Monotheism, Polytheism and Environmentalism

Which is more likely to promote environmanealism?

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Michael

歌舞伎
Valued Senior Member
Which do you think promotes a deep respect for the environment?

I was thinking that perhaps members in a polytheism, one that worships particular rivers and specific mountains, would be more inclined towards environmentalism. You know, protecting these "sacred" places from pollution. But, look at the the Ganges river in India - geesh, very very polluted. Also, Japanese are just as likely to damn a "sacred" river as they are to protect it. Hell, they'd just consider the damn itself as "sacred". As I understand it, the notion that Native Americans "cared for the land" is Romanticized Western bullshit. It seems like Christians are the most environmentally active. BUT, IMO the Bible seems to teach the earth is ours for the taking. Maybe Wicca? Wicca are known for being environmentalists.... aren't they?

What do you guys think?
 
I prefer the secular humanist view. The earth is the only home humans have and we must be responsible for taking care of our home.
Monotheism and polytheism are out because God or Gods make it our responsibility anyway.
 
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earth said:
I prefer the secular humanist view. The earth is the only home humans have and we must be responsible for taking care of our home.
Monotheism and polytheism are out because God or Gods make it our responsibility anyway.
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yes, but, most people aren't secular humanists.... unfortunately.
 
Michael said:
yes, but, most people aren't secular humanists.... unfortunately.
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One doesn’t have to be a secular humanist to realize prayer or religious beliefs aren't going to solve the pollution problem. We must come together as a specie and work together to find applicable solutions to limiting pollution. We can't turn the clock back. We must go forward.
The interpretation of "Green Thinking" where it is developing into applications is beneficial.
 
Michael said:
Which do you think promotes a deep respect for the environment?

I was thinking that perhaps members in a polytheism, one that worships particular rivers and specific mountains, would be more inclined towards environmentalism. You know, protecting these "sacred" places from pollution. But, look at the the Ganges river in India - geesh, very very polluted. Also, Japanese are just as likely to damn a "sacred" river as they are to protect it. Hell, they'd just consider the damn itself as "sacred". As I understand it, the notion that Native Americans "cared for the land" is Romanticized Western bullshit. It seems like Christians are the most environmentally active. BUT, IMO the Bible seems to teach the earth is ours for the taking. Maybe Wicca? Wicca are known for being environmentalists.... aren't they?

What do you guys think?
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It all depends to what degree the material nature is contextualized in factors conducive to the means of production.

IOW any sort of society geared up in industrialism will simply trash the place, regardless whether they are atheist or devotees of hello kitty.

hello-kitty-40k.jpg
 
Michael said:
Which do you think promotes a deep respect for the environment?

I was thinking that perhaps members in a polytheism, one that worships particular rivers and specific mountains, would be more inclined towards environmentalism. You know, protecting these "sacred" places from pollution. But, look at the the Ganges river in India - geesh, very very polluted. Also, Japanese are just as likely to damn a "sacred" river as they are to protect it. Hell, they'd just consider the damn itself as "sacred". As I understand it, the notion that Native Americans "cared for the land" is Romanticized Western bullshit. It seems like Christians are the most environmentally active. BUT, IMO the Bible seems to teach the earth is ours for the taking. Maybe Wicca? Wicca are known for being environmentalists.... aren't they?

What do you guys think?
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There are polytheisms like many of the varieties of Hinduism which as far as I can see would not compel their followers to greater concern about nature. But then there are nature based paganisms - often with numerous deities and spirits - where I think it is more likely the people would be concerned about nature.
 
Doreen said:
There are polytheisms like many of the varieties of Hinduism which as far as I can see would not compel their followers to greater concern about nature. But then there are nature based paganisms - often with numerous deities and spirits - where I think it is more likely the people would be concerned about nature.
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yeah, it'd be an interesting study to see how many nature based pagans correlate to being avid environmentalists.
 
Doreen said:
There are polytheisms like many of the varieties of Hinduism which as far as I can see would not compel their followers to greater concern about nature. But then there are nature based paganisms - often with numerous deities and spirits - where I think it is more likely the people would be concerned about nature.
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Actually, a religion or worldview needn't directly espouse a concern for nature. The religion's teachings on and practice of frugality, modesty, karma, reincarnation, restriction of sense enjoyment bear the same result.
 
Has to be primitive man's religions, the more primitive the better. Barely any adverse effect on the environment. Worshipped all the elements of it.
 
signal said:
Actually, a religion or worldview needn't directly espouse a concern for nature. The religion's teachings on and practice of frugality, modesty, karma, reincarnation, restriction of sense enjoyment bear the same result.
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No, they don't. There has to be a direct concern for the natural environment, or it will be ruined in pursuit of even frugal, modest gains.
SAM said:
Has to be primitive man's religions, the more primitive the better. Barely any adverse effect on the environment. Worshipped all the elements of it.
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More sophisticated handling of the complex "spiritual" aspects of the world is not primitive.
 
iceaura said:
No, they don't. There has to be a direct concern for the natural environment, or it will be ruined in pursuit of even frugal, modest gains.
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One, I suppose we mean different things by "frugality" and "modesty".

Secondly, I added karma, reincarnation, restriction of sense enjoyment.

Thirdly, there are movements which directly express concern for the natural environment (such as Greenpeace), but the reasons they give as to why we should protect the environment apparently do not convince many people.
 
Signal said:
Actually, a religion or worldview needn't directly espouse a concern for nature. The religion's teachings on and practice of frugality, modesty, karma, reincarnation, restriction of sense enjoyment bear the same result.
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I would add 'could' or 'can' in between the two words I bolded. Otherwise I agree.
 
signal said:
One, I suppose we mean different things by "frugality" and "modesty".
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I doubt it.

signal said:
Secondly, I added karma, reincarnation, restriction of sense enjoyment.
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Irrelevant.
signal said:
Thirdly, there are movements which directly express concern for the natural environment (such as Greenpeace), but the reasons they give as to why we should protect the environment apparently do not convince many people.
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In particular, they do not convince many strong adherents of the major Abrahamic religions. Neither does anyone else, with any other reasons.

Which leaves a majority of, say, the US public, more or less immune - apparently in some manner correlated with their religion - to the necessary levels of comprehensions or understandings of the non-human world.
 
Doreen said:
Ironic?
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Not really, you don't miss what you never had. A week in the wilderness without utilities and indoor plumbing, where your food does not come in sterlie packaging that conceals the evidence of sentient life that went into it, will be an eye opener for any "nature lover" of the modern age. :p
 
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