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Joseph Sittler and the Theater of Human Existence
Joseph Sittler is one of the most distinguished theological educators. In this article, we learn about his life and education. He explains how people are more open-minded now than several years ago and questions his faith in churches' expectations of students. He goes on to explain his critiques of the education system. He also thinks schools should focus on their strengths and hone in on them.
"'These same years have brought to the fore much of what Sittler thinks is wrong with theological education today. He locates one basic problem not with the schools but with the churches that send their ministry candidates to those schools. “There are certain expectations of contemporary theological education which the schools have got to fight against. One of these, generated by the church, is that the pastor is to be a combination of master of ceremonies and soothing friend. The schools, despite the integrity of their own intentions, the appropriate preparation that they demand of their faculties, and the desire to do the hard and critical work, are expected to turn out students who ‘meet the approval of the church accrediting committee.’” -
Spiritual Connections with the Natural Environment: Pathways for Global Change
The article discusses how different religions and philosophies have lessons to offer about the relationship humanity has with nature. With this, the article also discusses how this can be transferred to environmental actions and policy today. -
The Spirit of the Earth: A Theology of Land
The book, The Spirit of the Earth: A Theology of land, was written by John Hart. It examines human impact on the Earth through a theological perspective. It relates to problems humans face with our use of Earth's resources and provides possible solutions. -
Environmentalism as Religion
The article discusses how traditional religions have been struggling in recent decades to gain as many members because the modern world has become more complex morally and ethically. Therefore, it questions the role of environmentalism as filling that gap in many people's lives as the new faith that they can follow. It incorporates a history on ecology through different scientists theories/findings and also the transfer of many Christian communities to the "green", sustainable mindset. Finally, it compares and contrasts different philosophers ideas on what religion really means and if environmentalism has the capacity to be it's own. -
Common Waters: Global water crises and Christian baptism
An article written in the Colombia Theological Seminary's journal @ This Point Vol. 10 No. 2. This article outlines several national and global water issues and threats as well as the efforts to resolve these issues. It examines the concept of baptism in relation to Christian values and ideas towards water and water management. -
Religion and Environmental Worldviews: undergraduate thesis
This document is an undergraduate thesis written by two students at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. The study looks at different religion and spiritual perspectives and how they contribute to environmental worldviews. Specifically, the students posited that the more religious one was, the more human-center their environment worldview would be. Despite their well-designed survey, they concluded that religion did not affect environmental worldview, even though it did influence behavior. -
The Real Threat to Hinduism: The Slow Death of India’s Rivers
Much of Hindu culture, religion, mythologies, and festivals are centered around nature, specifically bodies of water. However, air and water pollution are at an all time high in India. This poses a great threat to the rivers that are deeply rooted in Hindu culture and religion, most notably the Ganges River. This article delves into the hypocrisy shown by man and his relationship between religion and the environment. Hinduism boasts environmental protection and conservation, but fails in practice. "We worship our rivers as mothers and then choke them to death with all sorts of filth." -
The Maori People and Environmental Protection
The article is a brief account of a university student's experience of the Maori appreciation for nature. The article highlights kaitiakitanga, the Maori word for the moral and religious obligation of people to be stewards of the land. The author goes on to explain the high rates of participation of Maori people in New Zealand's political movements for conservation due to their strong religious beliefs about holiness of the land. -
Love Letter to the Earth
In this book, Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh gives an avenue on how to care for and heal the Earth from a Buddhist perspective. This book argues that how humans currently view the environment leads to a mental separation between themselves and the planet. This separation, Nhat Hanh claims, causes people to think of the Earth only in terms of what it can do for them, and we therefore have hurt the planet and ourselves in the name of progress. Love Letter to the Earth presents the need to move beyond our current conceptualisation of the environment in order to protect it properly. -
Harnessing Faith for Climate Change
An article written in Devex covers Jewish movements in attacking climate change and emitting greenhouse gasses from Jewish communities. Many faith-based organizations have realized the one vegan dinner at a time isn’t going to solve this climate crisis and bigger actions need to be taken. Faith leaders have realized that they have the ability to spread important messages to large numbers of people which helps start powerful movements. -
Climate Change and Hinduism
Ancient texts of Hinduism frequently mention environmental aspects related to the religion. There are also many general guidelines of Hinduism that can be applied to conservation in our current climate situation. This article highlights a few of these concepts and give a brief description of each. -
Climate Change Adaptation Plan for the Navajo Nation
The Climate Change Adaptation Plan for the Navajo Nation includes a climate change statement and climate plan outlining several key issues that the Navajo Nation aims to address with the plan.
The key issues of concern include: loss of traditional practices as a result of climate stress and implementing changes that do not interfere with Navajo religious traditions and ceremonies, depletion and contamination of water resources, over-population of feral horses, communication, enforcement and compliance, air pollution, air quality, and local dumping, and grazing management.
The plan also outlines vulnerabilities associated with and goals and adaptation strategies to address the aforementioned key issues. -
"Dine Be keyah"": The Cultural Geography and Environmental Connectedness Associated with the Religion of the Navajo Nation, Including a Brief Synopsis of Navajo Perceptions Illustrated in Sacred Crowns
This thesis is about the how the Navajo lifestyle has diverged away from respecting their sacred environment, the root cause being economic forces and federal governmental influences. The thesis also discusses Navajo religious traditions and beliefs defining the Navajo Nation's existence and explains the Navajo Blessingway ceremony. There is also a synopsis of Sacred Clowns by Tony Hillerman. -
Environment and Sustainability Prayers
As an extension of their official website, Xavier University faculty and staff have established a Jesuit Resource index. This resource provides a compilation of daily reflections, quotes, prayers, and videos, among other resources, for students who wish to broaden their Jesuit education and Ignatian spirituality. The Jesuit Resource webpage includes a “Prayer Index,” within which is a catalog of prayers, organized by theme. The Index contains a collection of ten prayers related to “Environment and Sustainability,” which include prayers for "An End to Waste," and for the "Wisdom to Care for the Earth." Read more by accessing this resource. -
A Catholic Perspective on Climate Change
This article describes some of the science of climate change, and how it can be viewed through faith. It has an overview of how we know that climate change is real and cause by humans, as well as its effect on humans. It also shares some solutions on how to mitigate this problem. -
Religions and Environmental Sustainability Focusing on Some Practical Approaches
This study looks at two participants with different religious backgrounds and compares their responses to the environmental crisis. By comparing how they view eco-religious understandings and suggestions, the paper tries to provide more context for addressing environmental issues. Also how these perceptions of environmental sustainability can help motivate others to protect the natural environment. -
Gender Dysphoria Bible
The GDB is a living document focused on the transgender experience and history. The purpose its to document the many ways Gender Dysphoria can manifest, and to help those questioning, transitioning, and those seeking to be better allies. With over 4,500 years of history there are many misconceptions about transgender and nonbinary individuals, the GDB gives the framework to have a productive and respectful conversation about trans intersections in faith and the environment. -
White House Takes Aim at Environmental Racism, but Won’t Mention Race
In his campaign, President Joe Biden aimed to eliminate the racial injustices that come alongside climate change. However, the administration’s newest climate strategy does not acknowledge racial minorities. Instead, aid will be sent to neighborhoods in need solely based on income, unemployment rates, and air quality. Many Americans are upset at the nature of this strategy, as it does not acknowledge those who are statistically disproportionately affected by climate change. -
Religion-Sustainability Database Entry assignment
My entry will be about eh impact that religion has had on environment and also the impacts of climate change and how world leaders are speaking more openly about it. -
Care for Creation
This article details what it means to protect the environment as a catholic and how important it is. Catholics are called to be stewards of the Earth which means protecting people but also protecting God's other creations. This protection is described as being a requirement and is shown through examples in the Bible. -
Green is In: The Rise of Environmental Sustainability in the Philippines
An article from Priority Consultants details the ramifications and consequences of global warming on the Philippines, a country especially susceptible to climate change due to its geography and economic standing. The article further highlights the need for steps toward fighting climate change due to the country's immense ecological ecosystem and some of the plans already in place to aid this endeavor. -
Unitarian Universalist Faith Action New Jersey
Unitarian Universalist Faith Action New Jersey is a grassroots advocacy organization that fights for social and environmental justice in New Jersey. The organization uses written campaigns, testimonies, grassroot lobbying, and public rallies to fight for environmental justice in New Jersey. It supports environmental policies in New Jersey, such as the Green Amendment, moratoriums on fossil fuel infrastructure, and New Jersey Senate Bill 2252 (initiatives for plug-in locations for electric vehicles). UU Faith Action explains their commitment to social justice by stating on their website: “We feel that working for social justice and the elimination of all forms of oppression is an essential part of our individual and collective spiritual journeys” (uufaithaction.org).