The Role of Spirituality in the Environmental Movement

I find Dwivedi’s proposition of a role for religion in environmental conservation and protection to be appealing, and I believe that there are additional reasons for developing an environmental ethic with global spirituality as its core. I would, however, suggest that spirituality, rather than religion, be named the foundation of this ethic. To call this environmental ethic religion-based may cause agnostics, governments, and secular institutions to turn away out of bias before even considering the principles. Also, differing interpretations of ancient texts could cause dispute, whereas taking the ethic directly from spirituality would sidestep these disagreements. I agree with Dwivedi that a set of moral values and rules, as may be found in religion, ought to play a role here, but I also posit that spiritual bankruptcy is at the root of environmental destruction, and so spirituality offers hope of change—I believe that spirituality would be a sufficient cause of a change in the way that humans treat the environment. Religion is a way of life, and one can be religious with or without being spiritual; spirituality is a connection to a power greater than oneself, anything or anyone at all. If one looks, one may find principles of the benevolent treatment of the environment embedded in different religious texts; most religions base their ideas regarding the way that life should be lived upon spirituality, so ideas of living in harmony with the environment seem ultimately to originate from spirituality. If one believes that there exists something greater than oneself, one ought to develop humility. Any human is not God above all others, so one with spirituality would not act as such, with a domineering attitude towards even nature. From spirituality comes a certain attitude, mentality, and way of thought that is complementary to the environmental movement; from thought follows behavior, so spirituality would foster actions compatible with this movement. Currently, knowledge of the harm being done to the environment is widespread. Spirituality is peaceful, and to be at peace is to live mindfully and not wish harm upon anything or anyone else. If one felt a connection to a force greater than oneself, then one would feel a connection to all things—from this a sense of unity and oneness would ensue. In believing that one was a part of earth, and that things were connected in some way or another, one would feel a sense of compassionate respect for all living things, and would treat them conscientiously.