Religion and theology: key concepts and distinctions

Religion/Theology

Environment and Globalization

Christine Burke calls for a Christina response to the issue of environment and globalization in her essay entitled Globalization and Ecology. She sets forth her estimation of the steps that the Christian world needs to take to change the current affects of globalization on the earth and the societies that inhabit it. Burke calls for "active participation'42 by the Christian community in understanding, "ecological awareness'42 to shape that action, and a "new participation'42 by "creative leadership'42 to engage in action. The goal she stresses is to move from the "individualistic mindset'42 toward one that is "holistic and inclusive."

The Christian community needs to understand the narrow focus of the global community. It is a focus, according to Burke, which idealizes only income and wealth vs. social responsibility. In turn, individual societies suffer as global corporate interests destroy their ecologies. Because corporations operate in what seems to be a global vacuum, there is no longer anyone upon whom to place blame for pollution and social disintegration. An example is when a large corporation buys a local economy, such as coffee, and turns it into a global commodity. The local community is at the mercy of the decisions made by the corporation. Instead of nurturing the culture, corporations create welfare states subject to the world market. The first step toward changing the destruction created by globalization is for the Christian community to identify and expose "the very deliberate policies imposed on countries as a prerequisite for participation in world trade."23

When the Christian community understands the effects of "deregulation, privatization, tax reductions and free trade on the world'24, then they can begin to shape their work in terms of ecological awareness. Burke cites the results of corporate indifference on ecology through "accidents'24, 13 that occur that destroy entire societies. The indigenous peoples are left without the ability to cure the destruction upon their land and water. Their traditional methods of survival are ravaged, the land raped, and the economies crippled. The shifts of global markets leave these "victims" behind to recreate some type of existence. If global corporations think only of growth and income, they do not include everyone in their plan.

The next suggested step is a "new participation'42 by "creative leadership'42 within the Christian community. Burke suggests that a new view needs to emerge. The Church must change, become more aware, and more vocal towards the health of societies. The rich nations have the means to ransack the earth of its resources without regard to those less fortunate. At some point one must ask what the real cost of an SUV is, how much grain does a cow consume, and where does all the non-reclaimed garbage go? A holistic view encompasses each aspect of the whole. Globalization forces a narrow view on the world without considering the whole.

The final step is to return to the roots of our collective past and pray for the wisdom to create and share a vision that includes every part of the world, not only those who can pay for admission. One must move within the Christian community to enlarge its vision beyond the needs of the few, toward a holistic view of the many. "Nature has always had this potential of pointing to the divine."40 Burke urges the Christian community to reconnect to nature, understand and spread the impact of globalization throughout its community, and shape a new path toward a future that includes life.