Introduction to Environmental Philosophy SFES 1214

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Introduction to Environmental Philosophy
SFES 1214
Week 6 Religious Perspective
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Replacement lecture Exam
29th of Sept 8 10 am Same venue
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Lecture Outline

• PART I
• What is Religion
• PART II
• Religious Perspective of Environmental ethics
• Islam
• Christianity
• Hinduism
• Buddhism
• The Golden Rule
• PART III
• Some critique of the religious perspective

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PART I What is Religion?
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What is religion?
In the Oxford Advanced Learner Dictionary, the
word religion is defined as the belief in
the existence of Supernatural Forces or referred
to as God or Gods and the activities that are
connected with the worship this Forces.
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What is religion? (cont.)
In the scientific world, religion has been
considered a particularly controversial topic.
This is because science and religion has
different ways in understanding reality Science
relies only on objective knowledge, based on
observable empirical data (which we can prove
with our senses) Religion is usually subjective,
relying in ideas that are believed to have been
revealed, supernatural and experiential to
understand the world. But nowadays, there are
various efforts in looking at religion and
science as complimentary rather than conflicting
to each other See
Quarks and Creation http//speakingoffaith.public
radio.org/programs/quarks/ Hinduism and Science
http//speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/he
artsreason/index.shtml Einstein and Religion
http//speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/ei
nstein/index.shtml Darwin and Religion
http//speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/da
rwin/index.shtml Islam and Science Read works
by Syed Hossein Nasr
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PART II Religious Perspectives of Environmental
Ethics
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ISLAM
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Environmental ethics based on Islam
Important sources

• Quran, the sacred book of the Muslims
• Hadiths, the sayings and traditions of the
  Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

• Readings
• Article by Mawil Y. Izzi Deen in Botzler and
  Armstrong, 1998, p.235-242
• Osman Bakar (2007) Environmental Wisdom for
  Planet Earth The Islamic Heritage. Centre for
  Civilisational Dialogue University Malaya

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Environmental ethics based on Islam
Key ethical principles

• The world is created by God and is in constant
  praise of God.
• Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds
• The seven heavens and the earth and all that is
  therein praises Him, and there is not such a
  thing that does not hymn His praise but you do
  not understand their praise. Lo! He is ever
  Clement, Forgiving
• The unity of creation as a reflection of the
  Unity of God (Al-Tawhid)
• The cosmos He God directs the affairs from
  the heaven to the earth. Then it ascends unto Him
  on a day the measure of which is a thousand years
  of your reckoning
• The earth Do they not look at the earth how
  many noble things of all kinds we have produced
  therein?
• The ecosystem There is not a animal that lives
  on the earth and nor a being that flies on its
  wing, but forms part of communities like you

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Environmental ethics based on Islam
Key ethical principles

• The balance of nature and its functions to human
  beings
• God created nature with different functions,
  carefully measured and meticulously balanced by
  God
• Everything with Him is measured
• And the firmament he has raised high, and he
  has set-up the balance of everything in order
  that you (humanity) may not transgress due
  balance. So maintain the balance with equity and
  not fall short of it
• One of the functions of the natural environment
  is to serve humanity
• He it is who hath made the earth subservient
  unto you, so walk in the paths thereof and eat of
  His providence
• O people! Worship your lord. Who has created you
  and those before you, so that you may ward off
  evil. Who hath appointed the earth a resting
  place for you and the sky a canopy and causeth
  water to pour down from the sky, thereby
  producing fruits as food for you. And do not set
  up rivals to Allah when ye know better.
• Prophet Muhammad said The earth is made for me
  and Muslims as a prayer place (masjid) and a
  purifier

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Environmental ethics based on Islam
Key ethical principles
4. Human beings as Gods vicegerent on earth
Lo we offered the trust unto the heavens and
the earth and the hills, but they shrank from
bearing it and were afraid of it. And man assumed
it The world is beautiful and verdant, and
Verily God the exalted, has made you His stewards
in it, and He sees how you acquit yourselves
Prophet Muhammad saw has also reminded his
followers on the importance of this role All
creatures are Gods dependents and the best among
them is the one that is most useful to Gods
dependents The only reason God does not cause
his punishment to pour over you are the elderly,
the suckling babes and the animals which graze
upon your land

• Human being continuous responsibility to the
  environment.
• Saying of Prophet Muhammad (saw) When doomsday
  comes if someone has a palm shoot in his hand he
  should plant it
• Then there was also a story of Khalifah Umar,
  the famous companion of Prophet Muhammad. He once
  saw an old man neglected his land. Umar asked him
  what was preventing him from cultivating it. The
  old man replied that he was an old man and he
  would die soon. But Umar insisted that he should
  plant it still and they ended up planting it
  together

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Environmental ethics based on Islam
Practical instructions
Reduce the suffering of animals The Prophet
said Verily Allah has prescribed equity (ihsan)
in all things. Thus if you kill, kill well, and
if you slaughter, slaughter well. Let each of you
sharpen his blade and let him spare suffering to
the animal he slaughters. Dont be wasteful
The Quran says O Children of Adam! Look to your
adornment at every place of worship eat and
drink, but be not prodigal (wasteful). Lo! He
loveth not the prodigals Avoid wasting water
Hadith Gods Messenger appeared while Saad was
taking the ablution. When he saw that Saad was
using a lot of water, he intervened in saying
What is this? Your are wasting water?. Saad
replied asking Can there be wastefulness with
taking ablution? To which Gods messenger
replied Yes, even if you take them on the bank
of rushing water. Restoring nature Hadith If
any Muslims plant a tree or sow a field, and a
human, bird or animals eats from it, it shall be
reckoned as a charity from him. Preserving
animals and plants during war Abu Bakar - one
of Prophet Muhammada (pbuh) close companion -
had emphasized nature preservation during war
Do not cut down trees and do not kill animals
except for food (in the enemy territory).
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Environmental ethics based on Islam
In action
In 2007, young British Muslims in Birmingham are
joining together on a people action to make
their city greener. Dubbed the Clean Medina
Campaign the event include rappers, film
crews, coffee, music, jingles, and a lot of
brushes and dustbin bags. See
http//www.arcworld.org/news.asp?pageID176
The Africa Muslim Environment Network (AMEN)
published its official mission statement in early
2007, including a powerful statement of its
vision as African Muslims helping African
Muslims helping the earth. See
http//www.arcworld.org/news.asp?pageID150
The Qur'an is not widely known as a source of
guidance on environmental and conservation
issues, but that has not stopped one development
organisation in Tanzania from using it to help
conserve an island marine park See
http//www.arcworld.org/news.asp?pageID70
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CHRISTIANITY
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Environmental ethics based on Christianity
Main sources
The bible The sacred book of the Christians.
Divided into two - The Old Testament
(mainly sourced from the Jewish Scripture the
Torah) - The New Testament

• Readings
• Article by Jeane Kay available in Botzler and
  Armstrong, 1998, p.210-221
• Article by Wendell Berry available in Botzler
  and Armstrong, 1998, p.221-242

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Environmental ethics based on Christianity
Key ethical principles

• Man and nature are Gods creation, and they have
  equal relationship with God
• Ruach, meaning wind, spirit or breath is the
  force to which God animates life and this term
  has been used for both human and the animal souls
• Man and animals were also created together on
  the sixth day of creation
• Nature also has its own commandment and this is
  quite similar to the commandment to human beings
• God commands animals to be faithful and multiply
  along with Adam and Noah
• God creates plants simultaneously with their
  reproductive potentials and God refrain them
  from doing murder
• So, nature has high value in the eyes of God

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Environmental ethics based on Christianity
Key ethical principles

• Nature was created to serve mankind
• After creating the heavens, the seas, the earth
  and all it contains, God created man and woman.
  And God saw everything he had made and behold, it
  was good. God contributed the whole of creation
  to man and woman and only then could he rest from
  all his work
• I give you every seed bearing plants on the
  face of the whole earth and every tree that has
  fruits with seed in it. They will be yours for
  food. And to all the beast of the earth and all
  the birds of the air and all the creatures that
  move on the ground everything that has the
  breadth of life in it I give every green plant
  for food, and it was so
• There was also a specific instruction to Adam
  and Eve
• Be fruitful and increase in number, fill the
  earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the
  sea and the birds of the air and over every
  living creature that moves on the ground
• Also as a source of knowledge
• Go to the ant, you sluggard consider its ways
  and be wise!

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Environmental ethics based on Christianity
Key ethical principles
3. But nature is only a gift from God and must be
used with due care the concept of
stewardship the heaven and the heaven of
heavens is the Lords thy God, the earth also,
with all that therein is The land shall not
be sold forever for the land is mine, for ye are
strangers and sojourners with me 4. If not,
Nature will take over mans superiority over it
God sends wild beasts to destroy people, or
strikes agricultural fields with insect
pests When God delivers the Israelites into
the hands of their enemies, who reduce their
walled cities to rubble and destroy their
agriculture, these devastated sites are invaded
by bird and mammal scavengers
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Environmental ethics based on Christianity
Practical instructions
Be thankful of for the land as a gift from God
When thou has eaten and art full, then thou
shall bless the Lord for the good land which he
hath given thee Responsible agriculture God
has required Sabbath for the land, which was to
be left fallow every seven years and a sabbath of
Sabbath every fiftieth year where the field was
left to fallow and returned to its original owner
so it could be free from the taint of trade and
the conceit of human ownership. As mentioned in
the Bible as truly as I live, all the earth
shall be filled with the glory of the Lord and
the creature the creation itself also shall be
delivered from the bondage of corruption into the
glorious liberty of the children of
God Conserve animals by preserving the source
If a birds nest chance to be before thee in the
way in any tree, or on the ground, whether they
be young ones, or eggs, and the dam sitting upon
the young, or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take
the dam with the yound. But thou shalt in any
wise let the dam go, and the young to thee, that
it may well with thee, and that thou mayest
prolong thy days
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Environmental ethics based on Christianity
In action
The world's first "green" Bible for a mass market
audience is published in October 2007. See
http//www.arcworld.org/news.asp?pageID203
The Church of Sweden was host to a meeting to
create a religious forestry standard,
according to ecological principles for
religious-owned forest in late August 2007
The world's first "green" Bible for a mass market
audience is published in October 2007.
See http//www.arcworld.org/projects.asp?projectI
D344
Conservation International and its partners
forged a partnership with the Roman Catholic
church in Colombia to save two species on the
verge of extinction. In 2007, the alliance was
lauded as one of the most successful biodiversity
conservation campaigns in Latin American
history. See http//www.arcworld.org/news.asp?pag
eID155
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HINDUISM
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Environmental ethics based on Hinduism
Main sources
Vedic hymns and poems (Vedas) The vedas were
passed down from ancient times in written form
and by words of mouth. Hindus believe that the
Vedas are the inspired word of God, delivered at
the dawn of the universe to Brahma, the first
created being.
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Environmental ethics based on Hinduism
Ethical principles
Life is sacred All living beings are sacred
because they are a part of God, and should be
treated with respect and compassion. There are
numerous stories within Hinduism that treat
animals as divine.
Simple living In order to alleviate one self
spiritually, the virtue of a simple life has
always been prized in Hindu society. Teachers, or
brahmanas, are advised not accumulate too much
wealth. The most highly respected person in Hindu
society is the sadhu, or sage who lives outside
normal society. Sadhus take pride in living
simply and consuming as little as possible.
Inner peace Hinduism stresses that true
happiness comes from within not from outer
possessions. This means that the search for
material possessions should not be allowed to
dominate life. Lifes main purpose is to discover
the spiritual nature and the peace and fulfilment
it brings. The efforts to exploit the things of
this world is considered by Hindu teachers to be
a distraction from this central purpose of life.
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Living bodies subsist on food grains, which are
produced from rains. Rains are produced from
performance of yajna sacrifice, and yajna is
born of prescribed duties. Regulated activities
are prescribed in the Vedas, and the Vedas are
directly manifested from the Supreme Personality
of Godhead. Consequently the all-pervading
Transcendence is eternally situated in acts of
sacrifice. My dear Arjuna, one who does not
follow in human life the cycle of sacrifice thus
established by the Vedas certainly lives a life
full of sin. Living only for the satisfaction of
the senses, such a person lives in vain.
Bhagavad Gita 314-16
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Environmental ethics based on Hinduism
In action
Hindu groups and the Orissa government in India
re-establish the states sacred forests to
provide for the annual festival of Lord
Jagannath See http//www.arcworld.org/projects.as
p?projectID172
Leading Balinese environmentalist received a
major international award for his work with local
Hindu leaders to protect tens of thousands of
rare turtles killed for ceremonies every year.
Today Balinese finding turtles on the beach make
a ceremony for them, and return them to the
sea.
See www.arcworld.org/news.asp?pageID142
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BUDDHISM
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Environmental ethics based on Buddhism
Main sources
The teachings of Buddha Buddhas teachings
were memorised by his disciples and passed down
orally. In 80 BC they were written down in the
collection of texts now known as the Pali cannon.
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Environmental ethics based on Hinduism
Ethical principles
All beings are connected Buddhism teaches that
the idea of separateness is an illusion. The
health of the whole is inseparably linked to the
health of the parts, and the health of the parts
is inseparably linked to the health of the
whole. Respect for life Ones existence is no
more important than anyone elses. If one treats
nature as a friend and teacher, one can be in
harmony with other creatures and appreciate the
interconnectedness of all that lives. Simplicity
and moderation Craving and greed only bring
unhappiness, since demands for material
possessions can never be satisfied, and people
will always demand more, so threatening the
environment. This is why the real solution to the
environmental crisis begins with the
individual. Right Livelihood The way you earn
your livelihood not killing, not stealing, not
taking more than you need all these are part of
the Buddhist way of life. A livelihood that
avoids harming others, such as trading in
weapons, meat, alcohol or poisons is in harmony
with nature.
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As a bee gathering nectar does not harm or
disturb the colour and fragrance of the
flower so do the wise move through the world.
Dhammapada Flowers, verse 49
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Environmental ethics based on Hinduism
In action
Monks and conservationists are joining together
to protect the Cambodias endangered flora and
fauna. Local monks in the commune of Russei Chrum
have joined with Conservation International in a
project merging Buddhist teachings and
environmental education. See http//www.arcworld.
org/projects.asp?projectID322
In northern Cambodia two large tracts of virgin
forest have been protected simply because of the
presence of monks who decided to live in the
forest for three to four months. They are there
as teachers but they are also advocates and
campaigners and their presence has controlled
illegal logging and poaching. See
http//www.arcworld.org/projects.asp?projectID322

A short film titled Community Forestry, Buddhism
and Cambodia Heritage features Association of
Buddhists for the Environment (ABE)'s work among
Buddhist communities in Cambodia. It won the
Audience Choice prize in the Cambodia, July 6
2007. See http//www.arcworld.org/news.asp?pageID
175
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What religions have in common
The Golden Rule
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PART III Some Critique on the Religious
Perspective
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Environmental ethics based on Religion
Some Challenges
According to Botzler and Armstrong (1998) there
are some problems in using religious traditions
as a foundation for developing one's
environmental ethics.

• Religious perspective may be more appealing to
  certain section of society
• Religious scriptures/texts do not explicitly
  address environmental issues per se thus
  environmental philosophy based on these sources
  are mostly derived from ones perceptions of what
  the relevant passages are and how they should be
  interpreted
• Some argued that the Judeo-Christian religion
  held in Western society has negative attitudes
  toward nature The most influential critique was
  an article written by Lynn White entitled the
  "The Historical Roots of Our Ecologic Crisis.

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Environmental ethics based on Religion
Critique by Lynn White
Lynn White claimed that the Christian Middle Ages
was the root of ecological crisis in the 20th
century, and he elaborated this ideas in his
wrote a highly influential article, "The
Historical Roots of Our Ecologic Crisis",
published in the journal Science in 1967. The
premise of his argument was Gods instruction on
mans dominance over nature, based on the story
of Adam and Eve in the Book of Genesis 128
Be fruitful and increase in number, fill the
earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the
sea and the birds of the air and over every
living creature that moves on the ground
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Environmental ethics based on Religion
Responses to Lynn Whites ideas
White's ideas set off an extended debate about
the role of religion in creating and sustaining
the destructive attitudes of Western society in
exploiting the natural world. It also galvanised
interest in the role of religion in environmental
protection. However, many also saw his argument
as a direct attack on Christianity. Instead, a
counter argument was put forward that Genesis
provides man with a model of "stewardship" rather
than dominion, and asks man to take care of the
world's environment! They proposed that we
evaluate how major religions has responded and
can best respond to environmental crisis. Rather
than just finding weaknesses of the religious
perspective, we also need to proactively ways in
which religion are able to provide a strong and
workable foundation for environmental ethics..