*Religion & Climate Change*
One’s religious beliefs can significantly influence their behaviour towards the environment, both positively and negatively. Religion can serve as a basis for behaviour and also provide justification for actions taken. A study conducted by Dr David Haberman, author of “Yamuna: River of Love in an Age of Pollution” and a professor at the University of Indiana Bloomington, highlights the theological response to the pollution of the Yamuna River. The Yamuna River is considered the most sacred river for Krishna’s devotees, but unfortunately, it is also currently the most polluted river in the world, leading to its designation as environmentally dead.
Dr Haberman identifies three most prominent categories of religious perspectives towards Yamuna:
1) People who denied pollution: This category of people believes that Yamuna is always pure and transcendental. Since she is a goddess, she can never be polluted. One of the Brajabasi took a glass of water from the most polluted river and drank it to demonstrate this.
2) People who acknowledge the pollution of Yamuna but deny her suffering: This category acknowledges the pollution but believes that the pollution affects not Yamuna but us. Since Yamuna is a goddess and transcendental, She does not suffer. The pollution is affecting only us.
3) People who acknowledge pollution and Yamuna’s suffering: This category believes that Yamuna is our mother. She is in sick condition because of our pollution. She has sustained us for centuries, nourishing our farms, families and animals. As our children, we are responsible for taking care of her, especially because we are responsible for her condition.
Out of the three, the third group was the most environmentally active.
In Bhagavat Purana, one of the most sacred scriptures for Hindus, the descriptions of saintly souls are accompanied by beautiful descriptions of the environment. In contrast, descriptions of demoniac forces always have an element of destroying nature.
This creation is regarded as one with God. Earlier, the Hindu religion had been criticised for anthropomorphism, and these critics give an alternative to anthropocentrism. Leaving aside the debate, giving human faces on natural objects is one of the most effective ways to preserve them. When we see trees and rivers as people and have a relationship with them, we preserve and nurture them. When Humans think they are the centre of the world and see others as mere objects of their enjoyment, it results in exploitation.
In today’s world, all religious leaders need to come together and engage with the challenges of modern times. Religion should be a solution to problems, not a cause of them. The rich traditions and diverse scriptures of various religions have valuable wisdom to offer. We must abandon narrow-mindedness, open ourselves up to new perspectives, and engage with the world with compassion.
(Inspired from a talk by Prof Ravi M. Gupta, Utah State University)