We join you in being relieved and grateful that the wildfires that have devastated California seem to be under control. As the post-mortem on the cause of the fires continues, Cristina Cevallos puts forth the thesis that the cause of the fires stems, in part, from religion – yes, religion. It’s an intriguing thesis and has application for many of today’s destructive societal norms.
You may have a rather circumscribed understanding of what constitutes a religion but read on. Perhaps Cristina will change your mind.
Toward good public policy,
Wendy Wixom, President
United Families International
P.S. Many of you have asked how you can help the work at UFI. UFI often sends teams to the UN. If you have any hotel points you would be willing to share they, too, would be a great help. You may email us at ufi@unitedfamilies.org to communicate a desire to donate points. Thank you for considering!
Wildfires Burn – Along with Religious Fervor
By Cristina Cevallos
Many reasons have been cited as the cause of the wildfires that devastated the State of California this past month. Some oft-repeated explanations for the fires have been “climate change,” abnormally strong winds, failure to implement appropriate forest and brush management, mismanagement of resources, failure to build dams and reservoirs, and generalized incompetence on the part of leadership in the state. But one factor that has been overlooked is the role religion might have played. What might cause individuals, policy makers, and the government to favor fish and other animals and plants over people? Did “environmentalism” or “ecologism” play a role – and are these “isms” a religion?
Ecologism: new religion, old tradition
Few people realize the definition of religion has been expanding over time. For example, the U.S. Supreme Court (at 52-53, 105 S. Ct. 2479) has adopted a broad definition of “religion” that includes non-theistic and atheistic beliefs, as well as the traditional theistic ones.
Look more closely at the way the term religion can be defined:
Essential characteristics of a religion include: a distinction between sacred and profane objects, a moral code, feelings of awe, mystery and guilt, ritual acts focused upon sacred objects, adoration in the presence of objects deemed sacred, includes a notion of where the individual fits; and a cohesive social group of the like-minded. (William P. Alston, “The Encyclopedia of Philosophy”)
With that in mind, there are many “isms” and belief systems which could be slotted into the category of religion. Let’s take a closer look at one of them.
New Religion, old tradition
The worship of the Earth, reincarnation into other living beings, and the quest for a connection with natural elements have been present in various religions throughout History, such as in pre-Columbian traditions, Wicca, Buddhism, Rastafarianism, Hinduism, Relonism, and Jainism.
Today’s environmentalism is also the result of the influence of various philosophical currents. In 1883, Howard William laid the foundations of modern veganism by labeling what we eat as ethical or not in his book The Ethics of Diet: A Catena of Authorities Deprecatory of the Practice of Flesh-Eating. Marxism ideologized this stance, arguing that animals are exploited and suffer under capitalism, with some vegans adopting this view by refusing to consume animal products. Ironically, those who criticize capitalism often fail to realize they remain part of it, as companies capitalize on the vegan market to profit from their values and preferences.
In a similar vein, Postmodernism suggested that humans invented the category of animals to oppress them, ignoring that food chains are essential for maintaining balanced animal and human populations within ecosystems. Anti Speciesism, promoted by Peter Singer, argued that the concept of the human species doesn’t exist, as we are all animals, overlooking the fact that only humans possess dignity, willpower, the ability to reason, speak, write, and seek knowledge, unlike animals, who act based on instincts.
Others took this even further, such as those from the Critical Legal Liberal School, which argues that animals have rights (but no duties) and that the state should protect them. This view is based on the idea that animals should not be used to serve humans, as it infringes on their freedom. An example of this is the case of an orangutan in Argentina, to whom rights like life and liberty were granted. Scientism also added its part, mistakenly proposing the application of the Scientific Method to areas that cannot be definitively demonstrated, such as evolution, climate change, and social sciences.
Structured ideology
All of this has led to the creation of a true religious structure with mainly two unquestionable dogmas: available resources and space are limited and Humanity is the greatest predator of the Earth, plants, and animals.
Mother Nature has replaced the figure of God. In fact, among the holy days of obligation—official days intended to raise awareness but often overshadow national identities and concerns—we find Earth Day. Actually, it is now called International Mother Earth Day after over 60 countries backed the proposal by Bolivia’s President Evo Morales (drafted by Leonardo Boff) at the UN. Morales said, “Not only human beings have human rights, but Mother Earth (Pachamama) must have rights as well. We must appeal to our reason and sensibility because human life is not possible without Mother Earth.”
Sacred readings come from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), an international treaty designed to address the consequences of human interference with the climate, particularly by curbing greenhouse gas emissions. The Paris Agreement and The Earth Charter are also international documents regarding environmental care.
Led by the UN, the green agenda expands through cooperation with states and non-state actors worldwide, with concepts such as the green economy, Environment, Social, Governance (ESG), and initiatives like Race to Zero, Race to Resilience, and the Glasgow Financial Alliance to Net Zero. These encourage international and national governments, as well as transnational businesses, to conduct ecological impact assessments in relation to proposed legislation, programs, or projects.
There is even an interreligious dialogue with religious coalitions such as the Interfaith National Religious Partnership for the Environment, composed of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the National Council of Churches of the USA, the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life, and the Evangelical Environmental Network.
More deadly consequences
For those who believe that humanity is inherently harmful, it is reasonable to view a solution in population reduction. This has led to the adoption of eugenics and global birth control policies, which particularly target the poor with sterilizations and contraceptives.
Furthermore, these green guidelines require developing countries to implement costly measures to prevent pollution. As Václav Klaus, former President of the Czech Republic, said, “I oppose this new alarmism about global warming, which has become an ideology and an attempt to suppress individual freedom and the development of prosperity worldwide … developing countries are being forced to live in the way that the planet’s redeemers wish, while also being compelled to adopt an extremely costly green economy.” He also highlighted the indoctrination that environmentalism seeks to impose on everyone from childhood.
Traditional religion in retreat
A growing rejection of traditional religions in the global west has created a vacuum that will be filled. Human nature has always demanded a search for order and meaning, and there is certainly no shortage of options on the menu of belief.
The late Ray Evans, an Australian businessman and politician, explained how Ecologism or “Ecotheology” fulfills a religious need.
“[Adherents] need to believe in sin, so that means sin is equal to pollution. They need to believe in salvation. Well, sustainable development is salvation. They need to believe in a mankind that needs redemption, so you get redemption by stopping using carbon fuels like coal and oil and so on. So, it fulfills a religious need and a political need, which is why they hold onto it so tenaciously….”
It’s not a stretch to conclude that rituals like carbon offsetting, plant-based diets, and even roping off beaches to protect sea animals and their young act as forms of penance, while climate activists serve as modern-day prophets warning of catastrophe if society fails to change.
Ultimately, societies must stop allowing activists and politicians to hide behind the green agenda, their new religion, and in the case of California, to wash their hands of responsibility – all the while prioritizing animals and plants over people. Animals are important. The environment is important. All of society has a responsibility to be wise stewards of the earth and protect its natural resources. But we can never forget the primacy of human beings, the importance of their lives and their dignity. That understanding should undergird every religion, including new “religions” that secular society applauds and welcomes.
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Cristina Cevallos is a Peruvian Law professional. She is passionate about issues related to cultural heritage and the defense of traditional values, especially the sanctity of life and religious freedom. She has been part of different volunteer and entrepreneurship programs internationally and loves doing projects with children, going to the beach, and learning about art history. Her goal is to travel the world helping people find true happiness.