New Report by Jerusalem NGO Shows the Rise of Faith and Ecology Education
The Pope has taken a stand on climate change with a forceful position paper that spells out how faith groups must take action to protect the environment. The world’s faithful are now paying attention. After surveying hundreds of seminaries in North America, Israel, and Italy, a new report reveals an emerging phenomenon– over 160 faith and ecology courses taught in recent years.
As Pope Francis wrote in his recently released Encyclical, “It is my hope that our seminaries and houses of formation will provide an education in responsible simplicity of life, in grateful contemplation of God’s world, and in concern for the needs of the poor and the protection of the environment” (Paragraph 214).
The Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development (ICSD) today published a Report on Faith and Ecology in North American Seminaries, which reveals how seminaries in Israel and around the world are part of the faith-based ecological transformation for which Pope Francis has called.
ICSD also unveiled a searchable online faith and ecology syllabi collection, which makes scores of syllabi on faith and ecology easily accessible for instructors and administrators.
The Report and syllabi collection were created based on support of the Julia Burke Foundation.
“We found over 160 courses on faith and ecology at more than 50 seminaries offered in recent years,” says Rabbi Yonatan Neril, ICSD’s Founder and Director. “While only 22% of the seminaries we surveyed offered such courses, I think Pope Francis’call will help to move others to follow suit.”
With thousands of seminarians enrolled globally in these courses in recent years, part of the next generation of religious leadership is emerging better equipped to teach on creation care and stewardship. Scores of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim seminaries exist in the Holy Land, and they can make further efforts to increase their teaching in this area. Among them, the Schechter Rabbinical Seminary in Jerusalem is the only seminary in Israel to offer a semester-long course on faith and ecology.
The Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development works to catalyze a transition to a sustainable human society through the active leadership of faith communities.
Contact:
Yonatan Neril, Executive Director