Environmental Ethics And Religion

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Environmental Ethics And Religion

• By Jamie Ryan
• Religions of the Book

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Overview

• Define Environmental Ethics Sustainability
• Relation between religion and environment
• Scripture references environment
• Current events
• How you can make a difference

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What is Environmental Ethics?

• Environmental ethics- the discipline that studies
  the moral relationship of human beings and also
  the value and moral status of the environment and
  its nonhuman contents
• It considers the ethical relationship between
  humans and the environment

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Why are Environmental Ethics Important?

• Humans are slowly depleting all of our natural
  resources that other generations need for their
  future
• Our world was created for us to live and thrive
  on and we are slowly killing it
• Sustainability for the environment is crucial so
  that we do not destruct the world that God created

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What is Sustainability?

• Sustainability- meeting the needs of the present
  without compromising the ability of future
  generations to meet their needs. It addresses
  issues of social equity and economic development
  as well as ecological indicators.

• connects to our children and our childrens
  children
• Christianity Judaism and Islam all want to pass
  on their religion to their future generations

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The Environment and Religion

• Christian, Jewish and Islamic religions all
  support the environment
• Scriptural References
• The New Testament, Hebrew Bible and the Quran
  support by respecting animals, eating and
  planting fruit and respecting all forms of nature
• Themes of reward and punishment

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Judaism and the Environment

• The Jewish belief toward the environment is
  similar to the themes found in the Tanuk.
• - God is all powerful and we must recognize him
  and serve him in the ways that he commands.
• - God instruct the Jews
• about their limitations
• on natural resources

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Christianity and the Environment

• Rom 819-23
• This passage shows how the creation was for the
  children of God and the world was created for us.
• Christians believe we should respect all aspects
  of the environment and that those who do so will
  be rewarded.
• Relation to sustainability

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Islam and the Environment

• Who did transgress beyond bounds in the land and
  made therein much mischief. So your Lord poured
  on them different kinds of severe torment. Surely
  your Lord is Ever-Watchful." (8911-14)
• -This is a punishment in the Quran for those
  who did not appreciate the fertile land, pure
  water and beautiful gardens.

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Animals and Religion

• Judaism, Christianity and Islam all regard
  animals in their scriptures and they are
  consistently a part of the text.
• Reoccurring animals include lambs, fish, ox,
  horses, cattle, sheep and many others
• Many of our animals are endangered and we do not
  want to destroy the earth and kill them off

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Fair Treatment of AnimalsJudaism

• When you wish meat for food, you may eat it at
  will, to your hearts desire.. (Deut 1220)
• -Here we see that food from God and that it
  should be eaten and enjoyed because it is a
  gift
• If while walking along, you chance upon a birds
  nest with young birds of eggs in it, in any tree
  of on the ground, and the mother bird is sitting
  on them, you shall not take away the mother bird
  along with her brood. It is thus for you that you
  should have prosperity and a long life (Deut
  226-8)
• -Here it is evident that birds are an animal of
  importance. Doing the right thing in this
  situation will be rewarded by God

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Fair Treatment of AnimalsJudaism Keeping Kosher

• KOSHER
• -Meat can not be mixed with dairy
• -You may eat any animal that has cloven hooves
  and chews its cud. (Lev. 113)
• -Camels, badgers and pigs are not Kosher
• -Prohibits consumption of Blood Life Soul
  of Animal
• -But make sure that you do not partake in the
  blood for the blood Is life and you shall not
  consume this seat of life with the blood of
  flesh (Deut 12 23)

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Keeping Kosher (contd)

• Jewish ritual slaughter is very specific and it
  is painless, causes unconsciousness within two
  seconds, and is recognized as most humane way
  possible.
• -Certain parts and organs of animals must not be
  eaten
• -Of the things that are in the waters, you may
  eat anything that has fins and scales(Lev. 11)

- According to Jewish law pigs are animals that
should not be eaten
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Treatment of Animals and The New Testament

• The just man takes care of his beast, but the
  heart of the wicked is merciless (Prov 1210)
• -A right man would take care of his animals
  and those who are wicked are cruel to creatures
  under their care.
• There are six things that the Lord hates, yes,
  seven are an abomination to him Haughty eyes a
  lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood
  (Prov 616-17)
• Different interpretations argue that this proverb
  pertains to animals and they should not be killed
  by humans for no reason

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Fair treatment of AnimalsIslam

• "Do they not look at the camels how they are
  created" (8817)

• Here camels are mentioned because they are a
  remarkable animal that provide a great benefit to
  many people
• The Quran -stresses importance of grazing
  animals. Specifically sheep and cattle, because
  it wants people to make good use of them.

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Fruit and its relation to the Hebrew Bible

• Deut 21
• Told not to cut down trees that have fruit in
  them. Men a instructed that they can eat the
  fruit but may not harm them
• Fruit is considered a blessing from God and we
  should not destroy things that bless us with
  fruit from the Lord

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Fruit and the Bible

• You are free to eat from any of the trees in the
  garden except the tree of knowledge of good and
  bad. From that tree you shall not eat the moment
  you eat from it you are surely doomed and will
  die(Gen 216-17)
• -God has given us everything we need
• -Sets fourth specific limitations
• -Must fight temptation to disregard God

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Fruit and the Bible

• -Dual meaning of fruit
• 1) The fruit from the environment should be
  cherished and continually planted for others
• 2) Humans must be fruitful and have children but
  we must have a healthy place to live, which then
  connects us back to sustainability

Fruit is also often associated Bearing children
and multiplying your descendents is important in
order to carry on the religion.
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Fruit and the New Testament

• When the season came, he a sent a servant to the
  tenants to get from them some of the fruit of the
  vineyard (Mark 122)
• Every good tree that does not bear good fruit is
  cut down and thrown into the fire (Matt 219)
• - Tree is only good if it can bear good fruit
• - Importance of fruit
• - Environmentalist disagree with burning

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Fruit and Islam

• "Eat of their fruit when they bring fruit, but
  pay the due thereof on the day of its harvest.
  But be not extravagant." (6141)
• - accepting gifts from others
• - Dont be excessive in production and
  consumption
• - Allah does not like spoiling
• - Must not overproduce and waste food seen as
  an ingratitude to Allah

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Current Events

• Bush and United Nations looking to punish those
  countries with emissions linked to global
  warming.
• Current Issue- depleting the ozone layer with our
  extensive release of CO2 and fossil fuels.
• Walking to locations instead of driving was done
  in the passed and we should continue to do so
  today.
• We need to reduce our emissions of gases that
  harm the environment.

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Current Events (Continued)

• Iran has increased ins nuclear enrichment
  program. Nuclear weapons can create mass
  destruction and ruin our world.
• Convince Iran to take part in IAEA inspections
• Iran claims their uranium is only used for civil
  purposes
• Many see this as an issue between Christians and
  Jews v. Muslims
• See passed their cultural differences
• Think about what is right for our environment and
  our future generations

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Questions

• Do you think that God intended us to be masters
  over the environment and all that in entails?
• Have you noticed anything in the scriptures that
  are very different from another in regards to the
  environment? Or do the religions of the book
  share the same beliefs?
• What do you think should be done to solve current
  environmental issues?

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How Can I Help?

• Many people rely on others to take action when it
  comes to the environment. Instead you can
• - Walk or carpool
• -Reusable instead of paper
• - Always recycle
• - Dont waste food
• - Eat organically

• TEACH OTHERS TO BE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY AND
  MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!!!

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Bibliography

• Gerstenfeld, Manfred. Jerusalem Center for Public
  Offairs. Jewish Environmental Perspective. Viewed
  May 10, 2007.lt http//www.jcpa.org/art/jep3.htmgt
• Jacobs, Bill. Pope John Paul II. Nature is our
  Sister. Viewed May 10, 2007. http//conservation.c
  atholic.org/pope_john_paul_ii.htm
• Regenstein, Lewis.Animals, Religion and the
  Environment. ?The Bibles Teachings on Protecting
  Animals and Nature ?Viewed May26,
  2007http//www.all-creatures.org/articles/an-tpr-a
  re.html
• Revkin, Andrew C. New York Times. Bush Climate
  Plan Amid Nays, Some. Viewed June1,2007http//www
  .nytimes.com/2007/06/04/washington/04climate.html?
  _r1nTop2fReference2fTimes20Topics2fSubjects
  2fE2fEnvironmentorefslogin
• Rich, Tracy R. Judaism 101 Kashrut Jewish
  Dietary Laws Viewed June 1, 2007.
  http//www.jewfaq.org/kashrut.htm
• Wikipedia. Online Encyclopedia. Environmentalism.
  Viewed June 1, 2007. http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
  Environmentalism