If asked if there is a connection between the disciplines of Religion and Ecology the typical person would almost certainly be left dumbfounded, as it is a question a majority of people in the world have never been asked nor even thought about. Speaking from my own experience, the first time I was asked about the connection between Religion and Ecology I was left quite puzzled too. As someone who previously took Biology, I pondered how Religion could be tied to the Earth’s animals, plants, and more generally, the environment as a whole. After reading Love Letter to The Earth by Thich Nhat Hanh and the Cornwall Alliance’s (an Evangelical organization) perspective on climate change, as well as an analytical study by the renown Pew Research Center…show more content… With the difference in religious beliefs between Evangelicals and Buddhists also comes different perspectives on the environment and how it should be treated. The Cornwall Alliance, an Evangelical organization which stated mission is to dispel “an environmental movement whose worldview, theology, and ethics are overwhelmingly anti-Christian” offered Evangelical perspective on Global Warming in what they titled “An Evangelical Declaration on Global Warming” (Cornwall Alliance). In the proclamation, the Cornwall Alliance states that the Earth and its ecosystems are “self-regulating and self-correcting” (Cornwall Alliance). Essentially, they are arguing that God designed Earth to manage itself and that human regulation of the environment is unnecessary. Furthermore, the proclamation goes on to deny that environmental policies, which they feel amount to a regressive tax, comply with the Biblical requirement of protecting the poor from harm and oppression (Cornwall Alliance). The group’s use of the Bible as the rationale for their ecological beliefs is a true testament to the connection between religion and ecology. Just as Thich Nhat Hanh did in Love Letter to Earth, the Cornwall Alliance had their own call to action in their proclamation. They called on politicians to enact policies protecting human liberty and for the abandonment of “fruitless” and “harmful”…show more content… After having an epiphany about climate change and the need for environmental regulation at a conference with the world’s leading climatologists, Cizik examined the Bible and was able to find scripture in Genesis which he feels suggest God’s desire for humans to be stewards to the Earth (The Berkley Center). Ironically, Evangelicals against environmental regulation often also cite scripture in Genesis as evidence that God created the Earth and its resources for humans enjoy (PBS). Clearly, some contention exists among Evangelicals when it comes to ecological issues. According to a 2013 poll by the Pew Research Center, 48% of Evangelicals felt stricter environmental laws cost too many jobs and hurt the economy while 45% believed such laws are worth the cost. On the other hand, in the same poll, 77% of Buddhists felt environmental regulations are worth the cost. Buddhists being more homologous compared to Evangelicals when it comes to their opinions on ecological issues could be attributed to the ambiguity that exists within the Bible. In other words, the Bible leaves a lot of room for different
