Religion And The Environment Final

Front 1

worldview

Back 1

framework/perspective/philosophy on how an individual views the world and interacts with it.

Front 2

anthropocentric

Back 2

the view that humans are the central concern of all things (needs, problems to be solved, etc.); from a human use view point; of what is X useful to humans?

Front 3

biocentric

Back 3

all forms of life are equally valuable and humanity is not the center of existence or concern

Front 4

theocentric

Back 4

God is central to our existence; God has ownership of all of humans and nature and humans are to be guardians/stewards of this creation.

Front 5

dualism or dualistic

Back 5

two different parts in tension and considered in contrast with each other

Front 6

creation theology

Back 6

how nature and people came to be and how we relate to nature

Front 7

immanent

Back 7

within the material of a religious text

Front 8

ecofeminism

Back 8

belief system/philosophy that highlights the concerns of women and nature; points out the hierarchy of power and patriarchy and how women and nature are frequently oppressed/dominated in the same manner by this hierarchy.

Front 9

deep ecology

Back 9

idea that everything is interconnected and is inherently valuable

Front 10

torah

Back 10

the most important written texts in Judaism; first five books of Hebrew texts)

Front 11

pagan

Back 11

-country dweller
-belief system of many historical peoples
-includes the belief that many gods/spirits/deities are in charge of the world
-deep intimacy with nature, typically celebrated through seasonal festivals

Front 12

neopaganism

Back 12

contemporary belief system that may or may not include pantheistic beliefs, many gods and lots of religious ritual tied to nature.

Front 13

exegesis

Back 13

uncovering the text’s meaning

Front 14

monotheism

Back 14

belief in one god

Front 15

polytheism

Back 15

belief in many gods

Front 16

kabbalah

Back 16

mystical sect of Judaism; mystical teachings of Judaism

Front 17

Zionism

Back 17

belief in a Jewish nation (Israel)

Front 18

pantheism

Back 18

belief that God/divine is immanent in everything (nature and humans)

Front 19

heretical

Back 19

belief system that runs counter to a prescribed belief system (religious or other)

Front 20

transcendant

Back 20

above; beyond; in the case of God—God is viewed as above or beyond the human and earthly realm by many Christians.

Front 21

incarnation

Back 21

embodied in flesh; spirit infuses a human; in case of Christianity, for example, one view is that Jesus was God incarnated into a man.

Front 22

diaspora

Back 22

literally, scattering or sowing of seeds;
refers to any ethnic population forced to leave their homelands, the dispersal of such people and the ensuing developments in their culture.

Front 23

omnipotent

Back 23

all powerful, all knowing; used in contexts describing God

Front 24

ecosophy

Back 24

(from Deep Ecology) meaning ecological philosophy and/or ecological wisdom.

Front 25

Jesus Christ

Back 25

also known as Jesus of Nazareth; the Jewish man who taught radical teachings of love, service, etc. and was crucified by the Romans; the Savior of Christianity; the Son of God; the Prophet who preceded Mohammad (note: depends on who and what group is defining Jesus).

Front 26

Qur’an or Koran

Back 26

central holy book/religious text of Islam.

Front 27

hadith

Back 27

oral tradition about the words and deeds of the Prophet Muhammad

Front 28

pronatalism

Back 28

pro-birth; philosophy of promoting procreation and childbearing.

Front 29

Jihad

Back 29

struggle/strive for

Front 30

khalifa

Back 30

vice regent

Front 31

Buddah

Back 31

the founder of Buddhism, Siddhartha; the highest level of enlightenment; enlightened people.

Front 32

ahimsa

Back 32

Sanskrit term meaning non violence; rule of conduct in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism where humans are to do no harm to living beings.

Front 33

Dharma

Back 33

Buddha's teachings

Front 34

trishna

Back 34

desire; compulsion; addiction
(Buddhist term)

Front 35

sangha

Back 35

Buddhist community

Front 36

karma

Back 36

found in both Indian religions and Buddhism, the cause and effect cycle of life; all deeds performed effect the past, present and future of a person’s existence; in Buddhism, the intention of the person is key.

Front 37

Engaged Buddhism

Back 37

the practice of engaging the world—taking on social causes and ecological causes as a Buddhist

Front 38

patriarchy

Back 38

the Greek and Roman (and, historically, Jewish, Christian and Muslim) structuring of society based on family units in which the father has primary responsibility and power in these units over slaves, women, children and animals. Also used to refer to the unjust system of domination of men over women (and nature).

Front 39

heirarchy

Back 39

top to bottom system of order; in patriarchy reflects a system of oppression from top (free men) to bottom (nature/animals)

Front 40

stewardship

Back 40

Jewish and Christian belief that humans were given the responsibility for the care of nature by God in Genesis 1:28

Front 41

What are two Jewish interpretations of human’s relationship to nature?

Back 41

1. Genesis 1:28 shows God as the creator of nature whom provides humans with the role as the chosen guardian of nature
2. Job provides humans with the lesson that God loves nature and provides for nature separately from humans

Front 42

Explain the concept of eco kosher and ecokashrut according to your readings

Back 42

ecokosher: In his article, Waskow broadened the idea of kosher to include foods free of pesticides, using energy in a conscious way; practicing a green life, not supporting companies that produce pollution, investing in companies that do good for the earth.
ecokashrut: Swartz writes that a new set of guidelines for personal consumption needs to be developed which he calls ecokashrut.

Front 43

Shariah

Back 43

Islamic moral law

Front 44

What did Lynn White write about in his famous article in 1967 that caused an uproar in Christian and then other religious communities?

Back 44

White wrote about how Christianity has negatively affected how humans treat the environment and he believes this has significantly contributed to the environmental crisis.
Other theologins picked this up and started writing about how their own religion can help fix the environmental crisis and change how people treat the environment.

Front 45

Lois Lorentzen writes in her article Paradise Paved that ethically one cannot be a Christian and not be an environmentalist.
What are the seven doctrines of Christianity that she says must address our connection to nature and the Christian’s responsibility to nature?

Back 45

creation, sin, redemption, incarnation, stewardship, covenant, and justice.

Front 46

What are some media stereotypes about Islam that are incorrect?

Back 46

The media portrayed Islam as violent, while the Qur’an teaches peace and the majority of Muslims are peaceful and want peace for themselves and their families.
the media portrays Islam as backwards, while the readings showed how detailed Islamic thought is and how Muslims value education.

Front 47

Who is the vice regent and what does the vice regent do in Islam? Why did God give the vice regency to this?

Back 47

Allah gave humans the vice regency of the world, meaning, like Judaism and Christianity, humans are to care for the world as its guardian/steward.
This involves meditation, contemplation, aesthetic appreciation and rest with nature.
Allah gave the vice regency position to humans because no other creature in nature wanted it.

Front 48

What are key ecological problems that Muslims must deal with in Islamic Republics or Muslim led countries?

Back 48

-Shortages of water
-war (Iraq and Kuwait)
-air pollution
-consumption by the rich
-huge disparities between the rich and the poor
-disrespect of women which has led to overpopulation
-fear of Muslims
-authoritarian leadership
-consumption of oil (56% of oil exports comes from Muslim countries)

Front 49

What are the Five Precepts?
(in Buddhism)

Back 49

The Five Precepts of Buddhism are the code of ethics that every Buddhist is supposed to adhere to.
They include: a. nonviolence; b. do not take what is not willingly given; c. abstain from sexual misconduct; d. don't lie; e. don't drink or do drugs.

Front 50

How do the 5 precepts relate to an ecological Buddhism?

Back 50

1. Nonviolence, or ahimsa. Abstaining from injury to all life includes both human and nature.
2. Abstain from taking things not freely given. This can apply to nature in numerous ways.

Front 51

What is considered “the Triple Refuge” or Three Jewels for Buddhists?

Back 51

Buddha, Dharma and the Sangha.

Front 52

What does Rita Gross say about how one should get a handle on trishna, especially in light of consumption?

Back 52

Gross states that the compulsions of greed, thoughtless consumption and thoughtless reproduction could be countered by the Buddhist practices of mediation and mindfulness.

Front 53

What does Kaza say are the main differences between an Buddhist environmentalist and other environmentalists?

Back 53

1. The belief in Ahimsa
2. The belief in whole, non dualistic thinking
3. The belief that intention is as important as action (thus meditation is key)
4. The practice of the detachment from the ego (they aren't an environmentalist b/c they will gain something from it).
5. Support Buddhists have from the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.

Front 54

What is the difference between Ecowomanism and Ecofeminism?

Back 54

Ecowomanism was coined by African American womanists; the belief is that race is a key component of Ecofeminism that is sometimes overlooked, thus ecowomanists will highlight the experience of African American women and others overlooked by a “White” ecofeminism.

Front 55

What is the oppressive patriarchal framework? What are its specifics? How does it affect women and nature?

Back 55

The oppressive patriarchal framework is a conceptual framework that explains, justifies and maintains a relationship of domination and subordination of women by men and men over nature.
Part of this includes:
1. value hierarchical thinking
2. value of dualism
3. logic of domination—a structure of argumentation which leads to justification of subordination of women and nature.

Front 56

Abraham

Back 56

the patriarch of the Jewish faith.
chosen by God to procreate the 12 tribes of Israel in exchange for believing in only one god. In addition to Judaism, Christianity and Islam recognize Abraham as the ancient forefather of their religions

Front 57

dharma (in hinduism)

Back 57

ethics or duties

Front 58

samsara (in hinduism)

Back 58

cycle of reincarnation
birth,life, death, rebirth

Front 59

Moksha

Back 59

liberation from karma

Front 60

yogas

Back 60

paths or practices

Front 61

Hinduism

Back 61

the term coined by British colonizers to name the various indigenous beliefs of the people they conquered. Hindu means "Indian" in Persian.

Front 62

Bhagavan

Back 62

the one deity God underneath all other deities. Also known as the great Brahma.

he is the absolute creator of the universe

Front 63

Vishnu

Back 63

preserver of the world.

(sometimes manifested as Krishna or Rama)

Front 64

Shiva

Back 64

manifestation of Bhagavan as destroyer of the world

Front 65

Kali

Back 65

goddess of death and destruction and change

Front 66

Ganesha

Back 66

elephant headed god of obstacles and endeavors

Front 67

Lakshmi

Back 67

Hindu goddess of wealth

Front 68

Vedas

Back 68

the oldest texts in Hindusim

Front 69

Brahmin

Back 69

teacher or priest

Front 70

Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints

Back 70

Mormon church
part of the Christian Church whose founder, Joseph Smith, had an angel appear on him and provide him with the Book of Mormon

Front 71

Women’s Earth Alliance

Back 71

-a global, grassroots-focused organization that represents the values and practice of ecofeminist philosophy
-mission: to unite female environmental advocates around the world, providing the connections, resources and training they need to foster a thriving planet.

Front 72

connection between women and water

Back 72

More than half of the 1.2 billion people who do not have access to water are women and girls. When water sources are contaminated or unavailable, women may be required to expend more labor collecting, storing, and protecting their water source. This can prevent girls, young women and women from attending school. For some 30 years, the UN has repeatedly recognized that effective sustainable water resources management depends on engaging women at all levels of decision-making and implementation.

Front 73

The SHARE Foundation: Building a New El Salvador Today

Back 73

a grassroots non-profit organization, supports impoverished communities in El Salvador in constructing sustainable solutions to poverty, underdevelopment and social injustice which includes environmental issues. SHARE provides financial, material and technical assistance, as well as advocacy support for integrated development of cooperatives and communities in rural areas of El Salvador. SHARE works closely with the U.S faith community toward these ends, particularly by promoting “sister” relationships

Front 74

CAFTA (Central America Free Trade Agreement)

Back 74

an agreement between the United States and six countries (El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic)
-started in 2005
-. Like NAFTA, its predecessor, CAFTA allows US Corporations to more easily set up factories, etc. in Central American countries, and allows easier exports of products from Central American countries to the USA.

Front 75

Problems with CAFTA (Central America Free Trade Agreement)

Back 75

-corporations and not small business owners benefit
-small businesses are put out of business by large companies that replicate or duplicate their products and can sell them cheaper
-maquiladoras (foreign owned Mexican assembly factories) have little to no employment regulations and have poor track records regarding the treatment of the laborers
-corporations are held to little or no environmental regulations.

Front 76

maquiladora

Back 76

a factory that imports materials and equipment on tax free/duty free and tariff free basis for assembly or manufacturing and then re-exports the assembled product, usually back to the originating country.

Front 77

scorched earth policy

Back 77

a military strategy where the military burns forests, bushes, land, etc. in order to move people out of a believed insurgency area and to have better view of the “enemy.”

Used throughout El Salvador during the USA backed civil war of the 1980’s.

Front 78

“The Emotional World of Farm Animals”

Back 78

Jim Mason’s exploration of farm animal behavior and emotions by visiting farm sanctuaries and interviewing leading animal ethologists (scientists who study animal behavior). He concludes that farm animals do indeed have emotions that are similar to our own domesticated dogs and cats.

Front 79

Animal Place

Back 79

a non profit farm sanctuary located in Vacaville, CA, for discarded and abused farmed animals. Rescued individuals and indigenous wildlife share 60 acres. Animal Place also works to educate the public about the plight of farm animals, especially factory farmed animals of which the majority of animals that humans eat are raised in. Animal Place works with other farm sanctuaries and other animal welfare and rights groups to assist in getting legislation passed that will improve the life of farm animals.

Front 80

anthropomorphism

Back 80

attributing human characteristics or qualities to non-human animals.

Front 81

prey species

Back 81

those animals that are preyed upon for food by a large number of other species, i.e. chickens and rabbits.

Front 82

standard intense confinement rearing

Back 82

-factory farming
-the practice of managing the growth and production of farm animals in high volume confinement

Front 83

factory farming

Back 83

: the practice of raising farm animals in confinement in high volume for the purposes of providing more “product” at lower prices (and consequently, larger profits).

Front 84

confined animal feeding operations (CAFO)

Back 84

another name for factory farming

Front 85

RENEWAL Project

Back 85

feature film documentary made by veteran film producers who sought out stories of religious people whose passion and deep moral commitment are actually making a difference across the USA

Front 86

mountain top removal (MTM/VF)

Back 86

-also known as strip mining
-is a type of surface mining that uses a different strategy than traditional mining to reach the resource (i.e. coal)
-In MTM, mountains are blasted open rather than drilled down into. This has resulted in enormous ecological devastation, in particular to the Appalachian ecosystem.

Front 87

halal

Back 87

Arabic word meaning permissible; it is most often used when talking about what food is permissible to eat in Islamic law (and how that food is procured).

Front 88

What does Christopher Chapple say about the Vedas being environmental in his article entitled “Contemporary Jaina and Hindu Responses to the Ecological Crisis”?

Back 88

Chapple writes that in the Vedic hymns there is an intimate relationship between the persons and various personifications of earth, water, thunderstorms. The Vedic rituals serve as a matrix from which human prosperity and blessings may arise. They include the five great elements of earth, water, fire, air and space which are reverenced as the essential building blocks of physical reality. All things with form are seen to be essentially non different from the universal consciousness or ultimate reality and are reminders of the Brahman which is beyond form. Thus from the perspective of Jainism and Hinduism, the killing of life forms is none other than the killing of our own (human) kin.

Front 89

What does Christopher Chapple say, in his article, “Contemporary Jaina and Hindu Responses to the Ecological Crisis”, about Jainism being environmentally sound religion for today?

Back 89

Chapple states that in Jainism all elements have life: the earth, water, plants, animals and humans all possess jiva (life force). This life force is what is carried through each existence—human, dog, frog, clod of earth. Through acts of violence, jivas must be reborn again and again. To stop this cycle, one must live completely nonviolently. Today, Jainism practices this quest by confronting violence in all of its forms—it promotes vegetarianism, works to stop nuclear proliferation and ecological destruction, and confronts various ethical problems in medical ethics including the use of animals for research. Jainism believes all life is sacred and all beings desire to live.

Front 90

In his article entitled “Dharmic Ecology” what does O.P. Dwivedi say are the environmental problems plaguing India today?

Back 90

1. continuous degradation of productive land (due to increased salinity and alkalinity, desertification, water logging and deforestation)
2. shortage of wood and fuel and fodder for rural needs which jeopardizes existing forests
3. depletion of the forest cover, which in turn threatens the survival of indigenous biodiversity and affects wildlife habitat
4. excessive and unwise use of pesticides and fertilizers and ill-advised agricultural practices (including monoculture), which further stresses the fragile environment
5. poorly monitored and inadequately enforced environmental regulations for various natural resource extraction activities (such as mining, metallurgy, aggregate production, and other manufacturing industries).

Front 91

What does Dwivedi in the article , “Dharmic Ecology”, offer as the religious solution to India’s environmental problems?
Name two examples of Indian groups responding to the environmental problems of India in the Dwivedi model.

Back 91

1. the Supreme Being resides in all beings
2. the family of Mother Earth
3. the welfare of all beings
4. Dharmic ecology as a strategy toward putting in practice the Hindu concept of ecocare.

The two groups Dwivedi mentions are
1. The Bishnois, Defenders of the Enivronment whom protected their forest and their trees as they were instructed to by their religious leaders, even under persecution—which inspired the creation of
2. The Chipko Movement, which also was created to protect their own forest and trees in the midst of persecution.

Front 92

Who and what does O.P. Dwivedi blame for India’s current state of ecological problems?

Back 92

Dwivedi puts the blame squarely on the western capitalist consumerist mindset that has influenced India, including materialism, consumerism, individualism, corporate greed, the blind race to industrialize the nation after achieving independence, and the capriciousness and corruption among the forest contractors and ineffective enforcement by government officials.

Front 93

In the article entitled “Water, Wood and Wisdom: Ecological Perspectives from the Hindu Tradition” what does Vasudha Narayanan outline as the real problem preventing India’s ability to take better care of its environment?

Back 93

Narayanan states that Hinduism is not just a religion in India, it is a way of life. This way of life has included polluting the environment. However, she states (and explains in depth) that some Hindu texts, traditions and rituals can inspire “eco-friendly” behavior. It is these texts, traditions and rituals that she would like to see actively put into the service of taking care of and protecting the environment.

Front 94

Name six major points about the El Salvador people and their environment that Lois Lorentzen makes in her article “Radical Catholicism in El Salvador” and Jose Artiga from SHARE Foundation made in his presentation.

Back 94

1. Many peasants have been displaced from their land due to the 12 year civil war that was funded in part by the USA. The Salvadorean army used a scorched earth policy and dropped napalm and white phosphorous which ruined the land, killed many species and rendered the land unfertile. The poor had to move to the City, were/are unemployed and lost their strong cultural connection to the land. Today, 2% of the rich people own 60% of the land despite the civil war and government land reforms and the land that is left (40%) is mostly degraded and unusable for the poor.
2. Water contains cholera and other water borne diseases including pollution from maquiladoras (corporate factories). Most poor people drink this water and have no way to filter out the diseases and pollutants.
3. The Central American highway project was built through poor areas where there was no concern for possible future landslides due to the highway construction. Many poor people have died in these landslides.
4. CAFTA has created more exports and less corporate and government accountability and thus the people and the environment both suffer from the lack of corporate regulations on pollution/toxic release.
5. Many large farmers are using genetically modified (GMO) seeds which don’t reproduce so they must buy new seeds every season and use many chemical fertilizers—both not healthy
6. Poor farmers cannot afford seeds or any technology to help them grow produce that would result in a living wage for them.

Front 95

What does B.D. Sharma write to the Earth Summit about in his letter “On Sustainability”?

Back 95

-points out the disconnect of such a global meeting with few grassroots people invited or able to attend. He states that his village in India knows more than the “experts” and the government about their ecosystem and how to sustain it.
-He critiques the government’s use of scientific management of their resources which has resulted in the ravaging of their forests and trees. He sees this as a replication of British colonial behavior.
-He states that the perspective of globalization doesn’t take into consideration grassroots peoples needs and will continue to ruin perfectly good resources of forests, water and land to put it in “service” to the “commons.”
-He states that non governmental organizations have fallen prey to the philosophy and practice of economic globalization and are not to be trusted in looking out for grassroot’s peoples lives and ecosystems. All, he believes, are in service to the perpetuation of a standard of living that is not sustainable but heavily promoted by western economic globalization. He calls for a new paradigm –“ecologically viable, socially sustainable, and rich in human content.”

Front 96

How does Leonardo Boff see science and technology helping and harming the Latin American poor in his article “Science, Technology, Power and Liberation Theology”?

Back 96

Boff states that Christian Liberation Theology is needed to support the poor in being agents of their own change. He critiques the economic system as oppressive to the poor, a system that does not satisfy basic needs and leaves many of the Latin American poor without adequate food, shelter and health care. He states that science and technology continue to be of service to this economic system and are not being used to assist and empower the poor. Liberation theology continues to support the poor in asking the question of why they do not get to participate in a system that provides so many with so much, while supporting the poor in creating a life that is just and fair. Liberation theology also critiques how science and technology have been used mindlessly to support this model while at the same time degrading people and the environment. Liberation theology asks the ethical question of why humans would allow a market-based economic philosophy dominate how society operates when its ultimate motive is profit, not people, nor the environment. Boff states that a worldwide political agenda that includes the following needs to be implemented: a) minimum of humanization; b) citizenship; c) equity; d) human and ecological welfare; e) respect for cultural differences, and f) cultural reciprocity and complementarity.

Front 97

What do the African Earthkeeping Churches do as reported by Marthinus L. Daneel in his article “Earthkeeping Churches at the African Grass Roots”?

Back 97

The Association of African Earthkeeping Churches (AAEC) was formed as a Christian response to the enormous ecological devastation brought about by deforestation of African lands.
-two million followers
-create tree nurseries (between three - four million have been planted) in Zimbabwe.
-It’s philosophy is supported by its Christian theology of earth healing and earth keeping, and both Christian ritual and texts are used to support their efforts.

Front 98

What are the environmental reasons for choosing not to eat (or eat less of) factory farmed animals?

Back 98

a. The need for land for livestock grazing accounts for enormous loss of rainforests and species depletion.
b. Livestock grazing accounts for _ of the fresh water usage in the US alone; grain fed animals need a lot of water to drink; animal food production uses a lot of water.
c. Agricultural run off from factory farms has caused enormous toxic pollution in the land and water of surrounding communities and is the primary cause of pollution for over 60% of rivers and streams.
d. Methane produced by animal waste is 27% of the global total of methane production. Methane is a major greenhouse gas resulting in global warming and climate change.

Front 99

What are the health reasons for choosing not to eat (or eat less of) factory farmed animals?

Back 99

a. Blood cholesterol levels are significantly lower in practicing vegetarians and vegans.
b. A vegetarian’s risk of dying of heart disease is 50% less than a non-vegetarian.
c. The annual medical costs in the USA directly attributable to meat consumption is 60 – 120 billion dollars per year.
d. Meat eaters on average have triple the blood pressure rate than that of vegetarians.
e. Antibiotic overuse in factory farmed animals has contributed to treatment-resistant pathogens in humans and non human animals.

Front 100

What are the social justice reasons for choosing not to eat (or eat less of) factory farmed animals?

Back 100

a. Over one billion people could be fed grains and soybeans that are currently used to feed livestock in the USA. This would save many people from dying of hunger and starvation in the USA and around the world.
b. Many laborers in factory farms, slaughterhouses and meat-packing plants suffer from one or more of the following conditions: paid poorly, not unionized, treated poorly, have addiction problems, are illegal immigrants, have mental health problems and suffer injuries at a greater rate than any other industry.

Front 101

What are the humane treatment of animals reasons for choosing not to eat (or eat less of) factory farmed animals?

Back 101

a. Farmed animals are exempt from most of the federal and state anti-cruelty laws.
b. Physical mutating of animals such as debeaking, chopping off toes and tails, dehorning and castration is considered a standard practice of factory farms and are completed without anesthesia.
c. Farmed animals in factory farms are confined in areas so small that the simple acts turning around are impossible
d. Many factory farm animals get sick and/or die in factory farms due to the intense confinement of the animals. This is considered acceptable due to the ability to still have profit from the sale of the other animals.
e. Dairy cows newborn male calves are taken from their mothers after they are born and are either sold to veal companies or are soon killed as they are not considered profitable (they will not be able to be used as a dairy cow).

Front 102

Why does Kim Patton say in her article titled “Caught with Ourselves in the Net of Life and Time: Traditional Views of Animals in Religion” that in the majority of religious traditions animals have “supreme signifying importance?”

Back 102

Patton writes that animals are found in many religion’s creation stories, art, symbol, ritual, dreams, morality stories, as well as sometimes are gods and/or signified as human’s “brothers or sisters” in many religion’s theology/faith traditions. While many religions approved the hunting, eating and ritualized killing of animals by humans, several major traditions have taken a different stance. Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism all teach ahimsa/do no harm which includes humans taking the life of animals. In contrast, monotheistic traditions such as Judaism, Christianity and Islam have approved killing animals for food, though in Judaism and Islam there are orthodox codes to be followed. Within these monotheistic traditions, there are smaller groups (and growing) which promote vegetarianism and their religion’s ideal.

The newly formed Religion and Animals Program of the Humane Society of the United States works with monotheistic religions, in particular, to advocate for vegetarianism as a sound spiritual, ethical and historical response to the sanctity of life of animals and to the environmental crisis

Front 103

Kim Patton mentions what appears to be a “yearning for a lost age” when describing humans psychological relationship to animals. What does she mean?

Back 103

Patton talks about how human’s anthropomorphizing of animals begins at a young age. Children relate to animals and want them in their stories, stuffed animals and as peers. Patton states that there appears to be a yearning for a lost age when animals and humans could speak the same language and co-existed without the antagonism and complicated tensions of the predator-prey relationships that are now expected between them and us for biological and cultural reasons.

Front 104

What does Cambridge trained ethologist Jane Goodall say about the chimpanzee’s dance of awe and human’s experience of religious awe in the article “The Dance of Awe”?

Back 104

Goodall states that the chimpanzees approach the magnificent waterfall in the Kakombe Valley in Tanzania by beginning to dance in a slow rhythmic motion along the river bed, followed by picking up and throwing rocks and branches and then leap to hanging vines and swinging out over the stream. They do this dance for 10 or so minutes. She assesses that it is a dance of awe or wonder in response to the waterfall. She notes that they don’t do this dance anywhere else and they always do this at the waterfall. She believes that the feelings the chimpanzees have could be similar to those that gave rise to the first animistic religions that worshipped the great elements and mysteries of nature of which there was no control. Goodall sees that chimpanzees and humans share similar feelings in response to nature’s power and beauty.

Front 105

In the article “Mormon Values and the Utah Environment” by Richard C. Foltz, what does Foltz reveal about the conflicting values of Mormonism to the environment?

Back 105

Foltz writes about a Bishop Barney who called for a religious war against environmentalists who reflected the strain between the Mormons of Utah and the environmentalists determined to preserve and protect Utah. This view was countered by other Utah Mormons who believed he was not speaking for them and that he was not speaking in the true spirit of the faith. Utah Mormons have been concerned about environmentalists’ interference with their private property rights and corporation rights (many large corporations and ranches are owned by Mormons, including Marriott Hotels and Kennecott Mining Company). Note, however, that one-third of Utah is owned by the Federal Bureau of Land Management, and one can understand how the Mormons feel surrounded by competing interests for their land. The Mormon Church is the wealthiest Church in the United States for its size. The Mormon faith preaches that human overpopulation is not an issue. However, there are many Mormons who believe Brigham Young, one of the Church’s greatest Prophets who led them to Utah when they were forced to move from New York, promoted an ecological theology and a stewardship ethic. The most recent LDS President, Gordon B. Hinckley, promoted the belief that the earth is God’s creation and that Mormons are to take care of it. Other Mormon doctrine states that humans and animals have souls and thus must be respected. Still other Mormon theologians write that their doctrine is essentially theocentric and that the protection and conservation of the environment is part of this belief.

Front 106

In the article “Paganism and the Environment” by Graham Harvey, how does Harvey explain Paganism and its environmental beliefs and practices?

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Harvey writes that Paganism as it is practiced today is “a spirituality in which Nature (the Earth and the body) is central and celebrated.” It’s philosophy is “green” and it encourages a greater intimacy with Nature primarily through the awareness of the seasons. Pagans believe that deities are immanent, not transcendent. The majority of Pagans are polytheists and many revere a Great Mother Goddess. Pagan ethics are derived from the belief that humans are part of the complex web of relationships “which bring with them various demands, obligations, rights and responsibilities.” Paganism is not theocentric nor is it anthropocentric in its ideal. The tension of being a Pagan, Harvey explains, comes with the Pagan belief that “everything that exists lives” and “everything that lives is holy.” Thus, Harvey writes that by merely existing we are violent. Many Pagans choose to do less violence by being vegans understanding how eating animal products does enormous damage to the environment and to the souls of the animals. Paganism counters many monotheistic views including dominance and stewardship as it believes we are of equal value to all of nature.

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What is the importance of “The New Story” cosmology as written by Thomas Berry?

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-Berry critiques the traditional story of how the universe works and humans place in the universe.
-He critiques the Christian story that put too much emphasis on human redemption and does not include a relationship with the natural world.
-He says that science is influenced by a dualistic western culture, and that there is too much faith that it will solve all problems and make people happy.
-Humans are notable for the consciousness of ourselves and the universe. But the new story of how the universe came to be and our place in it must include a new science and a religious philosophy that works together. (Quantum physics, biology, chemistry and religious values that connect humans and nature and the universe)
The new story must also include a strong value of the kinship between humans, nature, earth and the universe.

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What is the significance of Riane Eisler’s ideas as found in her article “Breakthrough in Evolution: Toward a Partnership Future”?

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Eisler critiques the dominator system that crushes women, children, men and nature. The model of the partnership society offers the viable alternative. Eisler emphasizes the fact that evolution of creatures and society is not predetermined and that humans have a significant influence on how we shape human society. The oppression of women can be changed as well as the traditional gender relationship model of male dominator/female dominated. The importance of interconnectedness as supported by the new science (articulated by many including physicist, Fritjof Capra) provides building blocks for constructing this new society. The importance of the years of scientific research that shows in detail that gender is a societal construct allows us to re-examine all of our assumptions about society, allowing change of the domination mentality that is pervasive in the details of the culture. Changing these power relations offers the possibility of a new politics and new economic system. In addition, technology could be used to sustain and enhance human life rather than for destruction and domination. The hope is that in this new partnership society, “the minds of children—both girls and boys—will no longer be fettered. It will be a world whose limitation and fear will no longer be systematically taught to us through myths about how inevitably evil and perverse we humans are.” There will be no stories, myths and epics about good humans, peaceful men and women, and of the power of creativity and love.