One of the contemporary ecological issues with environmental problems has become a major concern all around the globe. The unsustainable development, climate change, exploitation of resources and pollution will affect all human beings. Because the actions of humanity are the mirror of our values the religion and its effects on the ecology has been in in the interest of many researchers today and in the past.
Narrower examination of the correlation between ecology and religion was examined by Hope and Jones (48-49). The examination of potential difference in the pro-environmental values and beliefs from Christian, Muslim and non-religious community (Hope & Jones 48-59) showed that opinions were shaped based on the importance of environmental stewardship and intergenerational justice. The effect of religious beliefs and its influence on perspectives on climate change between Muslim and Christian and non-religious people were explored and showed the difference. Among first two groups’ low perception about environmental issues was found because of the beliefs in divine intervention. The research showed that the sense of the human responsibility was greater among non-believers. They were more focused on action and awareness of environment issues.
Boarder consumptions were made by other researchers. Belief in God results in the reduced concerns among individuals about the environment (Wolkomir et al 34). The arguments shown were supporting the belief that religion could do more about the basic concerns of the environment and ecology since it is interlinked with everyday lives, beliefs and values. Religion has an impact on perception of environment and concerns for protection and it should do more to promote the sustainable development and sustainable exploitation of all natural resources.
Religion can play an important role with producing and ethic program of action to tackle the problems in ecology. The religious perspectives can be considered too created solutions for the environmental problems such as climate change, unsustainability and pollution. Religion has been late in responding to the environmental issues. The religion can help the ecology by rethinking our actions, values and ethic (Tucker & Grim 23). Articles provide various different opinions and researches regarding the correlation of religion and ecology. Tikkun (74-77) have shown the progress done around the world in some religious communities and affords made also pointed out the development of this area of studies with different findings. They differentiate based on the scope of the research one on the survey’s second on the literature on the topic and the others based on the actions coming from the religious communities.
Even though the Bible is perceived as a promotor of the domination belief that humans should use nature for their advantage. Some of the studies conducted show no correlation between the perception of environment and religion (Guth, Green, Smidt 364-381). There was no significant correlation based on the surveys made. Environmental attitude comes from individual belief, not with which religion and tradition people identify with (Guth, Green, Smidt 364-382). No differences were shown among more conservative religious views and moderate or non-believers. There are various studies and different conclusions because of different scale, different religion measured, and different location.
The articles and sources have many differences and also similarities that results the comprehensive area of studies. The ones written in the broader contest present the area and studies that have been done so far and have various different conclusions, some have predicted correlation positive or negative and other researched made has shown no connection between them. The religion and the vast number of believers in the world can however have a great impact on our perceptions about the environment issues and ecology. The sources that found correlations were criticizing the role religion could play in the matter and other have highlighted the efforts that have been so far made. Religion has so far through the history played a very important role in many important fields and can therefore also help to tackle the problems. The analysis has shown that there are research made that show the correlation between religion and ecology positive and negative and others presume there is no correlation.
Works cited
Guth, J., J. Green, L. Kellstedt, and C. Smidt. “Faith and the Environment: Religious
Beliefs and Attitudes on Environmental Policy.” American Journal of Political Science. 39 (2) 1995: 364-382. Print.
Hope, L. B., Aimie, Jones, R. Christopher. “The Impact of Religious Faith on Attitudes to Environmental Issues and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technologies: A Mixed Methods Study.” Technology in Society. 2014: 48-59. Web. Accessed 28. Jan. 2016 at <http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160791X14000177>
Wolkomir, M. et al. “Substantive religious belief and environmentalism.” Social Science Quarterly. 1997: 96-108. Print.
Tucker, Mary Evelyn, Grim, John. “The Greening of the World's Religions: religion and ecology.” The Chronicle of Higher Education. 2007: 23. Web. Accessed 28. Jan. 2016. at<http://ntserver1.wsulibs.wsu.edu:2156/ehost/detail/detail?sid=3d014162-f3d2- 4ba4- 8515b1d33f03458e%40sessionmgr4001&vid=1&hid=4101&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhv c3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#AN=23973738&db=f5h>
Tikkun, Gottlieb Roger. “Religion and ecology”. Reading Spirit. 2004: 74-77. Web. Accessed 28. Jan. 2016 at <http://ntserver1.wsulibs.wsu.edu:2156/ehost/detail/detail?sid=0d253527-cf7a- 4b31a4bf596087bdf0e1%40sessionmgr4002&vid=0&hid=4101&bdata=JnNpdGU9Z Whvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#AN=14382086&db=a9h >
Strada, Michael J. “Science, Religion, and Ecology Turn Eastward”. USA Today (Magazine). 2001, Vol.130(2676), p.58. Web. Accessed 28. Jan. 2016 at <http://ntserver1.wsulibs.wsu.edu:2069/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=86bace0d- d11d-4ab1-be2f-b9d6318e7bb8%40sessionmgr198&vid=1&hid=124>
