Presentation ThreePresentation Three

Role of Religion on Role of Religion on Climate ChangeClimate Change

Dedicated to Pope John Dedicated to Pope John Paul IIPaul II

““The environment is a great repository of The environment is a great repository of natural wealth, belonging to all humanity, natural wealth, belonging to all humanity,

present and future, freely and equally. Each present and future, freely and equally. Each generation takes the natural environment generation takes the natural environment on loan, and must return it after use in as on loan, and must return it after use in as

well or better condition as when it was first well or better condition as when it was first borrowed.” borrowed.” 

Centesimus Annus 107Centesimus Annus 107

Religion - A Religion - A Powerful ToolPowerful Tool

Today, all religions are Today, all religions are addressing more consistently addressing more consistently and faithfully how to protect and faithfully how to protect God's creation and the God's creation and the environment that sustains environment that sustains the human family and all the the human family and all the earth.earth.

CrusadesCrusades

First Crusade launched by Pope First Crusade launched by Pope Urban II, Nov. 27, 1095, at the Urban II, Nov. 27, 1095, at the Council of ClermontCouncil of Clermont

Pope urban marketed the Pope urban marketed the crusades so brilliantly. Some crusades so brilliantly. Some 60,000 men offered to risk their 60,000 men offered to risk their lives. lives.

On July 15, 1099 the First On July 15, 1099 the First Crusade captured Jerusalem Crusade captured Jerusalem

What Religion Can Do?What Religion Can Do?Martin Luther King Jr. Obama the Martin Luther King Jr. Obama the

PresidentPresident

Edward O. WilsonEdward O. Wilson

“ “The predisposition to The predisposition to religious belief is the most religious belief is the most complex and powerful force complex and powerful force in the human mind in all in the human mind in all probability an ineradicable probability an ineradicable part of human nature” part of human nature” Edward O. WilsonEdward O. Wilson

St. Francis of AssisiSt. Francis of Assisi

Make me a Make me a channel channel of your peaceof your peace Where there is hatred le me bring Where there is hatred le me bring

your loveyour love Where there is injury, your pardon, Where there is injury, your pardon,

LordLord

880 Billion Tons of 880 Billion Tons of CarbonCarbon

Safety Line 935 billion tons – 55 bt to goSafety Line 935 billion tons – 55 bt to go 8 bt per year – 4 bt depleted by carbon sinks8 bt per year – 4 bt depleted by carbon sinks 10 to 13 years10 to 13 years

A Sense of Awareness and A Sense of Awareness and UrgencyUrgency

Hypocrites! You know how Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. of the earth and the sky.

How is it that you don't How is it that you don't know how to interpret this know how to interpret this present time? (Luke 12: 59)present time? (Luke 12: 59)

We Need Paradigm We Need Paradigm ShiftShift

Sustainable Sustainable developmentdevelopment

Man-CenteredMan-Centered

Anthropocentric Anthropocentric motivesmotives

CapitalismCapitalism

ConsumptionConsumption

Sustainable retreatSustainable retreat

Nature-CenteredNature-Centered

Anthropocentric Anthropocentric denialsdenials

Egalitarian Egalitarian ExistenceExistence

ConservationConservation

Three Paradigm Three Paradigm ShiftsShifts

1. Axial Age 500 BC to 100 BC1. Axial Age 500 BC to 100 BC 2. Jesus Christ 1 AD to 45 AD2. Jesus Christ 1 AD to 45 AD 3. Renaissance and Reformation (1300 – 3. Renaissance and Reformation (1300 –

1500)1500) 4. Second Axial Age (Present)4. Second Axial Age (Present) Religions was the major playerReligions was the major player

First Shift – First Shift – The Axial Age (Divergence of Religions)The Axial Age (Divergence of Religions) -Confucius, Mencius, Lao Tzu, Gautama, Mahavir, -Confucius, Mencius, Lao Tzu, Gautama, Mahavir,

Zoroaster, Prophets, Pythagoras, SocratesZoroaster, Prophets, Pythagoras, Socrates

22ndnd Shift - Jesus Christ Shift - Jesus Christ

• The Kingdom of God based on Justice and Peace• a kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and

grace, a kingdom of justice, love, and peace.

33rdrd Shift - Crusades, Feudal Europe, Shift - Crusades, Feudal Europe, Renaissance 1300 and Renaissance 1300 and

Reformation 1517Reformation 1517

Modern World: Colonization, Modern World: Colonization, Slavery, Industrial Revolution, Slavery, Industrial Revolution, World Wars, Holocaust, Global World Wars, Holocaust, Global

WarmingWarming

Homo scientificus – Science and Homo scientificus – Science and Technology , Globalization, Yet, Technology , Globalization, Yet,

We are not HappierWe are not Happier

Mater et Magistra, Mater et Magistra, 198198

““We are sick at heart. We are shown the We are sick at heart. We are shown the fearful specter of want and misery which fearful specter of want and misery which threatens to extinguish human life, and on the threatens to extinguish human life, and on the other hand we find scientific discoveries, other hand we find scientific discoveries, technical inventions and economic resources technical inventions and economic resources being used to provide terrible instruments of being used to provide terrible instruments of ruin and death. ruin and death. “Mother and Teacher” (1961)“Mother and Teacher” (1961)

Technological Society DestroysTechnological Society Destroys disaster struck, stone tools, Neolithic Farming, disaster struck, stone tools, Neolithic Farming,

Steam Engines, Nuclear Energy, CellphonesSteam Engines, Nuclear Energy, Cellphones

4th Shift4th ShiftConvergence of All Religions and politics (second Convergence of All Religions and politics (second

axial age)axial age)A Generational MissionA Generational Mission

o Human Achievements: not science Human Achievements: not science and technology, but becoming and technology, but becoming compassionate, humble, simplecompassionate, humble, simple

o Becoming Human is Generational Becoming Human is Generational MissionMission

o Moving Toward a Golden Age of Moving Toward a Golden Age of HumanityHumanity

The Second Axial Age – The Generational Mission Convergence of All Religions against First Axial Age

Earth Summit, 1992Earth Summit, 1992

In 1992 more than 100 heads In 1992 more than 100 heads of the state met in Rio de of the state met in Rio de Janeiro, First International Janeiro, First International Earth Summit Earth Summit

Environmental protection and Environmental protection and socioeconomic development socioeconomic development

Leaders signed the Leaders signed the Convention on Biological Convention on Biological DiversityDiversity

Kyoto Protocol, Kyoto Protocol, 19971997

• Global WarmingGlobal Warming

• Mitigation of Greenhouse GasesMitigation of Greenhouse Gases

• Substantial OutcomeSubstantial Outcome

Copenhagen, 2009 - Copenhagen, 2009 - Politics Failed Politics Failed Only One Option: Only One Option: ReligionReligion

Durban, South Africa, Durban, South Africa, 20112011

Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable Development First, no more than 2 degrees C out of 4 CFirst, no more than 2 degrees C out of 4 C Second, for the first time will require the Second, for the first time will require the

big emerging economies China, India and big emerging economies China, India and Brazil, to make legally binding Brazil, to make legally binding commitments commitments (Mitigation)(Mitigation)

Third, established a new Green Climate Third, established a new Green Climate Fund will provide vital support to the poor Fund will provide vital support to the poor countries to reduce their emissions and countries to reduce their emissions and adapt to the climate change they are adapt to the climate change they are already experiencing. already experiencing. (Adaptation)(Adaptation)

Sustainable Sustainable DevelopmentDevelopment

Economic Economic sustainabilitysustainability

Technological Technological sustainabilitysustainability

Social sustainabilitySocial sustainability Environmental Environmental

sustainabilitysustainability Value sustainabilityValue sustainability

Products are matched Products are matched to market demandto market demand

Technologies should Technologies should be upgradablebe upgradable

Bring positive changeBring positive change Should mitigate Should mitigate

greenhouse gasesgreenhouse gases Guided by moral Guided by moral

valuesvalues

The Power of ReligionsThe Power of Religions 2 Billion Christians2 Billion Christians 1 Billion Plus Muslims1 Billion Plus Muslims 1 Billion Hindus1 Billion Hindus 350 Million Buddhists350 Million Buddhists 20 Million Sikhs20 Million Sikhs 4 Million Jews4 Million Jews

1 Billion – Pope Benedict XVI: 1 Billion – Pope Benedict XVI:

Leadership?Leadership?

Social TeachingsSocial Teachings

Rerum novarumRerum novarum Gaudium et SpesGaudium et Spes Populorum Populorum

progressioprogressio Mater et magistraMater et magistra Octogesima Octogesima

adveniensadveniens Justicia in mundoJusticia in mundo Redemptor hominisRedemptor hominis

Laborem excercensLaborem excercens Sollicitudo rei Sollicitudo rei

socialissocialis Centesimus annusCentesimus annus Caritas in veritateCaritas in veritate Justice and peace-Justice and peace-

Integrity of creationIntegrity of creation Local efforts in Local efforts in

diocesesdioceses

Ecoparish - A Centre Ecoparish - A Centre for Compassion and for Compassion and

ConservationConservation

ReduceReduce ReuseReuse RecycleRecycle RejectReject

Five Pillars of Islam

Holy QuranHoly Quran

Appeals to Compassion Appeals to Compassion and Conservationand Conservation

If Islamic world choose to If Islamic world choose to stop oil export, this world stop oil export, this world will be a better placewill be a better place

Leadership?Leadership?

Hinduism – Non Violence

Hindu-Jain-Buddha-Sikh-Hindu-Jain-Buddha-Sikh-FarsiFarsi

Vedas, UpanishadVedas, Upanishad Ramayana, MahabharataRamayana, Mahabharata Bhagawad GitaBhagawad Gita But ‘Rush to Riches,’ to But ‘Rush to Riches,’ to

technology and technology and development puts development puts pressure on land, water, pressure on land, water, air and lifeair and life

Every Year 18 Million added to fragile Earth – 1.25 Billion and Still Growing

Buddhism - Leadership

ChinaChina

Non-believers also can use Non-believers also can use the human resources of the human resources of Compassion and Compassion and ConservationConservation

Compassion and Compassion and Conservation can be a Conservation can be a driving force behind driving force behind economic progresseconomic progress

Can Religions Stop Can Religions Stop GW?GW?

Temperatures will increase 2 Temperatures will increase 2 to 4 degrees Celsius at the to 4 degrees Celsius at the end of this century (IPCC)end of this century (IPCC)

Politics can cut 2 degrees Politics can cut 2 degrees CelsiusCelsius

All other Religions 2 degrees All other Religions 2 degrees CelsiusCelsius

Eliminate Domination in All its Eliminate Domination in All its FormsForms

Society marked by inequalities, Society marked by inequalities, hierarchies, discrimination, slavery, hierarchies, discrimination, slavery, exploitation will treat environment in exploitation will treat environment in same waysame way

Decent, sane, egalitarian society will Decent, sane, egalitarian society will treat environment it inhabits sane & treat environment it inhabits sane & respectful wayrespectful way

The way humanity treats the The way humanity treats the environment influences the way it treats environment influences the way it treats itself, and vice versa. This invites itself, and vice versa. This invites contemporary society to a serious contemporary society to a serious review of its lifestyle. review of its lifestyle. CV 4, 51CV 4, 51

Return to Mother-What Return to Mother-What Women can do!Women can do!

Mothers Speak when the “Mother Mothers Speak when the “Mother Principle is Crucified.”Principle is Crucified.”

Hildegard of Bingen – Cosmic AwarenessHildegard of Bingen – Cosmic Awareness Mechtild of Magdeburg - PanentheismMechtild of Magdeburg - Panentheism Julian of Norwich – Motherhood of GodJulian of Norwich – Motherhood of God Meister Eckhart – Goodness of CreationMeister Eckhart – Goodness of Creation

Religion Can Give Head Religion Can Give Head StartStart

• Sustainable Development to Sustainable Sustainable Development to Sustainable RetreatRetreat

• Environmental Revolution (collectively)Environmental Revolution (collectively)

• Mutiny (individually)Mutiny (individually)

Environmental Revolution by Environmental Revolution by ReligionsReligions

AnthropocentrismAnthropocentrism StewardSteward GreedGreed ConsumptionConsumption RationalismRationalism DemocracyDemocracy DominionDominion

CapitalismCapitalism

BiocentrismBiocentrism ServantServant NeedNeed CompassionCompassion MysticismMysticism Cosmic DemocracyCosmic Democracy Creation-Centered Creation-Centered

SpiritualitySpirituality EgalitarianismEgalitarianism

Environmental Revolution Versus Environmental Revolution Versus AR and IRAR and IR

Agricultural Agricultural revolution, revolution, population increasepopulation increase

IR, steam engine IR, steam engine driven by driven by technological technological advancesadvances

IR, shift toward IR, shift toward fossil fuelfossil fuel

IR, a shift toward IR, a shift toward ConsumptionConsumption

ER will dramatically ER will dramatically alter population alter population trendstrends

ER use of new ER use of new technologies, so technologies, so economy does not economy does not destroy earthdestroy earth

ER shift away from ER shift away from fossil fuelsfossil fuels

ER is shift away ER is shift away from Consumptionfrom Consumption

Creation Mutiny of Creation Mutiny of IndividualsIndividuals

Mutiny against ConsumptionMutiny against Consumption Mutiny against Domination in all its FormsMutiny against Domination in all its Forms Mutiny against Greed, Corruption, ViolenceMutiny against Greed, Corruption, Violence Mutiny against Carnivorous HabitsMutiny against Carnivorous Habits

Geo-Engineering and Geo-Engineering and Climate EngineeringClimate Engineering

Reduce albedo effect = reflecting the sunlight to spaceReduce albedo effect = reflecting the sunlight to space

Playing with clouds - atomise sea water (Flettner ships)Playing with clouds - atomise sea water (Flettner ships)

A Parasol in space – shade the planet (mirror clouds)A Parasol in space – shade the planet (mirror clouds)

Fertiliser for the sea – growth of plankton (zooplankton)Fertiliser for the sea – growth of plankton (zooplankton)

Sulphur dioxide mist – transport by hose to Sulphur dioxide mist – transport by hose to staratosphere, also by jumbo jetsstaratosphere, also by jumbo jets

UN and Religions should develop a healthy UN and Religions should develop a healthy relationship with poverty, hunger, weeping relationship with poverty, hunger, weeping (Blessings: Jesus)(Blessings: Jesus)These elements keep balance on earthThese elements keep balance on earth

Poverty, hunger, chastity should become Poverty, hunger, chastity should become choiceschoices

It’s OKAY to be poor – Blessed are the poorIt’s OKAY to be poor – Blessed are the poor For 2 billion = took all the resources of the For 2 billion = took all the resources of the

earthearth For other 5 billion = Mars, Venus and MercuryFor other 5 billion = Mars, Venus and Mercury Sustainable retreat to indigenous model of Sustainable retreat to indigenous model of

progressprogress

Amish PeopleAmish People

Book of Job Ends in Divine Book of Job Ends in Divine DiagnosisDiagnosis

Job the patientJob the patient

In the end, Job acknowledges In the end, Job acknowledges the the Justice and sovereignty of Justice and sovereignty of GodGod in his life and receives in his life and receives back more than he had before back more than he had before his trialshis trials

Finally We’ve Learned a Lesson?

Book of Job demonstrates the profound human struggle between anthropology and cosmology

In the end, cosmology does not defeat anthropology; rather cosmology opens its arms to welcome back anthropology, its prodigal son

Anthropocentric Job Goes BiocentricAnthropocentric Job Goes Biocentric 42: 10 -1542: 10 -15

““I had heard of you by word of mouth, I had heard of you by word of mouth, but now my eyes have seen you …” but now my eyes have seen you …” Job 42: 5Job 42: 5

And the Lord restored the fortunes of And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job. Job.

The man after the process is The man after the process is different from the man before the different from the man before the processprocess

At Last Man Realizes : At Last Man Realizes : It is not the Earth, it’s It is not the Earth, it’s the Man the Patientthe Man the Patient

Creation is the Face of Creation is the Face of GodGod

• ““In Him we live, move and have our Being” Acts In Him we live, move and have our Being” Acts 17:2817:28

• We are Part of CreationWe are Part of Creation• All Life on Earth is found Good by God HimselfAll Life on Earth is found Good by God Himself• Ultimately, Man has to understand and arrive at Ultimately, Man has to understand and arrive at

the denial of Anthropocentric Motives, and go the denial of Anthropocentric Motives, and go Green (Biocentric, Ecocentric)Green (Biocentric, Ecocentric)

• We encounter God when we encounter We encounter God when we encounter creation; its beauty is an expression of the creation; its beauty is an expression of the beauty of God. The relationship we have with beauty of God. The relationship we have with the natural world is a relationship with God. the natural world is a relationship with God.

Pope Benedict Calls for a New Pope Benedict Calls for a New CovenantCovenant

After pondering responsibly the road After pondering responsibly the road

to be taken, decisions aimed at to be taken, decisions aimed at strengthening that strengthening that covenant between covenant between human beings and the environment …human beings and the environment …

Until we restore a Until we restore a spiritual covenantspiritual covenant with the earth, we will forever roll the with the earth, we will forever roll the environmental stone up a mountain of environmental stone up a mountain of frustration. CV 4, 50frustration. CV 4, 50

Eco-Warrior Eco-Warrior Prodigal Son turned Good Prodigal Son turned Good

SamaritanSamaritan Lk 15: 11-32; Lk: 10: 25-37Lk 15: 11-32; Lk: 10: 25-37

Jesus recommends CompassionJesus recommends Compassion And he said, “he who showed And he said, “he who showed

compassion on him.” Then compassion on him.” Then Jesus said to him “Go and do Jesus said to him “Go and do the same thing” (Luke 10: 37)the same thing” (Luke 10: 37)

Mathew 5: 7Mathew 5: 7

Blessed are the Blessed are the merciful For they merciful For they shall obtain mercyshall obtain mercy

Jesus the Jesus the ConservationistConservationist

• The Parable of the Lost Sheep symbolizes the conservation of endangered species

• “The thief does not come except to steal and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10: 10

Deuteronomy 30: 15Deuteronomy 30: 15

““See, I set before you See, I set before you today life and today life and prosperity, death and prosperity, death and destruction”destruction”

Future Depends on Future Depends on ReligionsReligions

With religions as a new With religions as a new members in the struggle members in the struggle for a better environment, for a better environment, one can only hope that one can only hope that the people have become the people have become more conscious to save more conscious to save our next generation from our next generation from the dangers of our own the dangers of our own mistakes.mistakes.

““If You Want to If You Want to Cultivate Peace, Cultivate Peace,

Protect Protect Creation”Creation”

•Pope Benedict XVI

Book of Revelation Book of Revelation 21:521:5

He who was seated on the He who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am throne said, “Behold, I am making everything new!”making everything new!”

Therefore, GW and CC must be Therefore, GW and CC must be a New Creation, a change from a New Creation, a change from beauty (nasty) to beautybeauty (nasty) to beauty

Psalm 90:1-2Psalm 90:1-2

Let us Pray!Let us Pray!““Lord, You’ve been our refuge in every Lord, You’ve been our refuge in every

generation. Before the mountains were generation. Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the Earth born, before you gave birth to the Earth and the universe, from everlasting to and the universe, from everlasting to everlasting, you are our God.” everlasting, you are our God.”

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