CONSERVATION AND SPIRITUALITY
18 February 2000
Meadows Foundation Offices
3003 Swiss Avenue * Dallas, TX
Campbell Reed, Professor of Statistics at Southern Methodist
University, then gave the featured talk on Religion, Spirituality
and Environmental Stewardship. He began with noting the sacred
nature of the land and the basic human kinship with creation,
especially clear in certain places (the Island of Iona, Mount
Graham in Arizona, Istanbul’s mosque stork nursery,
etc.). However, he found that this value and link to the creation
often run counter to the difficult philosophical heritage
of anthropocentrism, and to the fact that churches are large,
unwieldy bureaucracies which are slow to give up older habits
and beliefs. Dr. Reed was concerned that a survey he conducted
of seminaries indicated that 49% offered no courses on the
ethical aspects of how Christians treat the earth, and 68%
offered no courses in how the creation (as opposed to parishioners’
local concerns) could be included in ministries.
On the other hand, Dr. Reed had been very pleased with the
strong turnout in Assisi during 1986, where representatives
from 5 major religions discussed how a new liturgy might follow
the "New Road". He also felt that the perspective
offered by Edgar Mitchell, an astronaut, and Thomas Barry,
an author, of the world’s smallness and fragility had
been helpful in promoting a more tolerant view of nature.
Dr. Reed also recommended the writings of David Suzuki, especially
"Sacred Balance", and those by E.O.Wilson, especially
about Biophilia, to help people reconnect with other species.
He concluded by playing a recording of Paul Winter playing
the saxophone in Montana in a call and response with howling
wolves, to show that we are indeed connected.
Questions and Answers
Q: How might the recent report on the high likelihood
that there is no intelligent life in the universe apart from
the Earth affect appreciation of the value of life here?
Dr. Reed said that this report was premature.
Q: How could sacred spots, which need to be protected
from people, survive with the onslaught of continued population
growth? Dr. Reed said that some sacred spots are actually
in urban areas, and benefit from the increased exposure and
education they offer to people.
Q: Please elaborate on the urban sacred spots and how
they could offer real wilderness experiences. Dr. Reed
responded that sacred spots need not be large or pristine.
Q: It was remarked by one funder that there is a paradox
in the development of temples within the refuge of the non-migratory
Saurus Cranes of Bhutan. These temples are intended to
honor the cranes, symbol of long life in Buddhism, yet might
actually contribute to their decline by disrupting their habitat.
Q: Would any of the numerous religious camps in Texas
offer an opportunity for linking nature and religion?
Dr. Reed thought it would be a good avenue, but didn’t
know specifics. Ann Hamilton noted that Camp Allen, an Episcopalian
camp near Hempstead, did in fact offer nature and science
programs.
Q: A donor offered that East Texas Baptist University had
been a key partner in their efforts to protect and understand
Lake Caddo, and added that the 1986 Southern Baptist Convention
had been quite clear and to the point on the importance of
protecting the Creation.
Q: A funder noted that a popular hymn, "This is My Father’s
World", summed up the need to connect people and nature. |
