1. Buber: “…real relationship to God cannot be achieved on earth if real relationships to the world and to [hu]man- kind are lacking. Both love of the Creator and love of that which [God] has created are finally one and the same. In order to achieve this unity, man [sic] must indeed accept creation from God's hands, not in order to possess it, but lovingly to take part in the still uncompleted work of creation... ”

2. Why Ecological Religion? A. God for the long term -- Psalms B. Uniquely effective use of voice C. History shows… D. Deepening of commitment E. Pluralistic religiosity is key F. “It’s in there” – authentic insight A. God for the long term -- Psalms B. Uniquely effective use of voice C. History shows… D. Deepening of commitment E. Pluralistic religiosity is key F. “It’s in there” – authentic insight

3. A. The Experience of Divinity “Let the heavens declare God’s handiwork…” (29) “Let all that has breath/soul praise God…” (150) “[God] sends springs into the valleys... they water all the animals of the field; the thirst of the wild asses is ended. The birds of the sky dwell by them; they sing out from among the branches... the Earth Is satisfied by the fruit of Your works... the trees of God are satisfied; the cedars of Lebanon, which God has planted - there birds make their nests; the house of the stork is in the fir trees. The high hills are for the wild goats; the rocks are a hiding-place for the badgers...” (104) “Let the heavens declare God’s handiwork…” (29) “Let all that has breath/soul praise God…” (150) “[God] sends springs into the valleys... they water all the animals of the field; the thirst of the wild asses is ended. The birds of the sky dwell by them; they sing out from among the branches... the Earth Is satisfied by the fruit of Your works... the trees of God are satisfied; the cedars of Lebanon, which God has planted - there birds make their nests; the house of the stork is in the fir trees. The high hills are for the wild goats; the rocks are a hiding-place for the badgers...” (104)

4. B. Effective Use of Rel. Voice: Gus Speth (2007) “I used to think the ‘big three’ were climate, biodiversity, and pollution, but after many years of work I think pride, apathy, and greed are even bigger. We need cultural and spiritual transformation, and science doesn’t do that -- the church does that.”

5. Eco-Religion in Practice : Wangari Maathai “We can work together for a better world with men & women of goodwill, those who radiate the intrinsic goodness of humankind.” “All of us have a God in us, and that God is the spirit that unites all life, everything that is on this planet.” 2004 Nobel Peace Prize – 40 Million Trees Planting trees is spiritual: Like God, creating, restoring

6. Religion is where the people are – North America is a religious place

7. The World - A Religious Place

8. C. History shows: Religion drives Social Change

11. Endangered Species Act In our own time, too --

12. 104th Congress (1995-96) and the Endangered Species Act Biologist and Evangelical Leader, Cal DeWitt

13. D.Rel. Ecology Deepens Green Commitments -- and vice-versa (all varieties of eco-theology) Main Traditions in the U.S., as outlined by Laurel Kearns (1996) - Eco-Justice - Stewardship - Creation Spirituality

14. Here’s who deepens my commitment! Religion helps us think inter-generationally -- on theological (or at least geological) time scales, rather than quarterly or biannually

15. “Choose life, that you and your children may live” (Deut. 30:19) וּבָחַרְתָּ בַּחַיִּים - לְמַעַן תִּחְיֶה, אַתָּה וְזַרְעֶךָ She also Deepens my Commitment – This is our Synagogue’s New Composter’s Dedication (on Tu B’Shvat)! She also Deepens my Commitment – This is our Synagogue’s New Composter’s Dedication (on Tu B’Shvat)!

16. Religion = Think Long-Term – unlike today’s prevailing ‘secular’ ethos…

17. And: we must be committed to folks everywhere, too: “ Justice Justice you shall pursue ” (Deuteronomy 16:20)

18. And so with all of Creation: “One great chain of love, of giving and receiving, unites all beings” (R. Samson Raphael Hirsch, 19 th C)

19. E. Pluralistic Religion is Key (for Human Survival!)

20. And (F) “it’s in there” – see www.coejl.org (for instance) or InterfaithPowerAndLight.org www.coejl.org

21. Mixing the ‘why’ and the ‘how’ : www.interfaithpowerandlight.org

22. 5,000+ Covenant Congregations 10,000+ Congregations engaged In 2011: 36 states Metro DC: www.gwipl.org www.theregenerationproject.org

23. www. nrpe. org www. nrpe. org

25. More Interfaith Eco Resources  www.WebOfwww.WebOf  Creation.Org  www.WebOfwww.WebOf  Creation.Org

26. NCRLC

28. our teachings: content & delivery both count

29. Shabbat: Limits to Consumerism Judy Chicago, “Rainbow Shabbat” ‘Tending the Earth Together’

30. (for starters): Righteous people of good deeds... do not waste in this world even a mustard seed. They become sorrowful with every wasteful and destructive act that they see, and if they can, they use all their strength to save everything possible from destruction. But the wicked are not thus; they are like demons. They rejoice in the destruction of the world, just as they destroy themselves.... (Sefer HaChinuch 529; 13th century) (for starters): Righteous people of good deeds... do not waste in this world even a mustard seed. They become sorrowful with every wasteful and destructive act that they see, and if they can, they use all their strength to save everything possible from destruction. But the wicked are not thus; they are like demons. They rejoice in the destruction of the world, just as they destroy themselves.... (Sefer HaChinuch 529; 13th century) -- לא-תַשְׁחִית

31. IN THE BEGINNING... בְּרֵאשִׁית God took Adam, and placed Adam in the Garden of Eden, לְעָבְדָהּ -l’ovdah [to work/serve/till it] וּלְשָׁמְרָהּ - u’l’sh- omrah [and to guard/ tend it]. (Gen. 2:15)

32. 1

33. Environmental Justice: A Religious Natural

34. Next week, the community I know best: Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation sustainable materials where possible; living wage always

35. Pre-Pesach Eco-Justice Boat Tour of the Lower Anacostia – Adat Shalom, with Community Partners, 2010

36. Adat Shalom’s Mishnah Garden * Organic * Local * Educational * Spiritual * Communal * Activist

37. And JRC’s LEED * Platinum * Building !!! plus awesome enviro policy, too, for what happens there

38. First Platinum House of Worship Anywhere -- Ever !!!

39. www.jrc-evanston.org www.jrc-evanston.org InterfaithPowerAndLight.org

40. A Moral (and a religious) Issue "The climate crisis is not a political issue, it is a moral and spiritual challenge to all of humanity. It is also our greatest opportunity to lift global consciousness to a higher level." - Al Gore, Nobel Peace Prize Winner ‘07

41. לַה ' הָאָרֶץ וּמְלוֹאָהּ “The Earth is the Lord’s, and everything therein.” Psalm 24 Rooted in this sacred notion, let’s consider all that we can do l’taken olam b’malkhut Shaddai, to repair the Earth, divinely…

42. Martin Buber Born in Austria in 1888 Barely escaped Nazi Germany in 1938 Early advocate of bi- national (Jewish & Arab) Palestine/Israel Died in Jerusalem in 1965 Martin Buber Born in Austria in 1888 Barely escaped Nazi Germany in 1938 Early advocate of bi- national (Jewish & Arab) Palestine/Israel Died in Jerusalem in 1965

43. God *is* Place Buber: “ love of the Creator and love of that which God has created are finally one and the same. ”

44. God *is* Place – Place *is* God Makom מקום Bioregionalism “a sense of Place” Makom מקום Bioregionalism “a sense of Place”

45. Buber: “…real relationship to God cannot be achieved on earth if real relationships to the world and to [hu]man- kind are lacking. Both love of the Creator and love of that which [God] has created are finally one and the same. In order to achieve this unity, man [sic] must indeed accept creation from God's hands, not in order to possess it, but lovingly to take part in the still uncompleted work of creation... ”