Religion and the environment are both topics that help shape the lives of mankind. Religious influences dictate how we act and the values we will hold for the entirety of our lives. The environment directly influences every occasion during our lifetimes. The two are related in the fact that most religions put a large emphasis on creation of the natural world.
Christianity, for example, stress how god created the world in seven days. John 1:3 states "through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made". This verse comes from one of the most influential books of the Bible, therefore even more emphasizing its importance. The relationship between religion and the environment should be direct. The environment should taught about and discussed within a religious context. Edward Wilson makes a similar claim in his book The Creation: An Appeal to Save Life on Earth. He states that "the creation- living nature- is in deep trouble". Wilson believes that religion and the environment can coexist and thrive off each other. In the book Wilson states "if religion and science could be united on the common ground of biological conservation, the problem [of environmental collapse] would soon be solved". If religion and the environment become more intertwined, perhaps more could be done to preserve the natural world.
Peer- Reviewed Article:
1.Bouma-Prediger, S. "ENVIRONMENT AND RELIGION: Hoping to Establish Common Ground for Saving Biodiversity." Science314.5804 (2006): 1392-3. Print.
The environment would definitely stand more of a chance if religion and environmentalism united. Religion is certainly an important influence on many people's lives, so if nature needed protection for a religious reason then many would join to protect it. I like how this post clearly states your point, but I think some examples from several religions would help show how all religions should work to protect the environment.
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