Environmental concerns

Unitarian responses

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Unitarianism:

Unitarianism is a liberal religious movement with a significant presence in Australia, Canada, many European countries, Hungary, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, the U.K., and the USA.

Ecology does not appear to be high on their list of priorities.  Consider:

“I am in total agreement with Bill Darlison (of the Dublin Unitarian Church) when he said in his sermon of 1998-NOV-29 that a movement which occupies itself with … ecology … will eventually cease to have any specifically religious identity whatsoever” ₄, and

“As to those things which Revd. Darlison rightly accuses Unitarianism of becoming preoccupied with, … I have no great interest in ecology beyond the essentially spiritual aim to live in harmony with nature.” ₅

On a positive note, some ecological views were expressed in the 1994 publication of the Information Department of the Unitarian Headquarters, titled "Unitarian Views of Earth and Nature." ₇ It presents the personal reflections of six Unitarians concerning their relation to the natural world. However, they do not suggest that their views should be followed or that some action regarding ecology should be taken.

In marked contrast, ecology plays a key role in the teaching of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) which was formed by consolidation of the former American Unitarian Association and the Universalist Church of America in the 1960s. The seventh principle of the UUA affirms and promotes “the respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are part”. The UUA's widespread ‘Green Sanctuary program’ was based in this seventh principle. It builds awareness of societal environmental issues, generates commitment for personal lifestyle changes, promotes community actions on environmental issues, links spiritual practices and environmental consciousness, and builds awareness of and rectifying environmental injustices. ₈ The program guides participating UU churches through a greening process to help them integrate the seventh principle into all levels of church life, including worship. ₉ The Unitarian Universalists do not consider their political task separate from their religious task. They are called by their faith to define the religious and spiritual dimensions of the ecological crisis confronting the world and to preach the gospel of a world where everyone is sacred, and every place is holy ground.

Over the past forty years, the UUA has issued a number of resolutions and other materials, concerning the environment. Some of their comments:

A search of the Amazon.com data base shows the following books on Unitarian responses to the environment:

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References used:

The following information sources were used to prepare and update the above essay. The hyperlinks are not necessarily still active today.

1. George D. Chryssides, "Unitarian Perspectives on Contemporary Religious Thought," The Lindsey Press, (1999).
2. Miles Howarth, "What is the Unitarian Message?" at: http://www.theopenmind.org.uk/
3. Lewis Loflin, "Unitarians and Deistic Christians," at: http://www.sullivan-county.com/
4. Ray Walder, "Sermon of 2005-MAY-08, at: http://www.blackpool-unitarians.org.uk/
5. Ray Walder, "Address of 2004-JUL-18," at: http://www.blackpool-unitarians.org.uk/
6. American Unitarian Conference, at: http://www.americanunitarian.org/
7. Matthew Smith, Ed, "Unitarian Views of Earth and Nature," Information Department, Unitarian Headquarters, (1994).
8. Sean McDonagh, "The Death of Life: The Horror of Extinction," Columba Press, (2004). Overview at: http://www.christian-ecology.org.uk/
9. George Monbiot, "Sleeping to Extinction," The Guardian, 2003-AUG-12.