I can’t help but notice that America is the most religious nation in the western world, with more than an astounding 50% of the population dutifully practicing their faith in houses of worship each weekend. Europe on the other hand, finds its historical churches filled with tourists while natives make virtually no room in their lives for the actual practice of religion. And yet we must concede that America for all its religiosity remains the lead sinner in the world for not only abusing the environment but also for its hubris in failing to cooperate with other nations to make the earth more habitable.

Not all religions are harmful to the environment. Although the new wave of evangelical faith might herald the biblical proclamation that man (sic) holds dominion over the earth, (and shows the natural world who’s boss), many mainline faiths argue that God demands that we hold the earth as a sacred trust and that faith compels us to be custodians of this magnificent creation. I would naturally support the argument that our charge in life is to serve as custodians for the earth, but the nature of the debate drives me crazy. The religious world, be it from the extreme right or moderate center gets hopelessly entangled in a senseless debate: Figuring out the intent of the Creator. Some insist that He (sic) has placed us in charge as though this earth was all meant for us to enjoy, and when the earth runs out of goodies for the next generation, He (sic) will provide a solution. Others contend, yet still maintaining that they know what God has in mind, that the deity will not renew resources for our children and grandchildren down the line, but that we better take care of what we have because that’s all we get.

Arguing if there is a Creator or not, or what the Creator really has in mind, seems to me a monumental waste of time because it can’t ever be proven. Rather than focus on the Creator, isn’t it time that religion turn its attention more towards the Creation itself. Personally I find more spiritual merit in the awe and beauty inspired by the intricate web of being than in worrying about whether or not God exists and what this God wants us to do.

New discoveries in the biological sciences reveal that the interconnected web of all existence is more profoundly connected than even our wildest imaginations might fathom. Giraffes in sub-Saharan Africa, for example, are especially fond of eating the leaves of the Massasa tree. As long as not too many of the leaves on a particular tree are consumed, the tree and the giraffe cohabit harmoniously. But when a hungry giraffe consumes so many leaves that the tree’s well-being is threatened, the tree raises the acidic content in its leaves. The giraffes no longer find them tasteful, and stop eating them. Ecologists are finding that the relationships in any particular ecosystem are complex and pervasive. Every species of plant and animal has a part to play in the health of the whole.

Religion in America seems preoccupied with divining sacred truth (as though that were possible), and prescribing answers found in scripture written in a pre-scientific world. The religious sensibilities revealed in scripture, like sharing with those who have less than you and caring for those who are in need, gain credibility in the remarkable story of the giraffes and the Massasa tree: When individuals consume too much, the health of the whole is threatened. To extend the metaphor to these times, our selfish consumptions to feed our affluent lifestyles leaves a bitter taste. Some of us are beginning to notice.