RELIGIOUS FAITH AND THE ENVIRONMENT

A PRESENTATION OF RELEVANT STATEMENTS

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

Numerous Catholic leaders - including the past two popes - have issued statements supporting the protection of Creation. Here are several of the most important statements.

• If You Want to Cultivate Peace, Protect Creation - Pope Benedict XVI, World Day of Peace, 2010

• Peace with God the Creator, Peace with All of Creation -Pope John Paul II, World Day of Peace, 1990

• Renewing the Earth - An Invitation to Reflection and Action on Environment in Light of Catholic Social Teaching - A Pastoral statement of the United States Catholic Conference, 1991.

• The Columbia River Watershed: Caring for Creation and the Common Good. An International Pastoral Letter by the Catholic Bishops of the Region

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ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN STATEMENTS

Orthodox Christianity - following the widely recognized leadership of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew - has issued a number of important statements on the environment.

• Message for the Day of the Protection of the Environment, 1989 - Ecumenical Patriarch Demetrios I

• Address during the official opening of the first international symposium - Revelation and the Environment, 1995 - Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

• Common Declaration of Pope John Paul II and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the Fourth Ecological Symposium on the Adriatic Sea, 2002

For links to over 200 statements by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I on

the environment, and for more information about

Bartholomew's ecological commitment, click here.

EVANGELICAL STATEMENTS

Increasing numbers of Evangelical leaders, following the lead of the Evangelical Environmental Network, have made statements in support of Creation care.

• On the Care of Creation - An Evangelical Declaration on the Care of Creation, 1994

• The Evangelical Climate Initiative, 2006

• A Southern Baptist Declaration on the Environment and Climate Change, 2008

UNITED METHODIST STATEMENTS

All creation is the Lord’s, and we are responsible for the ways in which we use and abuse it.United Methodist Social Principles

• United Methodist Church Social Principles - The Natural World

• Environmental Stewardship,Book of Resolutions, 2008

• Environmental Justice for a Sustainable Future, Book of Resolutions, 2008

• Energy Policy Statement, Book of Resolutions, 2008

• Protection of Water, Book of Resolutions, 2008

• Environmental Racism,Book of Resolutions, 2008

BAPTIST STATEMENTS

The Baptist community is remarkably diverse - and more and more Baptist leaders have issued statements on the environment.

We have poisoned the earth which God has given us. It is no no longer the beautiful garden that Genesis portrays as the home of Adam and Eve.American Baptist Policy Statement on Ecology

• American Baptist Policy Statement on Ecology, 2007

• American Baptist Statement on Energy, 2007

• American Baptist Resolution on Global Warming, 2007

• American Baptist Resolution on Individual Lifestyle for Ecological Responsibility, 1996

• American Baptist Resolution on Hazardous, Toxic and Radioactive Waste, 1992

• A Southern Baptist Declaration on the Environment and Climate Change, 2008

• Alliance of Baptists Statement on Climate Change, 2009

LUTHERAN STATEMENTS

Lutheran theologians Joseph Sittler and H. Paul Santmire have been influential leaders of the religious environmental movement.  Today, Lutherans Restoring Creation is the main Lutheran (ELCA) environmental network.

• Environment - Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope, and Justice, 1993

• Resolution on Caring for Creation, 2005

• Resolution on Global Warming, 2001

• For a full list of environmental resolutions adopted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, click here.

PRESBYTERIAN STATEMENTS

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has an active environmental network - Presbyterians for Earth Care.  Important Presbyterian environmental statements are on the next slide.

• Restoring Creation for Ecology and Justice, General Assembly (1990) Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

• Hope for a Global Future: Toward Just and Sustainable Human Development, General Assembly (1996) Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

• Resolution for Presbyterians to Live Carbon Neutral Lives, General Assembly (2006) Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

• For more Presbyterian resources on the environment, visit the Presbyterian on-line store.

ANGLICAN/EPISCOPAL STATEMENTS

The Episcopal Church is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The Episcopal Church has adopted numerous environmental resolutions. Several important statements and a resolution are on the next slide.

• Stewardship of Creation - A Declaration to the Anglican Communion, Anglican Communion Environmental Network, 2002

• Carbon Footprint Resolution, The Executive Council of the Episcopal Church, 2008

• The Hope We Share: A Vision For Copenhagen, Anglican Communion Environmental Network, 2009

• "(W)e support federal legislation that will achieve a 15-20 percent reduction in U.S. carbon emissions by 2020 and an 80 percent reduction in U.S. carbon emissions by 2050..."

The Executive Council of the Episcopal Church, 2008

QUAKER STATEMENTS

With their historic commitment to simple living, Quakerism has produced important statements on the environment.  Quaker Earthcare Witness is the leading US-based Quaker environmental group.

• "People must choose activities, create institutions, and establish policies and laws that are beneficial to the earth and will help protect and regenerate its ecosystems.“ FCNL Policy Statement, We Seek an Earth Restored

• Friends Committee on National Legislation Policy Statement : Part IV, We Seek an Earth Restored, 2007

• A Quaker Response to the Crisis of Climate Change, Quakers in Britain, 2009

HINDU STATEMENTS

A growing number of Hindu leaders are speaking and writing to urge protection of the environment. Here are links to several important statements.

• Ten Key Hindu Teachings on the Environment, by Dr. Pankaj Jain, GreenFaith's Hindu and Jain Scholar in Residence

• Statements by various Hindu scholars, including editors of leading Hindu journals, heads of foundations and organizations, and spiritual leaders

• Hinduism, Jainism, and Ecology by Dr. Christopher Key Chapple, Loyola Marymount University, published by The Forum on Religion and Ecology

• Hindu Declaration on Climate Change, 2009

• "Let there be peace in the heavens, the Earth, the atmosphere, the water, the herbs, the vegetation, among the divine beings and in Brahman, the absolute reality. Let everything be at peace and in peace. Only then will we find peace."

• Atharva Veda

ISLAMIC STATEMENTS

 A growing number of Islamic leaders are writing and speaking about the Islamic basis for protecting the environment.  A small number of important statements are below.

• Observing a Green Ramadan Webinar Recording GreenFaith's Observing a Green Ramadan webinar, recorded July 18, 2011.

•  Imam Zaid Shakir's Message for a Green Ramadan A message from Imam Zaid Shakir on Observing a Green Ramadan, recorded July 18, 2011.

• Islamic Faith Statement on the Environment Hyder Ihsan Mahasneh, biologist and Islamic scholar, appointed by the Muslim World League, 2003.

• The Muslim Declaration on Nature, His Excellency Dr. Abdullah Omar Naseef, Secretary General of the Muslim World League, Assisi, 1986.

• Islam and Ecology: A Bestowed Trust Inviting Balanced Stewardship by Dr. Frederick M. Denny, University of Colorado, published by the Forum on Religion and Ecology.

• "For the Muslim, humankind's role on earth is that of a Khalifah - vicegerent or trustee of Allah. We are Allah's stewards and agents on Earth. We are not masters of this Earth; it does not belong to us to do what we wish. It belongs to Allah and He has entrusted us with its safekeeping." 

• His Excellency Dr. Abdullah Omar Naseef

BUDDHIST STATEMENTS

Many Buddhist leaders have written and spoken in support of environmental protection.  The following are links to a select number of important statements.

• Statements by various Buddhist scholars, including spiritual leaders and Patriarchs

• Excerpt from Ancient Wisdom, Modern World: Ethics for the New Millennium - The Fourteenth Dalai Lama

• Reverence for Life -Thich Nhat Hanh   • A Buddhist Declaration on Climate Change, 2008   

• Collection of the Fourteenth Dalai Lama's statements on the environment.

• "Aware of the suffering caused by the destruction of life, I undertake to cultivate compassion and learn ways to protect the lives of people, animals, plants, and minerals. I am determined not to kill, not to let others kill, and not to condone any act of killing in the world, in my thinking, and in my way of life."

• Reverence for Life

JEWISH STATEMENTS

• Ten Jewish Teachings on Judaism and the Environment Basic Jewish teachings on the environment

• Reform Jewish Statements on the Environment   • Conservative Jewish Statements on the Environment

Conservative Jewish Statements on the Environment • Jewish Statements on the Environment Jewish Statements on

the Environment home • Reconstructionist Jewish Statements on the Environment

Reconstructionist Jewish Statements on the Environment • Jewish

Environmental Organizational Statements on the Environment   • Judaism and Sustainability, Rabbi Lawrence Troster   • Judaism and Sustainability Rabbi Lawrence Troster   • Orthodox Jewish Statements on the Environment