Hello again! Unfortunately I have been very busy and have had trouble attending to this blog. However, I'd like to let it be known that I am still committed to working on it and keeping it updated. I am currently trying to arrange a visit to the Sufi farm I discussed earlier but in the meantime I just wanted to update with a post on what it means to better integrate one's spirituality/religion with nature and why that is important.
It has been my experience that, although the green movement now seems to be in full swing - a legitimately exciting and hopeful prospect for our children and future generations - there does not seem to be a strong tie between this movement and institutional religion. Rather, much of it is associated with those who fall under a secular or "SBNR" (spiritual but not religious) category that seems to go hand in hand an unassailable desire for social change, stronger liberal values, increased environmental awareness, and a return to increased diversity in purchasing local and fairly acquired goods. Perhaps because of the green movement's connection with this demographic traditional religious institutions, often upholding conservative values, have been wary of embracing or even exploring the ideas thus contained by what may appear to them as that which is supported by a young liberal agenda or "hippies."
This, I think, is a big mistake on the part of most religious organizations and one which needs to be rectified as soon as possible. One reason being the spiritual significance of nature and what it does for us as humans; not to mention what it asks of us in return. Often times, as a Christian, I have noticed many firm objectives to work on behalf of the poor through various church-allied volunteer services or other means offered through church. I have also seen these types of programs offered by other religions. These programs are great and I am by no means deriding them. They fulfill what is often (or what should often be) a primary purpose of what many people attest to is a principle foundation of their religious beliefs, which is compassionate care of one's neighbor. However they are often focused on contributing only a very particular set of services. And so when I realize that this is all the church or another religious institution offers I become disappointed and can see why many find religious institutions so unfulfilling.
By limiting their outreach to canned food drives (which, should be mentioned are, usually unhealthy processed foods that can lead to health problems), brief mission trips, and volunteer options that engage only a small part of an overall congregation, religious institutions usually miss the mark when it comes to engaging their overall communities. Then, when people leave or when they do not contribute, they are usually labeled as "secular" or "worldly" and quickly forgotten.
But what if there were programs to engage a wide variety of people's skills and interests? Programs that could help build community and foster relationships with people who are members of that community? And programs which are progressive in the sense that they take the best parts of modernization and apply it to deeply held spiritual values? Now, let's look at one of those areas - that which in the last century we have desperately tried to disconnect ourselves from - the realm of nature, of homegrown food, and of adequate nutrition.
It has been boggling to me why religious institutions have not pushed for greater reform in the area of green and local food, along with increased environmental concern. For one thing, these areas are intimately connected with concerns of social justice. Every part of our physical being depends upon what we give unto, and thus receive in return from, nature. When we allow massive corporations, such as Monsanto, to take advantage of local populations by creating plants whose seed does not germinate or when we think it is okay for poor populations to live off of cheap fast food we are ignoring a vital problem of modern society and thus not living out the beliefs which we hold closest to us. Of course, often times I will hear a call for greater awareness of the environment from clergy or religious establishments but only rarely is this truly backed up by a strategic plan of action.
What we need are religious institutions who are willing to build community gardens or greenhouses with which they can provide nutritious food for the poor. We need religious models that can take an active role in preserving nature through education and through explaining the fact that we must serve the earth if we are to receive from it. And we must learn to support more local ventures so that we can be more deeply connected as a community and foster awareness of each other. This will, in turn, lead to more personal relations that will prevent fear of the unknown when seen in the other and thus prevent alienation and hostility.
Of course, while saying all this, I also realize the hardships many institutions would face in trying to accomplish these goals. There are financial concerns and logistical problems that many institutions may not be even ready to begin with, considering most are already charitable organizations in some shape or form. Yet, I think it would not be too much to ask for them to try or become more aware of other areas in which they can meet with the modern outside world in forming new ideas that connect with people's deeply held interests, the secular and religious alike.
And yet, even while saying all this, I realize my own shortcomings in this area. Often times I will opt for some fast food instead of bothering to take the time to prepare a full meal. Or I will ignore someone I am working in the field with instead of working to foster a better relationship with them because I am more interested in what is going on in my own mind. But at least what I can say for myself is that I am working toward being better and that a large part of that is realizing just how much we who are religious should be learning from the "hippies" in giving back to a Mother Earth that we believe has been given to us a divine gift and which we ought to know has only given its rewards to us ever since.
No comments:
Post a Comment