Ecology and Religion: Religious Practices and Sustainable Future

This essay delves into the complex relationship between ecology and religion, examining how certain religious practices contribute to environmental degradation. It highlights specific examples, such as the pollution caused by Hindu festivals like Holi and the use of plants in Christian celebrations, illustrating the negative impact on air, water, and overall ecosystems. Furthermore, the essay explores how religious values can potentially guide individuals towards a more sustainable future by revisiting and modifying these practices. It suggests solutions like using natural resources instead of chemicals for religious rituals and promoting environmentally friendly alternatives, emphasizing the role of religious leaders and communities in fostering environmental conservation. The essay underscores the urgency of addressing the ecological crisis and the potential of religious principles to inspire responsible environmental stewardship.

Running head: ECOLOGY AND RELIGION
Ecology and religion
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ECOLOGY AND RELIGION 2
Introduction
Ecological damage refers to the activities or practices that lead to environmental
degradation. These ecological damages lead to ecological crisis in which the survival of
individual organisms is interfered with to some extent. There are many causes of environmental
damage which include human activities, an increase in temperature and rise in population. In this
assignment, it will focus on spiritual or religious values and practices that have contributed to the
current crisis in planetary ecology. Apart from that, the assignment will elaborate on how
religious values can potentially guide one’s choice towards a more sustainable future.
Religious values and practices that have contributed to the current crisis in planetary
ecology.
Several religious practices have led to the current ecological crisis. These values either
pollute air or water. However, the pollution mostly takes place during religious festivals or in
times when the members of a specific religion are taking part in a particular ritual. If one takes
for example of Holi celebration that takes place all over India, many members of the Hindu
religion throw a high volume of liquids and colored powders on the air and set bonfires that
pollute the air. These powders continuously affect the environment at large. The reason why such
practices cause the ecological crisis is that the powder and liquids that the Hindus pour at each
other are not made of natural resources, they come from chemicals which are harmful to not only
animals but also plants. For example, all the materials that come from the celebration end up in
water bodies and as time goes a specific group of animals die and reduce in number leading to
the current ecological crisis.

ECOLOGY AND RELIGION 3
The second religion practice that is a threat to ecology is evident when Christians are
celebrating the birth and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Members of the Christian religion pluck
specific plant leaves to beautify the place of birth of Christ. The action is ecological damage
because these people do not bother planting other plants to replace whatever they have cut. Even
though it may mean significant to the Christians but the general state of the ecological system is
at risk. The Christians chose the plant a long time ago, and the current generation is moving on
with the same practice. For instance, if one considered the situation in the Bible when Jesus was
entering Jerusalem, members of the Christian religion celebrated his entry by displaying a
specific type of plant. The current generation adopted the practice without considering that it is
causing an ecological crisis.
Apart from the above religious values, there is an issue of using various colors and
dumping them in the near rivers. Religions such as the Hindus use the colors during the
celebration. The critical thing to note is that these colors are not from natural resources but
chemical in the industries. There are aquatic animals that feel the effect. They cannot sustain the
impact of the chemicals in water, thus causing another ecological crisis.
How religious values can potentially guide one’s choice towards a more sustainable future
The effects that the above religious practices are causing to the environment provides a
platform for the members of the religion to revisit these practices. For instance, considering the
Hinduism religious practice they use colors from industries, these colors are made up of
chemicals. For the members to ring a sustainable future, the religion should focus on how to
make the liquids and the solid colors from natural resources which will not cause harm to the
environment. There are non-governmental that are coming in to solve the ecological effects that
these religious practices are ringing to the society. Another way in which the values can guide

ECOLOGY AND RELIGION 4
one to develop a sustainable future is abolishing the use of plants to celebrate various religious
practices. For example, Christians waste many plant branches and leave to signify Jesus triumph
entry in Jerusalem. Members of the religion can avoid using plants to train the upcoming
generation to make use of the environment-friendly materials.
On the other hand, the chemicals that come from religious celebration lead to the death of
many animals. The action should be a wake-up call for an individual to use an alternative way of
celebrating. Many animals that die and plants that wither do not come back and many scientists
have identified the effect. Once the leaders from various religion train their members, the
upcoming generation will follow the same guideline to assist in conserving the environment and
making the ecosystem a better place for plants and animals.