Is Religion Good for the Environment?

Summary

This video explores the complex relationship between religion and the environment, starting with historian Lynn White Jr.'s controversial 1967 essay, which blamed Christianity for fostering an anthropocentric worldview that contributed to ecological destruction. It discusses how religious beliefs shape people's interactions with nature, offering examples like Utah's Great Salt Lake crisis and Hindu beliefs in the goddess Hadimba. The video also examines Pope Francis' 2015 environmental encyclical and its mixed reception. Ultimately, it highlights the dynamic role religion plays in environmental attitudes and explores how changing climate realities are reshaping religious perspectives.

Takeaways

• 😀 Lynn White, Jr.'s 1967 essay blamed Christianity's anthropocentrism for contributing to environmental crises by justifying the exploitation of nature.
• 😀 White's essay remains influential in modern debates about religion and the environment, although many scholars find it oversimplified and flawed.
• 😀 Religious beliefs have historically shaped how societies perceive and interact with nature, often linking environmental events to supernatural or divine causes.
• 😀 The Great Salt Lake's shrinking serves as an example of how religious responses, like praying for rain, reflect the belief in human-divine interaction with nature.
• 😀 Cognitive psychology and anthropology suggest that people form mental models linking human actions with divine forces to explain natural events.
• 😀 Beliefs about nature and divine intervention are deeply ingrained in many cultures, influencing how communities respond to environmental changes.
• 😀 As environmental crises like climate change worsen, traditional religious models often struggle to provide effective solutions or adapt to new realities.
• 😀 Pope Francis' *Laudato Si'* called for global environmental action based on Catholic values, yet its impact on Catholic environmental activism has been limited.
• 😀 Religious environmentalism faces challenges, with some religious groups, particularly Evangelicals, rejecting climate change science due to political and theological beliefs.
• 😀 The success of religious environmental movements is hindered by the complex interplay of religious ideologies, political identities, and social factors.
• 😀 While some religious groups embrace eco-conscious actions, others, influenced by end-time beliefs, tend to downplay or reject long-term environmental efforts.

Q & A

What controversial argument did historian Lynn White Jr. present regarding Christianity and the ecological crisis?

Lynn White Jr. argued that Christianity, especially in its Western form, is the most anthropocentric religion, which contributed to the ecological crisis. He believed that Christian theology, by granting humans dominion over nature, justified the unchecked exploitation of the environment, unlike Greco-Roman polytheism that saw nature as inhabited by spirits requiring respect and protection.

What does the concept of 'anthropocentrism' mean in White's argument about Christianity?

'Anthropocentrism' refers to the belief that humans are the central or most important entity in the universe. In White's view, Christianity’s anthropocentric view led to the exploitation of nature, as humans were seen as having dominion over the Earth, leading to ecologically harmful practices.

How does White compare Christianity with Greco-Roman polytheism in relation to nature?

White contrasts Christianity with Greco-Roman polytheism by suggesting that the latter revered nature through animism, where each natural element had a guardian spirit that needed to be respected before it could be altered or exploited. Christianity, on the other hand, allowed for nature to be exploited with little moral consideration, due to its anthropocentric view.

What is the 'spiritual and religious revival' that White suggests is needed to address the ecological crisis?

White advocates for a return to a deeper spiritual and religious respect for nature, urging society to restore the value of nature in religious thought. He believes that without such a revival, technological and economic solutions will not be enough to solve environmental issues.

What role did religious beliefs play in how people in Utah viewed environmental issues, according to the script?

In Utah, religious beliefs were seen as central to addressing environmental issues, as evidenced by the governor's call for a statewide prayer for rain to help resolve the shrinking of the Great Salt Lake. This reflects a long tradition of linking environmental events to divine intervention or displeasure.

How do mental models help explain the connection between religion and environmental perceptions?

Mental models are simplified frameworks that people use to understand and navigate the world. In the context of religion and nature, many societies developed models where supernatural beings, like gods or spirits, controlled environmental events. These models often linked human actions to environmental outcomes, shaping how people interacted with nature.

Why do people often look to supernatural explanations for environmental events?

People tend to look to supernatural explanations for environmental events because such events, like weather or disasters, can be chaotic and difficult to understand. Religious or supernatural models provide a way to explain and manage the uncertainty or randomness of nature, offering comfort or a perceived solution.

What shift in belief did some villagers in the western Himalayas experience due to ecological instability?

As the climate changed and traditional rituals no longer had the intended effect, some villagers in the western Himalayas began to lose faith in the goddess Hadimba, who was believed to control the weather. This led to a shift in beliefs, with some blaming moral decline or outside influences for the changing climate.

What does the Pope’s encyclical 'Laudato Si'' call for in terms of environmental action?

Pope Francis' encyclical 'Laudato Si'' calls for urgent action to address climate change, criticizing a technocratic mindset that treats people and the environment as mere resources. It encourages global cooperation, with an emphasis on moral responsibility and the protection of God's creation.

Why did Pope Francis' encyclical not have a significant impact on Catholic environmental activism?

Despite its ambitious message, Pope Francis' encyclical 'Laudato Si'' did not have a significant impact on Catholic environmental activism, largely because only a small percentage of U.S. Catholics were aware of it, and it did not lead to widespread action. This suggests that top-down religious appeals face challenges in influencing deeply held beliefs and social-political identities.