3 of 4

No

Write now Article Tools

Nobody should have to be an environmentalist if they don't want to, and if they don't feel like it's right. That includes anyone in the neo-pagan community. I've been a wiccan for ten years, and my own practice is evolving into something else; I've begun studying celtic reconstructionist paganism and druidry. But at the same time, I believe in evolution.

Personally, I believe that saving the planet doesn't have to mean preserving the creatures upon it. We draw a fine line when we do that, a line between how we are and how the world is. Human beings, whatever religion they've practiced over the centuries, have only been here for a short time, so how is it that we think we know what is best for this planet? A couple years ago for instance people started freaking out about "the next ice age" and then "the greenhouse effect," but then they started realizing, because of scientific evidence, that the world moves in cycles. Our ancestors knew that, and they k new how to adapt to those cycles; we aren't as good at it anymore, so we freak out about it. But why shouldn't that same line of thinking apply to animals and plants, forests and water?

Creatures are here, the current ones, because of evolution: the birds you listen to in the morning are what remains of dinosaurs, as are sharks at the aquarium. If we let evolution die out, that seems to me it's hurting the planet more than preserving the creatures that currently exist. I don't believe for one minute that harmony with nature includes stalling the natural processes.

Now this is not to say that we as wiccans, druids, reconstructionists, and whoever else is lumped under the word Neopaganists can't do things that are helpful to the world. Human beings do a lot of things that could be curtailed, so that we could get back to living more with nature instead of acting against it. We haven't caused any greenhouse effects or ice ages, but we can be better about pollution, we can be smarter about how we use energy, and so on: http://www.adf.org/articles/na ture/nature-worship-as-lifesty le.html. The suggestions at the end of the link are good ones, and I'd be non-averse to trying some of them.

But this is only one little article, and there are thousands more. My advice is this: you should not be bull-horned into something you don't believe in. You should be more sensible. That's all. Use common sense, not worries or paranoia. Pray to whatever being you believe in, about it, and think about what's feasible for you yourself to do. That's the best that I can suggest, and as far as I'm concerned it's the best thing to do for this planet.

But you shouldn't feel like you have to.

Learn more about this author, Jess Howe.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Neopaganism and the Environment: Should all Neo-Pagans be environmentalists??
We want to hear your view. Write now!