Religion and sustainability now theres an oxymoron, joked Rev. Steve Runholdt of Warren Wilson Presbyterian Church, one of three clergy who sat on the Nov. 19 panel Religion & Sustainability: Views from the Bridge.The presentation was part of thethird annual Taste of Bioneers Conference held at the Lenoir-Rhyne Center for Graduate Studies of Ashevilleseries hosted in November.

Ones initial reaction, as Runholdt notes, is that religion and sustainabilityare like oil and water they dont mix.

So whats the relationship? Religion is too concerned with transcendence to concern itself with sustainability; sustainability is too scientific to concern itself with religion.

Runholdt acknowledged that his religious tradition has a historically bad record of dealing with the environment and sustainability, often rooted in what he described as an interpretation of a verse in Genesis that exhorts humans to exercise dominion over other life. However, he emphasized, things are changing.

Communities of faith are one of the most immediate, primed resources who are passionate about this out there, [and] denominations of all kinds are issuing formal statements on climate change. Formal statements on the need to practice better environmental stewardship. D enominations are devoting offices specifically to creation care, parish organizations are springing up all over the place Interfaith Power and Light, Green Faith, Blessed Earth, Evangelical Environmental Network, and right here in WNC (which Im very closely aligned with), the Creation Care Alliance.

Runholdts presentation during the Novemberpanel discussion was a collaborative effort between Lenoir-Rhyne University and Asheville Green Drinks. In addition to Runholdt, the panel included clergy Rabbi Justin Goldstein of Congregation Beth Israel, High Priestess Byron Ballard of Mother Grove Goddess Temple, Dr. Adam Powell of Lenoir-Rhynes Masters in Religious Studies program.

Each panelist contributed unique insights, giving the audience multiple perspectives and evidence that the pairing of religion and sustainability is anything but an oxymoron but religion leaders must play and integral role in creating a sustainable world.

Independent of any theological, dogmatic or even liturgical tenets and habits, Runholdt said, religious communities are primed and ready to take a key role. A passionate contingent of the population that he sees as potentially indispensible to accomplishing what needs to be done for a susainable future, he said.

And hes right: Historically, religious communities have played a massive role in facilitating social and political change. Why?

For Dr. Powell, looking at religion from a psychological and sociological standpoint offers a wealth of insight into how religion can and does influence societal change. He pointed to the ancient Greek scientist Archimedes, who said, Give me a place to stand and I can move the world. In other words, Powell elaborated, this Archimedean Point is this transcendant position, or orientation to the world, that by virtue of its location outside of that world, allows for great change within that world. And for nearly a century, various social scientists have recognized that religious belief is one of the most salient of those Archimedean points.

Originally posted here:
Asheville Bioneers discuss religion and sustainability