Environmental ethics and behavior deriving from writings of abdul baha
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The document discusses principles of environmental ethics and behavior derived from the teachings of Abdul-Baha. It summarizes that we should recognize humanity's interdependence with the natural world, consider solutions that address multiple interconnected issues, be kind to animals, reduce meat consumption and choose sustainably farmed options, cultivate the earth to benefit humanity while maintaining the land, and make choices that support a clean environment.
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Environmental ethics and behavior deriving from writings of abdul baha
- 1. Environmental Ethics and Behavior Deriving from the Wisdom of `Abdul-Bahá Stephen A. Fuqua www.greenbahai.com February 2017
- 2. Bahá’u’lláh Be anxiously concerned with the needs of the age ye live in, and center your deliberations on its exigencies and requirements. Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p213
- 3. Intersectionality These manifold principles, which constitute the greatest basis for the felicity of mankind and are of the bounties of the Merciful, must be added to the matter of universal peace and combined with it, so that results may accrue. … If the question is restricted to universal peace alone, the remarkable results which are expected and desired will not be attained. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p 304
- 4. Interdependence It is obvious that all created things are connected one to another by a linkage complete and perfect, even, for example, as are the members of the human body. Note how all the members and component parts of the human body are connected one to another. In the same way, all the members of this endless universe are linked one to another. … And whatever member of the human body is deficient, produceth a deficiency in the other members. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p 48
- 5. Ethics & Behavior Intersection: Identify universal solutions affecting multiple problems instead of being narrowly focused. Interdependence: Recognize humanity’s role in ecosystem, its reliance on clean and healthy environment, and act accordingly
- 6. Kindness to Animals Briefly, it is not only their fellow human beings that the beloved of God must treat with mercy and compassion, rather must they show forth the utmost loving-kindness to every living creature. For in all physical respects, and where the animal spirit is concerned, the selfsame feelings are shared by animal and man. Man hath not grasped this truth, however, and he believeth that physical sensations are confined to human beings, wherefore is he unjust to the animals, and cruel. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p 158
- 7. Eating Meat … he is not in need of meat, nor is he obliged to eat it. Even without eating meat he would live with the utmost vigour and energy. For example, the community of the Brahmins in India do not eat meat; notwithstanding this they are not inferior to other nations in strength, power, vigour, outward senses or intellectual virtues. Truly, the killing of animals and the eating of their meat is somewhat contrary to pity and compassion… ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Compilation of Compilations, “Health, Healing, and Nutrition” #17
- 8. … is still allowed Whensoever thou dost examine, through a microscope, the water man drinketh, the air he doth breathe, thou wilt see that with every breath of air, man taketh in an abundance of animal life, and with every draught of water, he also swalloweth down a great variety of animals. How could it ever be possible to put a stop to this process? For all creatures are eaters and eaten, and the very fabric of life is reared upon this fact. Were it not so, the ties that interlace all created things within the universe would be unravelled. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p 157
- 9. Ethics & Behavior Kindness to animals Reduced meat consumption Consider purchasing meat that is not factory farmed
- 10. Anti-biotics Interdependence can also be negative: Factory farming Increased disease Over-reliance anti-biotics Anti-biotic resistance Untreatable human diseases
- 11. Schools and Clean Air As to the organization of the schools: … The school must be located in a place where the air is delicate and pure. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p 135
- 13. Ethics & Behavior Better Planning Cleaner Electricity Cleaner Cars Reduced E- Consumption
- 14. Decomposition The body of man, which has been formed gradually, must similarly be decomposed gradually. This is according to the real and natural order and Divine Law … that after death this body shall be transferred from one stage to another different from the preceding one, so that according to the relations which exist in the world, it may gradually combine and mix with other elements, thus going through stages until it arrives in the vegetable kingdom, there turning into plants and flowers, developing into trees of the highest paradise, becoming perfumed and attaining the beauty of color. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Star of the West, Vol 11, No. 19 (March 2, 1921)
- 15. Ethics & Behavior Explanation for Burial? Composting
- 16. Cultivation of the Earth When we consider existence, we see that the mineral, vegetable, animal and human worlds are all in need of an educator. If the earth is not cultivated, it becomes a jungle where useless weeds grow; but if a cultivator comes and tills the ground, it produces crops which nourish living creatures. It is evident, therefore, that the soil needs the cultivation of the farmer. Consider the trees: if they remain without a cultivator, they will be fruitless, and without fruit they are useless; but if they receive the care of a gardener, these same barren trees become fruitful, and through cultivation, fertilization and engrafting the trees which had bitter fruits yield sweet fruits... ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, p 7
- 17. Cultivation of the Earth, continued If we should relegate this plot of ground to its natural state, allow it to return to its original condition, it would become a field of thorns and useless weeds, but by cultivation it will become fertile soil, yielding a harvest. Deprived of cultivation, the mountain slopes would be jungles and forests without fruitful trees. The gardens bring forth fruits and flowers in proportion to the care and tillage bestowed upon them by the gardener... ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p 353
- 18. Ethics & Behavior Cultivate for human benefit Maintain and improve the land Choose organically- grown food
- 19. This photo taken at the “Bahá’í Gardens” on the slopes of Mt. Carmel, Haifa, Israel, shows a marvelous diversity of water and temperature appropriate plants. S. Fuqua / T. Homayoun, November 2010.
Notes de l'éditeur
- “Environmental” issues are not directly addressed in the sacred writings Many passages indirectly linked Causes of environmental crises Reverence for natural world Equitable access to resources Climate Change is arguably the greatest existential threat facing humanity This presentation contains some initial reflections on environmental ethics and behavior based on selected passages from the writings, and in one case the utterances, of ‘Abdu’l-Baha.
- Intersectionality is a current theme in activisim – realizing that narrow focus produces no results. Must recognize that many problems intersect and exacerbate. Gender and racial prejudice Poverty and over exploitation of resources (illegal logging, bush meat, over fishing) Consumer materialism and industrial exploitation of communities ‘Abdu’l-Bahá here comments that a single-minded pursuit of peace without also addressing the myriad issues of equality, science, morality, would produce no fruits.
- In this and other passages, we are reminded that a human is not an island, insulated from the world. We depend on each other, and on the material world, for our continued existence and self-realization. This principle of interdependence is one of the key elements of modern ecology, and is a biological equivalent of the sociological idea of intersectionality. What happens when our ecosystems go out of balance? An example: Overuse of pesticide and reduction of native plants Bees die off directly and indirectly (heightened susceptibility to disease) Human agriculture suffers
- The Master encourages eating primarily a vegetarian diet, linking this to compassion and pity, but also (elsewhere) to the shape of human teeth
- And in the spirit of balance and moderation, He also points out the inevitability of ingesting other life forms. This particular passage came from a letter he wrote to someone, in response to a question that, it appears, may have been expressing surprise that Baha’is are allowed to eat meat.
- As one response to these two ideas, we might consider eating meat that is not from factory farmed animals. Humane, cage free, pasture fed, grass fed, free range – these terms all have varying meanings, but each at least indicates some effort to reduce the suffering of animals raised for slaughter. Food justice is another topic that one can and should touch on, but the author did not have time to introduce it adequately
- In a passage generally about how to organize schools. Couldn’t help but think about the air pollution in Tehran when I saw this.
- Of course this problem is not relegated to London. In Dallas, for example, West Dallas is hope to the highest concentration of cement plants, which are highly polluting. This is an area primarily populated by under-privileged African-American and Latino families. Brief mention of environmental justice (should expand on that in a future revision)
- Better planning for where we put our schools – e.g. not right next to highways Clean up our energy production processes Clean up our cars Reduce our electricity consumption
- For me, this passage was a real eye-opener: maybe now I had an answer to the question of why cremation is not permitted to the Baha’is In a very practical way, I suspect ‘Abdu’l-Baha would strongly approve of composting instead of sending food and yard “waste” to a landfill.
- Is ‘Abdu’l-Baha calling for us to “plow the planet” (like Sherwin Williams’ “paint the planet”)? Not necessarily. Taken in context with the rest of the Writings, and guidance from the Guardian and the Universal House of Justice, it seems inappropriate to use these and similar passages to justify an ethic of total dominion, heedless of the value of wild spaces – although He does make clear elsewhere that humanity has mastery over nature. Furthermore, in context, these passages are analogies for humanity’s need for an educator – not necessarily a call to turn all wild places into cultivated ones. We are shown the clear necessity of care for creation, rather than neglect. Nevertheless, in reflecting on these, I am led back to the idea that humanity can and must use its natural resources, albeit wisely.
- There is at least an implication that we should carefully and skillfully use the land for human benefit. We can go further and speak about the need to maintain and even improve the land – which means not abusing it Organic agriculture, which is more or less the “old style” of agriculture closer to that of 100 years ago than to modern chemical practices, is highly beneficial to maintaining and improving the land. When feasible, and understanding that it can be costly, we can choose to support organic agriculture through our purchasing decisions. Acknowledgment that it is hard to know how to make all of the best choices in our daily lives, as impacted by these various issues. That’s why we need to talk with each and share what we’ve learned.