by Richard Kool
EXPERIENCE of nature at an early age is often the catalyst for a lifelong interest in science or natural history. Yet the experience of nature may also invoke quite powerful emotions that awake in us a spiritual or religious sense going far beyond our interest in wildflowers or birds. Some feel that it is through our connection with nature that we find our spiritual ground. And, increasingly, those looking for solutions to environmental problems are reexamining the place of humans on the planet as expressed through the major faiths of the world. This investigation of spirituality is reminiscent of Garrett Hardin's classic 1968 paper "The Tragedy of the Commons" in which he points out that there are classes of problems that have no technical solutions but instead require fundamental extensions of morality.
The net is a good place to look for materials relating to environment, religion and spirituality -- ideas that might help us better understand those "fundamental extensions of morality." Here are some of the sites to check out (see below for net addresses):
An ecotheological discussion group can be found on the ECOTHEOL listserv. The goal of the list is to consider environmental issues from a theological or ethical perspective through a discussion open to all traditions. To subscribe, send a message to: MAILBASE@MAILBASE.AC.UK In the body of the text write: Subscribe Ecotheol Your Name.
The Centre for Creation Spirituality is the home of materials by and about ecotheologians Matthew Fox and Thomas Berry, as well as links to pages on Hildegard von Bingem and others. A similar site is that of the Creation Spirituality Network, which includes the full text of articles and columns from their Creation Spirituality Network Magazine.
The Center for Respect of Life and Environment was created in 1986 in response to the growing environmental crisis. Their stated belief is that "significant changes in both attitudes and institutions are necessary for a humane and sustainable future. The work of the Center is to awaken people's ecological sensibilities and to transform lifestyles, institutional practices, and social policies to support the community of life." They offer programs on approaches to economic and social development that recognize the links between ecology, spirituality, and sustainability.
Bringing an eastern approach to the discussion, Changing the Face of the Earth is a worldwide campaign to bring about a solution to the problems currently faced by this planet and her inhabitants. The campaign is based on the Vedas, India's storehouse of transcendental knowledge, as presented in translations and commentaries. The campaign aims to create public support for action to solve the world's current environmental and economic crisis.
Next, Earth Portals presents a philosophic, new-age examination of various forms of human expression. The ultimate goal of this site is to "assist in our understanding of the new metaphors of consciousness" and "to help us transform ourselves and the world." They feature Insight, a magazine that takes an in-depth look at how issues and ideas about the human condition are being expressed.
Another on-line magazine (also available on newsstands) is Resurgence, a publication focused on the relationship between ecological and spiritual thinking. When Resurgence began in 1966, its editors tackled issues that were only just filtering through to the mainstream debate. They published articles on the endangered environment, renewable energy and ecological economics. E. F. Schumacher wrote regularly about the perils of chemicals in our food, the simplicity of Buddhist economics and the strength of "Small is Beautiful." Thirty years later, Resurgence continues to publish ideas on the cutting edge of current thinking, promoting creativity, ecology, spirituality and frugality.
Finally, a bibliography of books dealing with ecotheology has been posted by John Cobb Jr., co-author, with Herman Daly, of For the Common Good. And, of course, you can find all sorts of papers and discussions by using the web search engines!