"I was inspired by the creativity and dedication of those who presented at the conference.  At the same time, I was sobered by how much work remains to be done and what Bron Taylor called the 'anemic' response of religions to the ecological crisis to date.  I agree with Taylor that we need to continue to work to correct those parts of all of our religious traditions (including my own, Paganism) which foster human exceptionalism and the resistance to science." (John H.)

"What a holy moment to be surrounded by various faith traditions and hear their voices.
I am hopeful now that I have more possibilities to weave faith and ecology.Many new thoughts were inspired and will be brought back home to infuse my community (ZiPi R.)

"The discussion brought me both hope and fear. We had a wonderful variety of people and faiths, sincerely and deeply addressing this crucial topic. But it felt a bit like we were all trying to get a firm handhold on this big awkward puzzle. We are just taking the first steps, trying to develop a shared map of the problem and where the key work is situated. It is a big challenge and the clock is running!" (Jim K.) 

"I was highly impressed by the earnest, intelligent, and creative efforts by the presenters at the greening of religion conference to craft understandings of a variety of religious traditions that can promote a reverence for the earth and corresponding pro-environmental behaviors. May all their efforts be fruitful and multiply." (Bron T.)

"Our religions have much to learn from each other about living more eco-friendly lives.  The document  'A Pagan Community Statement on the Environment' should be at the center our interfaith conversations on the environment." (Carl E.) 
 
 
"I was especially inspired by Rabbi Arthur Waskow's ecological interpretation the Genesis accounts of creation, the Exodus, and the Song of Songs.  Even though these are no longer my texts, I was deeply moved by his midrash, which was both textually authentic and ecologically enlightened.  I felt what Waskow called the "green face of God" shining through his narrative, confirming my belief in the resilience of religious tradition." (John H.) 
 
Connecting with Cherry Hill staff and meeting classmates I've only known on Skype was a fantastic experience. (Cynthia C.).

"In the midst of the mounting data that suggests that we will likely face some radical shifts in the way we inhabit this planet and maintain some semblance of a civilization in the era of anthropogenic climate change, I am encouraged to know that so many people of different faith traditions can think together creatively and constructively as we imagine possible visions of the future." (Chris D.)

"The Greening of Religions conference was an amazing event.  For me, one of the most important outcomes was connecting across faiths to build a collective response to environmental damage. Different faiths approach the human responsibility to the Earth with different theological understandings of their role; but they nonetheless strive toward a common purpose to leave behind a greener, healthier planet. Not only was everyone tremendously respectful of different faith perspective, the urgency of the challenge and the need for collective work remained consistently at the forefront." (Manny T.)

"While I enjoyed the education that Greening offered, I most enjoyed the fellowship between all of us.  If the various faiths can 'break bread' together, then we can make progress on solving the environmental crisis together." (Marla R.) 
 
Bookshelf

The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion
By Jonathan Haidt  Purchase now





Don't forget to submit an evaluation each time you complete a CHS course. There's a link on our main web site under For Students/Materials.
Important Dates
 
For Students
May 1 All Spring classes end
May 23 Summer classes begin 
May 30 Insights 1 classes begin
Jun 3 Drop/Add deadline
Jun 26 Insights 1 classes end
Jun 27 Insights 2 classes begin
Jul 24 Insights 2 classes end
Jul 25 Insights 3 classes begin
Aug 21 Insights 3 classes end
Aug 28 All semester classes end
Sep 12 Fall classes begin 
For Faculty
May 15 All Spring grades due
Jun 6 Fall course proposals due
Jul 11 Insights 1 grades due
Aug 8 Insights 2 grades due
Sep 5 Insights 3 grades due
Sep 12 Full semester summer grades due 

Cherry Hill Seminary is the leading provider of education and practical training in leadership, ministry, and personal growth in Pagan and Nature-Based spiritualities.

For more information, visit www.cherryhillseminary.org, or contact CHS@cherryhillseminary.org.

 

Greening Symposium in the News 
Click the image above to watch the local CBS affiliate cover The Greening of Religion symposium. 

Kirk Thomas posted notes from each of most presentations on our Facebook page (thank you, Kirk!). Comments from attendees and presenters at left, and a sampling of photos below. All photos posted at our Facebook page.