Assignment 2: More Religious Views on the Environment
Read the following articles, and answer the associated questions.
(1) Barry Freundel, “Jewish Tradition, the Traditional Jew and the Environment,” p. 618.
(2) Mawil Y. Izzi Deen, “Islamic Environmental Ethics, Law, and Society,” p.633.
(3) Lily De Silva, “The Buddhist Attitude Towards Nature,” p. 650.
_________________________________________________________________
Question for (1) Freundel, “Jewish Tradition.”
Question 1: Please identify and list as many important Jewish beliefs regarding the environment as you can. Please number them.
___________________________________________
Answer 1:
___________________________________________
Questions for (2) Mawail Izzi Deen, “Islamic Environmental Ethics, Law, and Society”
Question 2: According to Islam, what are the 8 legal and ethical reasons for protecting the environment? List them (number them) and give a brief explanation of what they are. (See the section, “The Foundation of Environmental Protection”) Are any of these good? Which ones and why. If not, then why?
___________________________________________
Answer 2:
__________________________________________
Question 3: What is Islam’s view of the “Sustainable Care of Nature”? Explain it
first. Second, are these good ideas? Why or why not?
_________________________________________
Answer 3:
_______________________________________________
Questions for (3) Lily De Silva, “The Buddhist Attitude Towards Nature.”
Question 4: The author states, “Buddhism strictly limits itself to delineating a way of life designed to eradicate human suffering.” If so, then why would Buddhists have any concern for the environment?
___________________________________________
Answer 4:
___________________________________________
Question 5: Referring to the section “Attitude Towards Animal and Plant Life,” explain all the Buddhist attitudes towards animal and plant life.
_________________________________________
Answer 5:
___________________________________________
Question 6: Do you believe these Buddhist attitudes towards animal and plant life are good attitudes to have? Also, in your opinion, how does this compare with Christian attitudes toward nature?
____________________________________________
Answer 6:
____________________________________________
Question 7: What sort of lifestyle does Buddhism advocate? Explain it. (See the Conclusion.) What do you think of the Buddhist lifestyle views? Are they practical?
____________________________________________
Answer 7:
____________________________________________
Question 8: Reviewing Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity (e.g. Dobel’s views), are there any ideas we could use from each if we wanted to start building an environmental ethic? What ideas would you include? Which ideas would you avoid?
_________________________________________
Answer 8:
________________________________________
Question 9: Which religion do you think has the most to contribute? Explain why. Which has the least to contribute? Explain why.
__________________________________________
Answer 9:
Leave a reply