Rice Continuing Studies, Spring, 2017, Class #7: Ecospirituality

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1 Rice Continuing Studies, Spring, 2017, Class #7: Ecospirituality The world we have created to date as a result of our thinking thus far has problems that cannot be solved by thinking the way we were thinking when we created them.

2 What Is Eco-spirituality? Full world concept Combines ecological thinking and spirituality Can be faith-based or not Can be viewed as Earth Ethics

4 United States Religious Breakdown 2017

5 Texas Coastal Religious Affiliation

8 Thoughts From Leopold The development of a land ethic - an Earth-based philosophy of life and living - was an evolutionary possibility and an ecological necessity.

9 Thoughts From Leopold The development of a land ethic - an Earth-based philosophy of life and living - was an evolutionary possibility and an ecological necessity. In Leopold's land ethic, human-caused change is recognized as being of a different order and rate than evolutionary change. Further, human-caused change often has effects that are more comprehensive than is intended or foreseen.

10 Thoughts From Leopold The development of a land ethic - an Earth-based philosophy of life and living - was an evolutionary possibility and an ecological necessity. In Leopold's land ethic, human-caused change is recognized as being of a different order and rate than evolutionary change. Further, human-caused change often has effects that are more comprehensive than is intended or foreseen. Leopold identified several paradoxes, "man the conqueror vs. "man the biotic citizen, "science the sword sharpener vs. "science the searchlight" and "land the slave and servant vs. "land the collective organism.

11 Thoughts From Leopold The development of a land ethic - an Earth-based philosophy of life and living - was an evolutionary possibility and an ecological necessity. In Leopold's land ethic, human-caused change is recognized as being of a different order and rate than evolutionary change. Further, human-caused change often has effects that are more comprehensive than is intended or foreseen. Leopold identified several paradoxes, including "man the conqueror vs. "man the biotic citizen, "science the sword sharpener vs. "science the searchlight" and "land the slave and servant vs. "land the collective organism. In Leopold's land ethic, an ethical relation must exist between man and the ecosystem and other organisms.

12 From Song of the Gavilan Science contributes moral as well as material blessings to the world. Its great moral contribution is objectivity, or the scientific point of view. This means doubting everything except the facts; it means hewing to the facts, let the chips fall where they may. One of the facts hewn to by science is that every river needs more people, and all people need more inventions, and hence more science; the good life depends on the indefinite extension of this chain of logic. That the good life on any river may likewise depend on the perception of its music, and the preservation of some music to perceive, is a form of doubt not yet entertained by science". p. 154

14 Thoughts From Rachel Carson The magnitude of change generated by humans in the last century is far beyond past experience.

15 Thoughts From Rachel Carson The magnitude of change generated by humans in the last century is far beyond past experience. Nature lacks the capabilities to comprehensively adapt to these rapid changes.

16 Thoughts From Rachel Carson The magnitude of change generated by humans in the last century is far beyond past experience. Nature lacks the capabilities to comprehensively adapt to these rapid changes. Humans are not above the ecological system but are instead emerged within it.

17 Thoughts From Rachel Carson The magnitude of change generated by humans in the last century is far beyond past experience. Nature lacks the capabilities to comprehensively adapt to these rapid changes. Humans are not above the ecological system but are instead emerged within it. Humans often destroy other living organisms when the necessity of such destruction does not exist.

18 Thoughts From Rachel Carson The magnitude of change generated by humans in the last century is far beyond past experience. Nature lacks the capabilities to comprehensively adapt to these rapid changes. Humans are not above the ecological system but are instead emerged within it. Humans often destroy other living organisms when the necessity of such destruction does not exist. Humans must develop an ethic of reverence for life and other living organisms. The question is whether any civilization can wage relentless war on life without destroying itself, and without losing the right to be called civilized.

19 Thoughts From Rachel Carson The magnitude of change generated by humans in the last century is far beyond past experience. Nature lacks the capabilities to comprehensively adapt to these rapid changes. Humans are not above the ecological system but are instead emerged within it. Humans often destroy other living organisms when the necessity of such destruction does not exist. Humans must develop an ethic of reverence for life and other living organisms. The question is whether any civilization can wage relentless war on life without destroying itself, and without losing the right to be called civilized. Rather than controlling nature through indiscriminate tools and actions, we must establish a relationship with the natural system.

20 EARTH DAY 1969

21 The Early 1980s

22 LIFE

23 Lynn White, The Historical Roots of our Ecological Crisis, Science, Vol. 155 #3767, 10 March 1967

24 Thoughts From Lynn White ESPECIALLY IN ITS WESTERN FORM, CHRISTIANITY IS THE MOST ANTHROPOCENTRIC (HUMAN-CENTERED) RELIGION THIS WORLD HAS EVER SEEN. Lynn White, The Historical Roots of our Ecological Crisis, Science, Vol. 155, #3767, 10 March 1967, pp. 1205, 1206

25 Thoughts From Lynn White ESPECIALLY IN ITS WESTERN FORM, CHRISTIANITY IS THE MOST ANTHROPOCENTRIC (HUMAN-CENTERED) RELIGION THIS WORLD HAS EVER SEEN. BY DESTROYING PAGAN ANIMISM, CHRISTIANITY MADE IT POSSIBLE TO EXPLOIT NATURE IN A MOOD OF INDIFFERENCE TO THE FEELINGS OF NATURAL OBJECTS. Lynn White, The Historical Roots of our Ecological Crisis, Science, Vol. 155, #3767, 10 March 1967, pp. 1205, 1206

26 Thoughts From Lynn White ESPECIALLY IN ITS WESTERN FORM, CHRISTIANITY IS THE MOST ANTHROPOCENTRIC (HUMAN-CENTERED) RELIGION THIS WORLD HAS EVER SEEN. BY DESTROYING PAGAN ANIMISM, CHRISTIANITY MADE IT POSSIBLE TO EXPLOIT NATURE IN A MOOD OF INDIFFERENCE TO THE FEELINGS OF NATURAL OBJECTS. MORE SCIENCE AND MORE TECHNOLOGY ARE NOT GOING TO GET US OUT OF THE CURRENT ECOLOGIC CRISIS UNTIL WE FIND A NEW RELIGION OR RETHINK OUR OLD ONE. Lynn White, The Historical Roots of our Ecological Crisis, Science, Vol. 155, #3767, 10 March 1967, pp. 1205, 1206

27 Lynn White s Steps To Address The Problem Adopt concepts of pagan animism

28 Pagan Animism non-human entities are spiritual beings Sacred tree Egyptian animistic image Celtic pagan animism Biblical golden calf

29 Lynn White s Steps To Address The Problem Adopt concepts of pagan animism Adopt aspects of Eastern religions

31 Lynn White s Steps To Address The Problem Adopt concepts of pagan animism Adopt aspects of Eastern religions Reinterpret Judeo-Christian dogma

32 LYNN WHITE S PROPOSAL MAKE ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISSI THE PATRON SAINT OF ECOLOGISTS 1979 CATHOLIC CHURCH ADOPTS ST. FRANCIS AS PATRON SAINT OF ECOLOGISTS

33 MAJOR RETHINKING OF JUDEO- CHRISTIAN DOGMA

34 Established supreme being Managed society

35 THEN GOD SAID LET THEM HAVE DOMINION OVER THE FISH OF THE SEA, AND OVER THE BIRDS OF THE AIR, AND OVER THE CATTLE AND OVER ALL THE WILD ANIMALS OF THE EARTH AND OVER EVERY CREEPING THING THAT CREEPS UPON THE EARTH. GENESIS 1:26

36 RE-INTERPRETATIONS 1984 RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 1989 PRESBYTERIAN ECO-JUSTICE TASK FORCE 1990 EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN COMMUNION WITH CREATION 1990 MESSAGE FROM HIS HOLINESS POPE JOHN PAUL II

37 THE CREATION Genesis: 31. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.

38 Psalm 104: 24 declares, "How many are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you made them all: the earth is full of your creatures" Psalm 50 proclaims, "For every animal of the forest is mine (God's)... I know every bird in the mountains and the creatures of the field are mine"

39 , "We affirm the natural world as God's handiwork and dedicate ourselves to its preservation, enhancement and faithful use by human-kind," which means that, as keepers of the earth, humans are responsible for preserving all of Gods creation The Methodist Social Creed

40 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WE PERCEIVE GOD S NEW DOING AS AN URGENT CALL TO EARTH-KEEPING. THE CALL IS A CONTEMPORARY INTENSIFICATION OF THE ANCIENT COMMAND TO KEEP THE GARDEN. BUT BECAUSE THE EARTH IS DEGRADED, EARTH-KEEPING INCLUDES EARTH- HEALING NOT JUST PROTECTION BUT RESTORATION. (KEEPING AND HEALING THE CREATION, 1989, P. 63)

41 Therefore, God calls the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to respond to the cry of creation, human and non-human; engage in the effort to make the 1990s the "turnaround decade," not only for reasons of prudence or survival, but because the endangered planet is God's creation; and draw upon all the resources of biblical faith and the Reformed tradition for empowerment and guidance in this adventure.

42 UNITED METHODIST CHURCH IN THE BIBLE, A STEWARD IS ONE GIVEN RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT BELONGS TO ANOTHER.... GOD CHOSE TO GIVE HUMAN BEINGS A DIVINE IMAGE NOT SO THAT WE WOULD EXPLOIT CREATION TO OUR OWN ENDS BUT SO WE WOULD BE RECOGNIZED AS STEWARDS OF GOD. TO HAVE DOMINION OVER THE EARTH IS A TRUSTEESHIP, A SIGN THAT GOD CARES FOR CREATION AND HAS ENTRUSTED IT TO OUR STEWARDSHIP (LUKE 12:42 FAITHFUL AND WISE STEWARD)

43 "All creation is the Lord's and we are responsible for the ways we use and abuse it. Water, air, soil, minerals, energy resources, plants, animal life and space are to be valued and conserved because they are God's creation and not solely because they are useful to human beings. God has granted us stewardship of creation. We should meet these stewardship duties through acts of loving care and respect." The United Methodist Social Principles

44 EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN RESPONSE TO THIS CALL (ROMANS 8:20 24) TO CELEBRATE THE BEAUTY OF THE CREATED ORDER AND TO SHARE BOTH IN THE REDEMPTION OF THE EARTH AND IN THE VISION OF INTERCONNECTEDNESS THAT UNDERGIRDS IT, WE MUST SPEAK IN BROADER TERMS AND MORE INCLUSIVE METAPHORS OF WHERE AND WHO WE ARE. WE NOW SEE THAT WE MOVE ABOUT WITHIN ORGANIC NATURE, WE DO NOT STRIDE ATOP INERT MATTER.... AS HUMANS, WE ARE PART OF A SINGLE ORGANIC CREATION.

45 Pope John Paul II was among many religious luminaries who labeled creation stewardship a spiritual duty.

46 Roman Catholic Church (The Holy See) Faced with the widespread destruction of the environment, people everywhere are coming to understand that we cannot continue to use the goods of the earth as we have in the past. The public in general as well as political leaders are concerned abut this problem, and experts from a wide range of disciplines are studying its causes. Moreover, a new ecological awareness is beginning to emerge which, rather than being downplayed, ought to be encouraged to develop into concrete programmes and initiatives THE ECOLOGICAL CRISIS A COMMON RESPONSIBILITY PEACE WITH GOD THE CREATOR, PEACE WITH ALL OF CREATION. Message of His Holiness for the celebration of the WORLD DAY OF PEACE January 1, 1990 Pope John Paul II

47 THE PREVIOUSLY HELD VIEW OF DOMINION AN UNEQUAL AND HARSH RELATIONSHIP IS NO LONGER CONSIDERED TO BE THE BIBLICAL MANDATE ACCORDING TO DENOMINATIONS REPRESENTING 90% OF CHRISTIANS Max Oeschlaeger, Caring for Creation, 1994

48 COEJL is the leading Jewish environmental organization in the United States. Since its founding in 1993, COEJL has helped tens of thousands of Jews make a connection between Judaism and the environment. COEJL has put environmental protection on the agenda of the organized Jewish community and made the case to elected officials and decision-makers that protecting the environment is a moral and religious obligation. Our natural environment is acting as a barometer of the spiritual and ethical health of our societies

"The growth in involvement has been exponential over the last 10 years. While there were hundreds of congregations involved 10 years ago, there are many thousands now.

49 "The growth in involvement has been exponential over the last 10 years. While there were hundreds of congregations involved 10 years ago, there are many thousands now. And there are millions of religious Americans who now really recognize that environmental protection is a religious issue. Paul Gorman, executive director of the National Religious Partnership for the Environment.

50 The Creation as Grace GRACE: in Christian belief, the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings

the Trinity, infusing God, throughout creation, rather

51 The Trinity In the creation, God extended the Holy Spirit throughout creation, breathing life throughout, infusing the Trinity, infusing God, throughout creation, rather than simply creating a planet with plants and other living things.

52 The Green Patriarch Bartholomew I of the Eastern Orthodox Christians

55 Key Parts of the Encyclical Chapter 1. What Is Happening To Our Common Home? Pollution and Climate Change The Issue of Water The Loss of Biodiversity Decline of the Quality of Human Life and Breakdown of Society Global Inequality Weak Responses A Variety of Opinions

56 Key Parts of the Encyclical Chapter 1. What Is Happening To Our Common Home? Chapter 2 The Light Offered By Faith The Wisdom of the Biblical Accounts The Mystery of the Universe The Message of Each Creature in the Harmony of Creation The Common Destination of Goods The Gaze of Jesus

57 Key Parts of the Encyclical Chapter 3: The Human Roots of the Ecological Crisis Technology, Creativity and Power The Globalization of the Technological Paradigm The Crisis and Effects of Modern Anthropocentrism

58 Key Parts of the Encyclical Chapter 3: The Human Roots of the Ecological Crisis Chapter 4: Integral Ecology Environmental, Economic and Social Ecology Cultural Ecology Ecology of Daily Life The Principle of the Common Good Justice Between the Generations

59 Key Parts of the Encyclical Chapter 5: Lines of Approach and Action Dialogue on the Environment in the International Community Dialogue for New National and Local Policies Dialogue and Transparency in Decision-Making Politics and Economy in Dialogue for Human Fulfilment Religions in Dialogue With Science

60 Key Parts of the Encyclical Chapter 5: Lines of Approach and Action Chapter 6: Ecological Education and Spirituality Towards a New Lifestyle Educating for the Covenant Between Humanity and the Environment Ecological Conversion Joy and Peace Civic and Political Love Sacramental Signs and the Celebration of Rest The Trinity and the Relationship Between Creatures Queen of All Creation Beyond the Sun

61 Key Parts of the Encyclical Chapter 5: Lines of Approach and Action Chapter 6: Ecological Education and Spirituality Chapter 7: Concluding Prayer

63 Principles of Earth Church Respect for Life and Other Living Things

64 Principles of Earth Church Respect for Life and Other Living Things Population Reduction Through Education and Reproductive Choice for Women

65 Principles of Earth Church Respect for Life and Other Living Things Population Reduction Through Education and Reproductive Choice for Women Basic Needs of All People of the World Met

66 Principles of Earth Church Respect for Life and Other Living Things Population Reduction Through Education and Reproductive Choice for Women Basic Needs of All People of the World Met The Identification and Realization of Enough Placing Limits on Wants

67 Principles of Earth Church Respect for Life and Other Living Things Population Reduction Through Education and Reproductive Choice for Women Basic Needs of All People of the World Met The Identification and Realization of Enough Placing Limits on Wants Conformance of Human Economic Principles to Earth s Ecological Principles

68 Principles of Earth Church Equitable Provisions of Conditions To Provide Life on Earth

69 Principles of Earth Church Equitable Provisions of Conditions To Provide Life on Earth Celebration of and Learning About Place

70 Principles of Earth Church Equitable Provisions of Conditions To Provide Life on Earth Celebration of and Learning About Place Cooperation As Highest Form of Social Activity

71 Principles of Earth Church Equitable Provisions of Conditions To Provide Life on Earth Celebration of and Learning About Place Cooperation As Highest Form of Social Activity Adoption of Creative Conflict Resolution

72 Principles of Earth Church Equitable Provisions of Conditions To Provide Life on Earth Celebration of and Learning About Place Cooperation As Highest Form of Social Activity Adoption of Creative Conflict Resolution Acceptance of Change

73 JOY

74 Rice Continuing Studies, Spring, 2017, Class #8: The Horror of the American Yard and the Antidotes The world we have created to date as a result of our thinking thus far has problems that cannot be solved by thinking the way we were thinking when we created them.

Renewing the face of the earth

www.cafod.org.uk Renewing the face of the earth Rev Dr Augusto Zampini Davies 30 June 2017 For the Diocese of East Anglia cafod.org.uk Introduction to Laudato Si : on the care for our common home (through