WORLD RELIGIONS & ECOLOGY
IN THE NEWS
April 2010: Religion and Nature - Your Turn to Be Heard The International Society for the Study of Religion, Nature and Culture is hosting a conference titled “Living on the Edge,” from December 16 - 19, 2010, at the University of Western Australia in Perth, Australia. The ISSRNC has issued a call to scholars from all disciplines for papers to be presented at the conference, as well as proposals regarding sessions, panels and posters that address the theme of “Living on the Edge.” “Through a multidisciplinary framework of religion, nature and culture, the conference explores the relationships between people and nature, social and ecological systems, local and global economies, art and ecology, science and religion, and cultural diversity and biodiversity.” Proposals should include a 250 - 300-word abstract of the session and/or presentation, and a 150-word biography. The deadline for submissions is July 30, 2010; send these to issrnc2010@fmail.com directly. Learn more about the conference at www.religionandnature.com/society/conferences.htm.
WORLD RELIGIONS AND ECOLOGY: ARCHIVES
WORLD RELIGIONS & ECOLOGY
Scholars of world religions Mary Evelyn Tucker and John Grim note, “Religions have developed ethics for homicide, suicide and genocide; now they are challenged to respond to biocide and ecocide.” “What,” they ask, “is our moral responsibility toward future generations? … Can religious and cultural perspectives help solve environmental challenges?”
After decades of environmental action and subsequent involvement of world religions, the ethical dimensions of the environmental crisis are becoming more obvious. While not every activity that is ethical or moral can be legally mandated, Earth jurisprudence asks important questions upon which world religions might shed light:
What human behaviors are consistent with the laws of the natural world? What ethical norms support a legal framework that protects the flourishing of the Earth community? How do the vision and values articulated in the ecological statements and activities of the world religions contribute to the health and well-being of people and ecosystems? How does Earth jurisprudence, as a legal response, promote mutually enhancing human-Earth relationships?