Discussion Question

As you have seen, among the things that make Shinto distinct from the rest of the religions in this course is its explicit emphasis on respect for nature. Religious traditions display various sensitivities to the natural world and humanity's place in it. Jainism teaches that all life-forms are equal, Buddhism urges people to live harmoniously with the environment, Judaism tasks humans with stewardship of the earth, while other religions, like Christianity, seem comparatively quite about nature and how we ought to relate to it. First, has it been your experience that religion, as you know it, is disinterested in or disregards the natural world? Do themes like animal conservation or resource management ever come up? Second, given that religious worldviews encompass the entire cosmos, our own little world included, are there ways that religion can inspire deeper concern for environmental issues? What does your answer imply about the chances for addressing the various ecological crises so much in the news today? 300 words