Faith

 

This listing of sustainaibity resources and news on the Faith Sector is a work in progress. Please send any suggestions, additions, corrections or comments to mailto:faith@uspartnership.org

RECENT NEWS, EVENTS, AND RESOURCES 

July 22, 2008 -- "Diverse groups coalesce to protect environment" By RICHARD CIZIK AND TRIP VAN NOPPEN, GUEST COLUMNISTS, Seattle PI -- "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves," says Proverbs 31:8. Scripture and teachings throughout the world call us to act with caring and justice for the vulnerable. Today "vulnerable" includes the Earth -- and people, plants and animals threatened by climate change. [Read more...] 

July 10, 2008 -- "Unitarians Go Green With New Booklet" --The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of St. John is on a mission to help St. John get greener by publishing a booklet called Smart Guide to Island Housekeeping.  "We're trying to build community interest in a sustainable lifestyle," editor Gail Karlsson said...While new and long-term island residents are the target audience, the booklet has information that applies in all locations. [Read more...]

July  9, 2008 -- "Green Monastery Planned" -- A Middleton religious group plans to build a $6 million monastery that will have a zero-carbon footprint and meet the highest environmental and energy-efficiency standards...."It is completely consistent with part of our mission to care for the Earth," Liotus said.[Read more...]

June 20, 2008 (Anouar Majid) -- "Two Faiths, One Planet" -- "A remarkable event took place in Washington this week. The National Association of Evangelicals hosted a delegation of six Moroccans...to discuss the pressing problem of the environment and the "future of our planet." ...Christians and Muslims alike are called upon to care for God's creation...if Christians and Muslims cannot come together to do something about environmental degradation, both communities will have, in essence, forfeited their missions, if not abdicated their faiths altogether..." [Read more]

For past news of Faith events see Faith Events Archives.

FAITH RESOURCES

THE BAHA'I FAITH

The Bahá'ís of the U.S. - With a special section on Bahá'í approaches to development and the UN Decade

The International Environment Forum - a Bahá'í-inspired organization addressing the environment and sustainable development. Of particular interest are its Resource Pages on the DESD, an E-learning Centre on Sustainable Development and these Additional Resources on the Environment and Sustainable Development.

Noble Creation - a Bahá'í development forum, geared towards all professionals in development fields. Also includes further resources on socio-economic development and sustainable agriculture

One Country - The newsletter of the Bahá'í International Community, featuring articles on environmental conservation and sustainable development. See the October-December '05 issue for a cover story on a Bahá'í-sponsored ESD seminar.


BUDDHISM

Soka Gakkai International- Home of the international Buddhist association, including many articles with perspectives on the environment and sustainable development


CHRISTIANITY

Christian Environmental Studies Center- With list of Christian environmental organizations plus other resources

Evangelical Environmental Network- A Christ-centered ministry formed out of recognition that "environmental" problems are fundamentally spiritual. Its Creation Care magazine provides biblically informed and timely articles.

National Council of the Churches of Christ Eco-Justice Programs- Also see "Capsules: Eco-Justice News and Views" as well as sections on Climate and Energy, Consumerism, and Green Building

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)- Environmental Justice Office

U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops- USCCB's Environmental Justice Program (EJP), calling Catholics to a deeper respect for God's creation and engaging parishes in activites that deal with environmental problems

Web of Creation- Christian source of information and resources on faith-inspired eco-justice


JUDAISM

COEJL Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life- The leading Jewish environmental organization in the United States, a program of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA)

ISLAM

Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences (IFEES) - [From the site:] "Our home planet Earth is undergoing rapid and sustained destruction of its eco-systems...giving rise to unacceptable levels of pollution, increasing damage to human habitations and ultimately threatening world-wide population disruption. Muslims... can contribute much to the thinking that is vital to re-evaluate the future direction of the human community and save its home for itself and other life forms...IFEES has established itself as perhaps the only internationally recognized body articulating the Islamic position on these matters..."

Green Muslims in the District -- A network of Muslims in the District of Columbia (and surrounding areas) working proactively to help our communities understand and implement sustainable and eco-conscious ways of living while relating it to our deen, and a holistic world-view.

QUAKERISM

Quaker Earthcare Witness- Quaker resources on faith and sustainability, including books, pamphlets, and a video lending library


UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM

UU Ministry for Earth- focuses on the theological, spiritual and ethical implications of human behaviors that affect the health and sustainability of the living Earth. It sponsors a Green Sanctuary certification process that includes church-run sustainability projects. 
 

See also July 10th story under Recent News and Events 


INTERFAITH

Organizations

Faith in Place- Seeking to engage religious congregations in the Chicago region around issues of long term environmental sustainability

Faiths United for Sustainable Energy (FUSE)- educates, mobilizes and unites communities of faith to act on the increasingly harmful effects of our society's dependence on fossil fuels. Fuel consumption is at the core of the most pressing issues that confront people and governments all over the world, including: global security, human rights, the environment, health, and the economy. FUSE consults with congregations to develop educational programming, congregation-wide conservation initiatives, and energy-saving facility-management practices as well as advocacy programs.

Forum on Religion and Ecology- Through Harvard University, with sections on individual faiths' perspectives. Also see E Magazine article "Wordly Wonder- Religions Enter an Ecological Phase" which highlights the conference series, and Resources for Educators presenting supplemental materials that will enable scholars to teach more effective courses on religion and ecology.

GreenFaith is New Jersey 's interfaith coalition for the environment. Founded in 1992, we inspire, educate and mobilize people of diverse spiritual backgrounds to rediscover their relationship with the sacred in nature and to restore the earth for future generations.

The National Religious Partnership for the Environment- Encouraging and supporting the work of people of faith on environmental issues

The Regeneration Project and the Interfaith Power and Light campaign- helps people of faith recognize and fulfill their responsibility for the stewardship of creation. Specifically, the Interfaith Power and Light campaign, with affiliates in 23 states and growing, is mobilizing a national religious response to global warming while promoting renewable energy, energy efficiency and conservation.

Articles, Publications and Other Resources

RENEWAL is the first feature-length documentary to capture the breadth and vitality of America's religious-environmental movement. In rural communities, suburbs and cities, people of faith are rolling up their sleeves in practical and far-reaching ways. Offering a profound message of hope, RENEWAL shows individuals and communities driven by the deepest source of inspiration - their spiritual and religious convictions - being called to re-examine what it means to be human and how we live on this planet."

"Faith in Action: Communities of Faith Bring Hope for the Planet." an inspiring report by the Sierra Club, highlights one exceptional faithbased environmental initiative from each of the fifty states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, "Faith in Action" demonstrates the breadth, depth and diversity of spiritually motivated grassroots efforts to protect the planet.

"Toward a New Consciousness: Values to Sustain Human and Natural Communities" summarizes the findings of a conference convened by the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies in October, 2007.  Fifty-seven leaders from the sciences, humanities, communications, policy, philanthropy, business and the creative arts gathered in Aspen, Colorado to identify the shifts in core human values and ethics required to support a more sustainable relationship with the natural world and articulate directions to help catalyze this transition. (Thanks to the Forum on Religion and Ecology for this info.)

"Invoking the Spirit: Religion and Spirituality in the Quest for a Sustainable World"- (Worldwatch Paper 164) by Gary Gardner, explores the power of the link between religious teachings and sustainable development (Download free PDF or order print version)

"Faith-based Organizations and Education for Sustainability" --  is a report on a UNESCO-sponsored workshop held in March 2007 that brought together experts from Bahá'i, Buddhist, Christian, Gandhian, Hindu, Jewish, Indigenous, and Islamic traditions to explore "how the strengths and perspectives of faith-based organizations can be mobilized in the service of education for sustainability." 

"Can Religion Save the Environment?" is the E Magazine cover story, November/December 2002