Faith leaders join forces to protect environment

World news is filled with issues on which religions disagree.

With an impact on everyone, the future of the world's environment, however, is often a unifying issue.

The Capital Area Interfaith Alliance and Lincoln University have teamed up to feature a panel discussion "Some Like It Hot!? Religions Respond to Environmental Issues."

"We're interested in what unites us, not what divides us," said Rev. David Avery, pastor at Community Christian Church. "People from all faith groups seem to be concerned about that."

The discussion leader will be Rev. Cliff Cain, who is the Harrod-C.S. Lewis professor of religious studies and chairman of the department of classics, philosophy and religious studies at Westminster College.

He holds doctorate degrees in both theology and environmental science.

"This is a perfect conjoining of his passions," Avery said. "And, we will address some things religious groups can do to be involved and to make a difference."

At 3 p.m. Sunday in Scruggs Ballroom on the Lincoln University campus, the discussion will begin with climate change and how Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism and other belief groups are responding.

The date happens to coincide with the U.N. People's Climate Change March in New York City, Cain noted.

"I plan on discussing some scriptural texts and theological themes in all these religions, which point to taking good (certainly, better) care of the environment as mandated by the resources of those various faith traditions," Cain said.

In addition to his academic background, Cain said he will be drawing from his research for publications, including: "Down to Earth," "Many Heavens, One Earth," "An Ecological Theology" and the forthcoming, "Re-vision: A New Look at the Relationship between Science and Religion" (which is due out in April 2015).

Cain's presentation will include a PowerPoint presentation and personal images.

Those who attend will be invited to break into small groups to discuss Cain's presentation. The hope is individuals will feel a link between their personal faith traditions and the environment, as well as the common link with other faiths, he said.

Following the small group work, those who attend may ask Cain questions.

"It is my belief that "religion' is essential in solving the environmental problems that beset our planet, because these problems are only the symptoms of an underlying spiritual disease - (including) materialism, consumerism and an attitude toward nature that justifies and encourages the plundering of nature's resources for our short-term gain and pleasure," Cain said.

Science will be called on to fix these environmental problems, Cain said.

But, "science alone will not be enough, and the contributions of the religions of the world are an essential requirement," he said. "And with 2 billion Christians and 1.5 billion Muslims among the world's population, world religions could have a remarkable impact!"