RELIGIOUS APPROACH TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

ABSTRACT

The world’s religions have contributed to sustainable development and

environmental conservation through faith-based non-governmental
organizations. Religions have placed responsibility on the individuals to
protect the natural resources and conserve the natural environment
from being affected. The researcher has begun with introduction
wherein he has briefly explained what environment is and what is
environment protection and responsibility on the individuals to protect
natural environment. The researcher further has explained about
different religions and their approach towards environmental protection
wherein the researcher has explained the belief and practice which
different regions follows and asks people to follow in order to protect the
natural environment. The researcher eventually has concluded by
saying people should use the environment and conserve and protect it
for future generation so that they can also use and live in a healthy
environment.

INTRODUCTION

All cultures and religions have something to offer to environmental

protection and conservation. Environment is the surrounding in which
a person, plant, or animal operate, or lives and it is the duty of every
individual to protect the environment from being affected.
Environmental protection is the practice of protecting the natural
environment from individual, government, and organization and to
restore and maintain the quality of environment from depleting.
Environmental protection is important because the natural resource
which we use like air, water, forest, etc. are part of environment and if
these are not protected and conserve, then the overall health will be
affected, so it important that we protect and conserve the environment
and not use and pollute the surrounding too much.

DIFFERENT RELIGIONS AND THEIR APPROACH TOWARDS

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

1) In Hinduism

Sanctity of all life is ingrained in Hinduism and the supreme God has
absolute sovereignty over all the creatures of the planet including
humans. In Hindu scriptures it has been said that all lives have the
same right to existence. Human beings have no supremacy over other
creatures. Human beings are forbidden to exploit nature; instead, the
scriptures advised them to seek peace and live in harmony with nature.
The Hindu religion demands respect, obedience, and veneration to
maintain and protect the harmonious unity of God and nature. Hindu
religion provides a moral guideline for environmental conservation and
preservation. Exploitation and abuse of nature is considered as unjust
and sacrilegious. In Vedic literature (about 1500 BC) it has been clearly
stated that there is an intrinsic balance in man, nature, and the god.
Hindu believes and it is stated in the scriptures that the natural forces
which are present in the planet are considered to be expressions of the
Lord himself and are venerable entities. Vedas command the human
beings not to pollute the natural environment.

Rig Veda says that universe consists of five basic elements such as
water, earth, fire, space, and air and these elements provide the basis
for life in everything, and it is the duty of the human beings to conserve
them. In Atharva Veda it has been said that the earth is considered to
be the mother and the creations are her offspring. Veda commands us
to keep the environment free from all the impurities and also provide us
with the way in which it can be done namely yagnas and sacrificial fire.
Yagnas is known as the medium between the devatas and humans and
these devatas are known to be as the natural forces who have to be kept
appease. Yagnas are done to worship the god and to purify the air and
keep the environment healthy.

In Puranic period believed that each tree has his own deity and they
used to worship that tree and people used to offer water to the tree and
circled trees with sacred threads in order to protect them. Manusmirthi
states and ask the people for optimum use of the natural resources to
maintain the balance in the eco system.

2) In Buddhism

Simplicity and Ahimsa are the basic tenets of Buddhism. Simplicity

principle which is based on sustainability teaches that man should not
over exploit the natural resources. In Buddhism mountains, rivers,
forests and sun, moon and other planets are highly respected and are
regarded as bliss bestowers. In Sutta-Nipata, Buddha has set down the
rules which forbids the pollution of ponds, rivers and well.

3) In Jainism

The principle which has been laid down in Jainism places great
emphasis that one should reprise from avoidable acts that are harmful
to oneself or others. Ahimsa is the basic tenet of Jain way of life, a term
that is clearly allied with personal worth, common sense, realism, and
responsibility. In Jainism it has been said that the environment
harmony should be pursued by all through spirituality. And this can be
done by adhering to three principle namely right knowledge, right belief,
and right conduct. Everyone should be compassionate for the weak,
benevolent towards all living organisms, tolerant of the insolent and
joyful at the virtuous. And this is how the Jainism brings environmental
harmony.

4) In Sikhism

The founder of Sikh religion Guru Nanak Sahib has assigned divine
attributes to nature. Sikhism asks people to respect the god’s creation
and ask them to know the eternal truth regarding their place in the
universe. For the continuation of the universe, a balance between all the
elements of nature is necessary. Any disruption between the balance of
elements of the nature can bring distress and disaster. Sikhism asks
the people to respect and protect the environment from being affected.

5) In Islam

Quran gives a message that people should live in harmony, unity,

balance, and order. Natural law must be observed, and the people
should not exceed the limit and affect the natural environment. They
believe that Allah is the owner of the land and we human beings are the
guardians and trustee of their property and other living creatures are
considered to be the beneficiaries in this world. We the guardians and
trustee of the property have been made responsible for maintaining the
integrity of the earth, the unity of his creations including its wildlife,
flora, fauna, and the natural environment. Anything that causes
deterioration of the environment or pollution is considered as ‘Fasad’ in
Islam and the punishment for disrupting this natural environment will
be given by Allah after the death (they believe that).
6) In Christianity

Christianity believes that a harmonic triadic relationship exists between

the divine and humanity, among human beings and nature and the
humanity may be alienated from its creator and also from nature if they
fail to maintain the harmony between the harmonic triadic relationship.

The divine says that human beings have no absolute right in destroying
the natural environment.

CONCLUSION

To conclude we can see that all the religions which are followed in the
world by different people ask them to respect the creatures of the
environment and also ask them to not over use the natural resources
because they are not the real owner of the property, they have born in
this world and one day they will die and till the time they are alive it is
their duty to respect, protect, and conserve the environment for future
generation, so that they can also live in a healthy environment.