Scientific and Spiritual Dimensions of Climate Change

A Study Course
Class 1

Spiritual Reflections on Nature and Humankind

Section 1:  Nature and Creation

It may be fitting to begin an interfaith course on climate change with some excerpts from the authentic Writings of the world’s religions about nature and creation. While the word nature describes our material (physical) world, the word creation applies both to the spiritual and to the material world.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” i
"You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being." ii            Christianity

 “Who created the waters and the plants? Who yoked the swiftness of the winds and the motion to the clouds? For I beheld Ahura Mazda (Wise Lord) as the primeval source of creation.” iii           Zoroastrianism
   
 "When God created the first human beings, God led them around all the trees of the Garden of Eden and said: “See my works, how beautiful and praiseworthy they are! Think of this, and do not corrupt or destroy My world.” iv                Judaism

“All praise to the unity of God, and all honor to Him, the sovereign Lord, the incomparable and all-glorious Ruler of the universe, Who, out of utter nothingness, hath created the reality of all things, Who, from naught, hath brought into being the most refined and subtle elements of His creation, and Who, rescuing His creatures from the abasement of remoteness and the perils of ultimate extinction, hath received them into His kingdom of incorruptible glory. Nothing short of His all-encompassing grace, His all-pervading mercy, could have possibly achieved it. How could it, otherwise, have been possible for sheer nothingness to have acquired by itself the worthiness and capacity to emerge from its state of non-existence into the realm of being?” v           
“Say: Nature in its essence is the embodiment of My Name, the Maker, the Creator. Its manifestations are diversified by varying causes, and in this diversity there are signs for men of discernment. Nature is God’s Will and is its expression in and through the contingent world.” vi                    Baha'i Faith

Discussion:  What do the above excerpts of religious scriptures tell us about nature and creation?

Interconnectedness in Nature

Religious Writings provide profound statements about the interconnectedness of nature:
“In the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
The Merciful taught the Koran;
He created man, taught him plain speech.
The sun and the moon have their appointed time;
The herbs and the trees adore;
And the heavens, He raised them and set the balance, that ye should not be outrageous in the balance;
But weigh ye aright, and stint not the balance.
And the earth He has set it for living creatures therein are fruits and palms, with sheaths; and grain with chaff and frequent shoots;
Then which of your Lord's bounties will ye twain deny.” vii Islam

“Reflect upon the inner realities of the universe, the secret wisdoms involved,  ... the inter-relationships, the rules that govern all. For every part of the universe is connected with every other part by ties that are very powerful and admit of no imbalance, nor any slackening whatever.” viii   
 “Even as the human body in this world which is outwardly composed of different limbs and organs, is in reality a closely integrated, coherent entity, similarly the structure of the physical world is like unto a single being whose limbs and members are inseparably linked together.
... Co-operation, mutual aid and reciprocity are essential characteristics in the unified body of the world of being, inasmuch as all created things are closely related together and each is influenced by the other or deriveth benefit therefrom, either directly or indirectly.
Consider for instance how one group of created things constituteth the vegetable kingdom, and another the animal kingdom. Each of these two maketh use of certain elements in the air on which its own life dependeth, while each increaseth the quantity of such elements as are essential for the life of the other. In other words, the growth and development of the vegetable world is impossible without the existence of the animal kingdom, and the maintenance of animal life is inconceivable without the co-operation of the vegetable kingdom. Of like kind are the relationships that exist among all created things. Hence it was stated that cooperation and reciprocity are essential properties which are inherent in the unified system of the world of existence, and without which the entire creation would be reduced to nothingness.”  ix               Baha’i Faith

Discussion:  The previous paragraphs sheds light on how everything in nature is interconnected. What concrete examples come to your mind?

In the seemingly infinite web of life everything is interconnected. The sun is the source of all energy and therefore of all life. It provides the warm temperature necessary for the existence of life. In addition, plants use sunlight when converting CO2 into O2 during photosynthesis. The chemical process of photosynthesis is the foundation for all plant life and therefore supports all animal life as well. The energy of the sun also drives climate patterns and the weather, as differences in air and water temperatures create wind and ocean currents.

Gas, coal and oil are all fossil fuels. They were created billions of years ago by the breakdown of dead plants and animals and are therefore actually an accumulation of the sun's energy. One could consider them as stored solar energy from ancient times. We humans are part of this web of life and therefore dependent upon its integrity. We cannot control natural processes and are as dependent as other living beings on the self-renewing capacities of nature.

However, our own actions increasingly threaten the integrity of this web of life.

Activity:  Play a game, practice a dance or do any kind of art project that expresses interconnectedness.

Before you continue with reading, reflect a moment on this principle of the Unitarian/Universalist Faith:

“We affirm and promote respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.” x   


Sustainability

Sustainability is the practice of preserving the web of life and not disrupting its balance. Sustainability can be defined as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” xi

Many Native Americans have been living this wisdom: “In our every deliberation we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations.” xii

We are all part of the ecosystem Earth. True awareness of our interconnectedness and interdependence with all other living things and the Earth instills a profound feeling of humility. Such a state of mind is the necessary foundation for a sustainable approach to all our activities.

“Every man of discernment, while walking upon the earth, feeleth indeed abashed, inasmuch as he is fully aware that the thing which is the source of his prosperity, his wealth, his might, his exaltation, his advancement and power is, as ordained by God, the very earth which is trodden beneath the feet of all men. There can be no doubt that whoever is cognizant of this truth, is cleansed and sanctified from all pride, arrogance, and vainglory.”xiii            Baha'u'llah

Discussion:  (When you discuss the following questions it is not necessary that you exhaust the topics. Just find some examples and share some thoughts.)

        1. What would a sustainable society look like?
        2. What are some unsustainable practices current today?
        3. How can we implement sustainability in our everyday life?
        4. How are humility and the awareness of interconnectedness and interdependence important for sustainability?


Section 2: Science and Religion

Science

“The faculty of intellectual investigation into the secrets of creation... is the most praiseworthy power of man, for through its employment and exercise the betterment of the human race is accomplished, the development of the virtues of mankind is made possible...” xiv                              `Abdu'l-Bahá

What is science? It is a method of investigation that must be conducted objectively without any bias. Its results must be measurable and its experiments reproducible by other scientists. It is not political, and its research is continuously progressing. Although scientists must adhere to certain ethical principles like truthfulness and fairness, science does not provide an ethical framework that could guide us in the responsible use of scientific research.

Science and Climate Change: Without science we wouldn’t know why glaciers are melting so fast, why sea levels have been rising, and why extreme weather conditions like heat waves, droughts, floods, and stronger storms have been increasing. After having discovered the causes, scientists are able to identify solutions, and engineers can develop the technology to implement some of these solutions. We will learn all about that in this course.

Religion

“Religion exerts a profound influence on all societies and many of the world's peoples. Throughout history, it has proven to be the primary force for social progress, motivating individuals to develop spiritual qualities, and empowering them to sacrifice for their fellow human-beings and to contribute to the betterment of their communities.” xv

"Religion is the greatest of all means for the establishment of order in the world and for the peaceful contentment of all that dwell therein." xvi

“…Religion is a radiant light and an impregnable stronghold for the protection and welfare of the peoples of the world.  ...  Should the lamp of religion be obscured, chaos and confusion will ensue, and the lights of fairness and justice, of tranquillity and peace cease to shine…” xvii         Baha'u'llah

The following paragraph explores what happens when people turn away from religion: “The perversion of human nature, the degradation of human conduct, the corruption and dissolution of human institutions, reveal themselves, under such circumstances, in their worst and most revolting aspects. Human character is debased, confidence is shaken, the nerves of discipline are relaxed, the voice of human conscience is stilled, the sense of decency and shame is obscured, conceptions of duty, of solidarity, of reciprocity and loyalty are distorted, and the very feeling of peacefulness, of joy and of hope is gradually extinguished.” xviii
   
Science and Religion

Science and religion are tools to investigate reality from two different angles. Each discipline asks a fundamentally different question. Science asks: how does the universe work? Religion asks: why is there a universe and what is its purpose, and what is our purpose of existence as human beings?

So when should we rely on science and reason, and when should we rely on religion?

A Jewish Fable tells of a man who refused to leave his home at a time of a great flood. The water was rising; a boat passed by and people invited him in. The man refused to climb in. He said, “I don’t need your help. God will save me”. A ship came by, and still the man refused to leave his home. He drowned and went to heaven. He asked God, “Why didn’t you save me?” God answered, “What else did you want Me to do; I sent you a boat and a ship!”

An Islamic tradition also gives the advice to use reason and common sense: Trust in God, but tie your camel!

This short story from Baha’i history shows the importance of using science in everyday life: A lady looked very much forward to a visit by 'Abdu'l-Baha, the son of Baha’u’llah, to her home. With much love she baked a cake and prayed continuously for its good outcome. When it didn't turn out that well, Abdu'l-Baha just laughed and said that next time she should look more into her cookbook than into her prayer book. Another example from the Baha’i Faith is that believers are encouraged to seek the help of a physician when they get sick, in addition to saying prayers for healing. That’s an application of the science of medicine in everyday life.

All of these traditions encourage both trusting God and using our own mind and faculties and the expertise of scientists to help us solve problems.

Now, as the Earth is affected by climate change and other environmental problems we need to turn to science to learn more about the causes, effects, and solutions to these problems.

So what's the role of religion? While scientists can tell us what needs to be done, they are usually not able to motivate society to implement these solutions. That's where we need religion. Religion provides us with the spiritual understanding of our responsibility towards the Earth and towards other human beings including future generations. And it motivates us to act!

That's why this study course uses both science and religion. Whenever the perspective of religion is used, quotations from religious scriptures are presented because they provide the ethical foundation. Moreover, the word of God has the power to change human hearts. Similarly, when the perspective of science is used, scientific facts and direct quotations from scientists are presented. These numbers, graphs and details don't need to be memorized, but they are necessary to provide depth to our understanding and to illustrate the scope of the problems discussed.
 
“Religion and science are the two wings upon which man's intelligence can soar into the heights, with which the human soul can progress. It is not possible to fly with one wing alone! Should a man try to fly with the wing of religion alone, he would quickly fall into the quagmire of superstition, whilst on the other hand, with the wing of science alone he would also make no progress, but fall into the despairing slough of materialism.” xix        `Abdu'l-Baha

Misuse of Religion and Science

“Any agency whatever, though it be the instrument of mankind's greatest good, is capable of misuse.” xx        `Abdu'l-Baha

When talking about religion we should be aware that abuse and perversion of religion have often caused intolerance, fanaticism, oppression and even war. This is, of course, in stark contradiction to the original teachings of all the world’s religions. The Baha'i Faith, for example, admonishes that “religion should unite all hearts and cause wars and disputes to vanish from the face of the earth, give birth to spirituality, and bring life and light to each heart. If religion becomes a cause of dislike, hatred and division, it were better to be without it, and to withdraw from such a religion would be a truly religious act.  ...” xxi  

“In matters of religion every form of fanaticism, hatred, dissension and strife is strictly forbidden.” xxii                 Baha'ullah

At the heart of the Christian Faith is love. It is a love not limited to our own family, nation or coreligionists. It embraces everyone, even our enemies:

“But I say unto you which hear, love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.” xxiii                      Jesus

The Baha'i Faith teaches that all religions have the same divine origin and that we should "consort with the followers of all religions in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship." xxiv

Most important for avoiding religious fanaticism is the use of reason and science.

Science can also be abused. Nowadays, scientific integrity is often threatened by economic interests and political interference.

Independent Investigation of Truth

Every human being has the responsibility to investigate reality and search for the truth, both in the realms of physical as well as spiritual reality. The principle of the independent investigation of truth can be applied in every day life. When we watch the news on TV, hear something on the radio or read an article in a newspaper we can think about whether this is really true, just partially true or even wrong. When we hear or read about an issue, we should be critical and relate it to what we have already heard from sources we trust. 

Baha’u’llah admonished the writers of newspapers
“to be purged from the promptings of evil passions and desires and to be attired with the raiment of justice and equity. They should inquire into situations as much as possible and ascertain the facts, then set them down in writing. ... Fair speech and truthfulness, by reason of their lofty rank and position, are regarded as a sun shining above the horizon of knowledge.” xxv   
               
In the US media you may still come across people who reject humans' contribution to global warming. Some leaders and politicians even deliberately spread disinformation about climate change. However, none of the scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals have questioned the consensus that emissions from human activities cause global warming. There are still many uncertainties about the future impacts of climate change, for example, how fast sea levels will rise, or how specific geographical areas will be affected. But it is a scientific fact that human activities are the major reasons for the global warming, which has been going on for more than a century and will continue to do so in the future.

There is a huge knowledge gap between what is understood by science and what the public knows. xxvi Next time you read a newspaper or see news and advertisements on TV, think about what you consider as credible information.

REFERENCES
i        King James Bible, John 1 – 4
ii      Revelations 4:11
iii     Gatha Ushtavaiti 44.4
iv     Ecclesiastes Rabbah 7     http://www.religioustolerance.org/reciproc.htm
v      Baha'u'llah (Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah 3 XXVII, p. 63)
vi     Baha'u'llah (Tablets from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 140-142   (Lawh-i-Hikmat)
vii    Islam (The Qur'an (E.H. Palmer tr), Sura  55 - The Merciful)
viii   'Abdu'l-Baha (Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 156)
ix     ‘Abdu'l-Baha (Compilations, Huququ'llah, No. 61)
x      Seventh Unitarian Principle, http://www.uushd.com/id12.html
xi     The Brundtland Commission, http://ciscwiki.wetpaint.com/page/Brundtland+Commission+Report?t=anon
xii     from the Great Law of Peace of the Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy,       http://www.solarhaven.org/Quotes.htm
xiii    Baha'u'llah (Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 44)
xiv    'Abdu'l-Bahá (Promulgation of Universal Peace (2nd edition). Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1982, p. 31)
xv     Baha'i International Community, 1994 Aug 24, Role of Religion in Social Development
xvi    Bahá'u'lláh (The Universal House of Justice, 1985 Oct, The Promise of World Peace)
xvii   Baha'u'llah (Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 125)
xviii  Shoghi Effendi (The World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 186)
xix    'Abdu'l-Baha (Paris Talks*, Page: 143)
xx     'Abdu'l-Bahá (The Secret of Divine Civilization (2nd edition). Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1983, p. 16)
xxi    ‘Abdu'l-Baha:  Paris Talks, p.130
xxii   Baha'u'llah (Tabernacle of Unity, p. 39, 2:35)
xxiii  Jesus (King James Bible, Luke 6:27-28)
xxiv  Baha'u'llah (Gleanings, Page: 95) 
xxv   Baha'u'llah (Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 39)
xxvi  Information from: Global Warming 20 Years Later: Tipping Points Near, Jim Hansen, 23 June 2008, National Press Club, and House Select Committee on Energy Independence & Global Warming, Washington, DC)

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Last updated 9 November 2009
© Christine Muller and International Environment Forum