US Church Starts Lecturing About Sustainability

Previous discussions focusing on sustainability and energy efficiency mostly approached these two issues either from an economic standpoint, or by emphasizing aspects having to do with environmental science.

Therefore, it comes as no surprise that some people felt the need to also tackle these issues from a theological perspective.

This is precisely what one church in East Lansing, Michigan, US, wished to do when deciding to set up the basis for a series of lectures addressing not just proper religious behavior, but also the links between faith and green-oriented attitudes.

Apparently, these lectures are meant to first and foremost deal with the future of energy in said American state, and the end goal is that of convincing communities to become actively involved in pushing for sustainability.

Associate Pastor Reverend Penny Swartz explains how, although most people typically overlook this aspect, faith and sustainability are, in fact, very much intertwined.

Her argument is as follows: provided that religious people work on the assumption that this world is created by an ever-loving God, then efforts need be made to protect His creation and not destroy it by abusing the resources put at our disposal by this divine entity.

In her own words, “It [the theological approach to sustainability and energy efficiency] forces us as Christians, and as people of other faiths, to examine what it is that we hold as our image of God and then how do we play that out in the world that we are part of.”

She further makes a case of how, “We take for granted that when we get up in the morning we flick the light switch and something happens. We're very lucky, but can we keep doing that into the future?”

As Michigan Live reports, this series of lectures is to make its debut tomorrow, September 12, 2012, and regular meetings will be held throughout the following 13 weeks.

These lectures can be attended by anyone wishing to gain a better understanding of how religious faith needs to translate into environmental protection.