Links Between Faith and Environmental Thinking

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1. Baha’i
Founded by the Persian Baha’u’llah. Believes all religious leaders are manifestations of God and all scripture sacred. Nature and Scripture are the “two books” of revelation. Shoghi Effendi, Baha’u’llah’s great-grandson, noted: “Man is organic with the world. His inner life moulds the environment and is itself also deeply affected by it.”

2. Buddhism
Teaches respect for and interconnectedness of nature; plants and animals are included in schemes of salvation. Gautama Buddha was born, attained enlightenment, and died under trees. Sacred trees are decorated and revered. Buddhism advocates protection, such as ridam in Bhutan, an annual prohibition on entering a designated mountain forest.

3. Christianity
Teaches that all creation is a loving act of God and that humanity may not destroy God’s creations without the risk of destroying itself. St Francis was an early proponent of ecological stewardship. There have been statements by Christian leaders in response to the ecological crisis. Pope Francis published an encyclical in 2015 calling for protection of nature.


4. Daoism
Traditionally believed to have been founded by Lao Tzu. Stresses harmonious interaction with the environment, symbolized by a balance between two opposing forces of Yin and Yang. Chuang Tzu, a Daoist scholar, warns against the concept that all nature must be "useful" and stresses its existence value. Modern interpretation lays stress on ecology.


5. Hinduism
The earth is revered as Bhumi, “Mother Earth.” There are many references to conservation; e.g., the Arthashastra prescribes fines for destroying trees. Damming India’s most sacred rivers, the Ganges and Narmada, generated protests partly for faith reasons. During the Chipko movement, women prevented forest loss by surrounding trees with their bodies.

6. Jainism
Jains minimize harm to all life-forms and their teachings stress sympathy and compassion with all life. Mahavira stated: “One who neglects or disregards the existence of earth, air, fire, water and vegetation disregards his own existence which is entwined with them.” The Institute of Jainology produced the 1990 Jain Declaration on Nature.

7. Judaism
In the past, reaction to pantheism downgraded the importance of nature, although this is changing. The Tree of Life is one of Judaism’s most powerful images. Planting trees has been a widely observed practice, particularly in recent times and the Torah orders creation of green belts around cities (Numbers 35:4). Trees remain a subject of worship in Israel.

8. Islam
The teaching of Allah in the Qur’an states that humans have stewardship over nature, but nature belongs to God. Rivers and lakes need a buffer zone, and tree planting and kindness to animals are encouraged. Islam developed the use of Hima, land protection for grazing, bee-keeping, forests, or water, which is still practiced in Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

9. Shinto
Shinto was the traditional faith of Japan before Buddhism. There are many deities with no formal hierarchy or doctrine but strong links to nature. Ceremonies appeal to the kami, forces of nature in mountains, springs, trees, etc. Sacred groves are important, including both cultivated and natural areas.

10. Sikhism
Sikhs believe in one God and their sacred writings are contained in the Guru Granth Sahib. Guru Nanak said “Within the Universe, Earth was created to be a shrine.” All nature is sacred according to the Sikh faith. Sikhism follows a three hundred year cycle; the current cycle, due to end in 2299, is understood as the “Cycle of Creation” putting an emphasis on environmental practices.

11. Zoroastrianism
Founded by Zoroaster in modern day Iran. Later, many Zoroastrians moved to India where they are known as Parsis. They regard the earth as sacred, implying that life is also sacred. The decline of vultures in India due to chemical poisoning is a problem for Parsi communities, because the birds are essential to the tradition of disposing of the dead in “Towers of Silence.”

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