hawking Sitting BullSitting Bull Mikhail GorbachevMikhail Gorbachev Terry Jordan-Bychkov Terry Jordan-Bychkov

Documents

Human-Environment Relations Religious roots of various attitudes