Multi-faith dialogue based on equity, justice, and mutual respect for the Earth, is a way we can build a sustainable future for all. A multi-faith approach raises awareness about the diverse traditions that help people to grow spiritually through a deeper connection with the creation.
In traditional African societies, nature was regarded as a gift by a supreme Creator God for the benefit of humanity who believed that mankind was created at the centre of the universe.
A host of nature spirits associated with specific animal and tree species and sacred forests, rivers, lakes, and mountains remind local communities of their need to respect the environment and to use it sustainably.
The Baha`i approach to the environment is that responsibility for the preservation of nature and the sustainable use of our natural resources rests with us collectively.
Only a global society, supported by universal values and principles, can inspire all individuals to take responsibility for the long-term care and protection of the natural environment.
Through a range of locally relevant projects and partnerships, including alternative energy and farming initiatives, Brahma Kumaris work to promote spiritual understanding, leadership with integrity and actions for a sustainable future for humanity.
Buddhists believe in the interconnectivity of the living and non-living elements in the universe and a relationship between all things.
The Buddhist view that our lives and those of all beings are part of a giant web spread across the planet and indeed beyond, sends a strong message for respecting and caring for the natural world.
Christians and Christian-based organisations around the world are taking on the complex and critical environmental challenges facing us all today, and raising awareness, forming eco-congregations, challenging materialism and over consumption and lobbying governments, politicians and big business to stop environmental destruction.
The Hindu tradition understands that people are not separate from nature, that we are linked by spiritual, psychological and physical bonds with the elements around us. Knowing that the Divine is present everywhere and in all things, Hindus strive to do no harm.
They hold a deep reverence for life and an awareness that the great forces of nature as well as all the various orders of life are bound to each other within life’s cosmic web.
The principle of pikuach nefesh – saving lives above all else – is the greatest Jewish moral obligation.
In order to fulfill this obligation we must do everything in our power to protect the environment as a vehicle for saving the lives of millions of humans and diverse species worldwide, especially those unable to adapt to a changing climate.
Being a conscientious Muslim is about living in reverence and harmony with Nature and recognising that Nature is an indispensable guide to manifesting much of what Muslims need to know about God and the place of mankind in the Universe.
Earth-aware Quakers propose living in a “right relationship” with the Earth to preserve the integrity, resilience, and beauty of the commonwealth of life.
This requires radically changing our individual behaviour and our social structures to a way of life that honours all of God’s creation.
When different faiths come together to address common challenges, they are able, through interaction and partnerships, to work effectively towards co-creating greater climate resilience.
If changing the world starts at home, we’ve put together a list of ways you can green your life so you can live in greater harmony and more sustainably.
The debate around nuclear power often focuses on secret procurement, the high price of nuclear reactors, and the lack of a solution for waste. But we hear little about what comes before nuclear energy: uranium mining.
Battery cages cause suffering by depriving hens of their most basic needs: nests, perches, and enough space to move around. Our campaign calls for the end the use of cages for egg-laying hens. Cage-free systems improve the lives of hens significantly and cause less harm to them and the environment.
It is my pleasure to share a spiritual impulse this morning for us. It concentrates on the first two verses of the Bible.
The first sentences of the Bible are very well-known. They speak about the creation of the earth.
Let us look at them again and discover the small word spirit here:
Genesis 1,1-2:
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Genesis 1,1-2 speaks about the presence of the Holy Spirit during the time of creation. The Spirit of God that we hope will end all suffering at the end of times, was there from the beginning. This impulse invites us to think about the role that the creation of God Father, SPIRIT, and Son will play also in the end of all times. When the end of times comes, we might stay on this very earth that is precious to God and that was created in perfection.
Although it might be transformed, let us just imagine that this earth will be our future paradise and let us treat it as if it already was today.