I have a 12 page paper to write for this upcoming Friday. 12 pages isn't much when you know what you want to write about but, if you're like me, knowing what to write about is the one of the hardest parts about writing a goddamn 12 page paper. Anyway, here's the question that I need to answer in the paper:
Is it possible to address the environmental crisis, in a reasonable, viable fashion, without taking into account its religious dimensions?
"without taking into account its religious dimensions"... this is where my brain hits a brick wall.
The last thing I want to do is take the "ease route" which would be to argue that "no, it is not possible to address the environmental crisis without taking into account its religious dimensions". I want to argue that it is absolutely possible to address the environmental crisis without religion, or religious traits (i.e. spirituality). I want to argue that if we, as humans, forget about religion, we'll be able to say to the earth "okay earth, it's just you and me. Let's figure this shit out". Religion, to me, has done nothing but impede out ability to accept that the earth is a living breathing organism and it is greater than us.
The Biblical perspective suggests that human hold dominion over the earth. That we, as God's precious creations, are above all other living things and they exist solely to serve us. This perspective gives humans the right to exploit, kill, slaughter, and destroy the earth and all its living things to serve our own needs. So, erase God = erase shitty attitude. Huh, weird how our shitty attitude comes from the belief in something that supposed to be anything but shitty.
Spirituality plays a large role is environmentalism because people who advocate for the environment believe in interconnectedness between humans and nature. There is a belief that people can and do communicate with nature, animals included. Now, I talk to my cat, usually to tell it to shut-the-fuck-up because it meows incessantly, but is my cat hearing "Felix, SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!"?? probably not. And does he shut up? No. never... fuckin' cat. So, am I engaged in spiritual relationship with my cat, or am I just telling him to shut his trap? I vote for the latter. therefore, how is it possible for people to be "one" with nature? It's not. No matter what, even if we try to respect nature as we respect ourselves, we will always use nature. We have basic physiological needs that need to be met in order for us to survive: shelter, food, water. We use trees to build shelter, animals for food, and we love water so much that we're willing to pay $2.50 for a bottle of the next province/state's tap water because we think it's better than our own tap water. What gets me the most are the people who claim to be one with nature and truly truly respect it. Bullshit! What fibre is your sweater made out of? How did you get to the protest to defend the environment? What tools do you use to "create awareness"? None of us really care about the environment to the point where we would give up our standard of living. So, spirituality = superficial relationship with the planet.
What can we do then?...
I agree. Spirituality has nothing to do with the environment. Or, at least, it shouldn't. These are things that can be mutually exclusive and most often are in today's world. I don't think I've ever heard someone argue against environmentalism on the basis that we hold dominion over the earth.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with the idea that no one cares about the environment enough to give up their standards of living. People do this everyday, but we can all only do it to the extent that we're capable... I'd love to grow all my own organic food, but where would I grow it? How would I get my cows to slaughter? If I can't find a wool sweater from a decent source, I have no choice but to go with the other one, you know?
To answer the question though, "is it possible to address the environmental crisis, in a reasonable, viable fashion, without taking into account its religious dimensions?" - of course it is! Not only that, but it seems the only logical way to do so. That's like asking is it possible to address woman's rights without taking into account religious dimensions. I sure effing hope so!! Tell your prof he's clearly phoning it in with this one. lol, lazy bastard!