Why Religion Matters For Climate Change
Climate change is one of the biggest common challenges facing humanity. And if it is to be solved, religion has to be involved.
Of many definitions of religion available, adapted from Wikipedia, religion is a system of belief concerning the supernatural, sacred, or divine, and the moral codes, practices, values, and institutions associated with such belief. Religion therefore is a fundamental set of beliefs and practices that define the relations between human beings and sacred.
Religious beliefs influence human behaviors and such behavioral influences can change the way people perceive and interact with the environment.
For instance, people can take unprecedented measures to secure what they see as divine. They can decline monetary benefit, participate in war, deny themselves of food and even give their lives for a sacred cause. These behaviors, however, showed that religion, directly and indirectly, shapes our personalities and offers a reason to our lives in such a way that government initiatives or policies cannot. Religion can motivate people to care, act and become committed to environmental causes particularly when the power of “the sacred or divine” is applied.
The power of religion to impact global issues and shape global perspectives has long been recognized. The World Economic Forum recognizes that religion plays a dynamic and evolving role in society. Tackling climate change is simply past government policy and science, religious institutions must be involved at various levels to offer the needed moral and ethical values in people for long-term commitments and actions in addressing climate challenges. These religious valves can make the needed social changes for sustainable development work in at least four ways:
First, religion can create and inspire the stories, rituals, and motivation needed for a change of lifestyle to mitigate climate change. Second, it can debunk the so often “I Don’t Believe in Climate Change” echoed by world leaders and people at the grass levels. Third, religion can enhance the needed collaboration between the people, policymakers and the scientific communities. Lastly, religion can aid how people adapt to climate change.
Written by Oluwaseyi Ajala — Climate Blogger | Photographer | Co-founder @RethinkEducati1 | Alumnus @yalirlcwa|@selfless4africa| Tech2018 @unesco_mgiep | Ambassador @CoalitionWILD
