Religion has been a channel for moral and ethical instruction across the ages. Throughout the world, eighty four percent of the population have a religious affiliation. More than three quarters of Americans so identify. Unfortunately, one topic of immense importance today is too often omitted from the teachings: ecology.
The first verse of the Bible states that in the beginning, God created the universe. People were created on the sixth day and were told to take care of the land, water, animals, and people. On the seventh day, God’s work was finished and was followed by a day of rest. After that, it was the people’s responsibility. “For your sake I created them all. See to it that you do not spoil and destroy My world; for if you do, there will be no one else to repair it.”
As we can see by all the changes in our environment, especially in the last 100 years, we haven’t done a very good job of it. Climate change, brought about primarily by human actions, has melted ice caps that were thousands of years old, raising sea levels. Hurricanes and tornados are more frequent. Forests have decreased Species of birds, fish, animals, and plants have decreased or disappeared. Because of animals losing their territories due to human encroachment, infectious diseases have spread among people world-wide.
Many of the causes are things that people do for convenience such as overusing and carelessly discarding plastics, wasting food, importing foods and goods. Artisanal gold mining is the world’s largest source of mercury pollution. Overuse of paper is a major cause of both deforestation and land pollution.
he book also provides action items so the readers can learn what they can do to help preserve our world for future generations such as recycling, composting, overpackaging, diversiifying, and buying locally.
Much of the information talks about the benefits and disadvantages of cattle and other animals on our world. Neril strongly endorses vegetarian and vegan diets. . “Livestock takes up nearly 80 percent of global agricultural land yet produces less than 20 percent of the world’s supply of calories.”
It speaks of family planning, especially in difficult times. “The intention of the Creator is that our being fruitful should lead to life, blessing, and not the opposite.”
It warns of the correlation between government corruption and environmental damage.
Religion appeals not just to our intellect but to our soul – and this is where change is most needed and he suggests praying in a room with windows so worshippers focus on natural beauty instead of only things created by people.
In the ECO BIBLE, Yonatan Neril vividly shows specific verses in Exodus and Genesis that relate specifically to ecology. Noah’s ark, for instance, is an excellent example. Some of the ideas, which seem so current, are actually discussed in the texts. We haven’t been listening. ( )