Many Heavens, One Earth

Readings on Religion and the Environment

Clifford Chalmers Cain

• Publisher: Lexington Books
• Year: 2012
• eBook ISBN: 9780739172964
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Ethics & Religion

Many Heavens, One Earth is a collection of first-person voices from nine of the world religions. In fifteen articles, devotees and scholars reveal the contributions these traditions make to informing and motivating an ecological response to the environmental issues that beset planet earth. The spiritual messages of world religions have an indispensable and decisive role to play in addressing these environmental problems, for, at their root, these ecological issues are spiritual problems: Unless greed is replaced by moderation and sharing, materialism by spiritual insights and values, consumerism by restraint and simpler living, exploitation by respect and service, and pollution by caring and protection, nature's hospitality will be foolishly rebuffed, and therefore our descendants will inherit a polluted and depleted earth. Religion can be, and must be, a part of this replacement. Since at least 90% of the world's people claim allegiance to various major world religious traditions, religion can exert a crucial and transforming influence.

Table of contents

• Foreword
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction to article by Paul Brockelman
• Paul Brockelman, “With New Eyes: Seeing the Environment as a Spiritual Issue”
• Introduction to article by Eric Katz
• Eric Katz, “Nature as Subject: Human Obligation and Natural Community”
• Introduction to article by Iain Provan
• Iain Provan, “The Land Is Mine and You Are Only Tenants: Earth-Keeping and People-keeping in the Old Testament”
• Introduction to article by Clifford Chalmers Cain
• Clifford Chalmers Cain, “Stewardship as a Work of Art”
• Introduction to article by Elizabeth Theokritoff
• Elizabeth Theokritoff, “The Orthodox Church and the Environmental Movement”
• Introduction to article by Seyyed Hossein Nasr
• Seyyed Hossein Nasr, “Religion and the Resacralization of Nature”
• Introduction to Letter attributed to Chief Seattle
• “Letter Attributed to Chief Seattle”
• Introduction to article by David Kinsley
• David Kinsley, “Native American Religion”
• Introduction to article by Joel Martin
• Joel Martin, “The Land Looks After Us”
• Introduction to article by Christopher Key Chapple
• Christopher Key Chapple, “Ecological Nonviolence and the Hindu Tradition”
• Introduction to article by His Holiness the Dalai Lama
• His Holiness the Dalai Lama, “A Buddhist Perspective on Nature”
• Introduction to article by Susan Darlington
• Susan Darlington, “Rethinking Buddhism and Development: The Emergence of Environmentalist Monks in Thailand”
• Introduction to article by Gopinder Kaur Sagoo
• Gopinder Kaur Sagoo, “Our Environment and Us: A Sikh Perspective”
• Introduction to article by S. Lourdunathan
• S. Lourdunathan, “Ecosophical Concerns in the Sikh Tradition”
• Introduction to article by Mary Evelyn Tucker
• Mary Evelyn Tucker, “Ecological Themes in Taoism and Confucianism”
• List of Contributors
• About the Editor