Environment

How does viewing the world through a Sacred lens help us preserve the environment?

The belief that our world is Sacred is woven within the fabric of our existence. The pages of human history are filled with stories of people across cultures whose belief systems emphasize our profound spiritual connection with the environment. From indigenous cultures that frequently hold ceremonies celebrating and reflecting on the interconnectedness of life to religious scriptures that encourage “creation” stewardship, we have seen how fostering profound love and respect for the environment through a sacred lens encourages communities and individuals to protect and preserve natural resources for future generations.

According to this article published by Yale University’s School of the Environment, thousands of sacred forests worldwide, from Ethiopia’s highlands to the Australian rainforests, have survived so far due to traditional religious and spiritual beliefs. This journal, published in May 2023, explored the interplay of environmental conservation within spirituality and found that most respondents (70%) believe everyone has a duty of care toward nature. More than two-thirds said they would be more inclined to observe environmentally conservative measures if their spiritual leaders continued to teach about environmental conservation.