Facing environmental crisis, can
Buddhist values offer non-religious
China a greener path?
The Problem
- Beijing, China has a major climate problem
- Is one of the most polluted country Solution
- Most of the population is atheist
- One of the solutions to the pollution problem is to convert people to Buddhism and follow their beliefs
Effect
- People would care about the environment
- If people followed the beliefs of the buddhist it would get rid of the animal killing as well as help stop the pollution of the air and water Citation
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/can-buddhistvalues-offer-non-religious-china-agreener-path/
I don’t see how needing to convert to Buddhism is necessary to save the environment. You can still save the environment and still be an atheist. Helping the environment is not the requirement of a religion; you should be helping the environment because it is your responsibly to the future generations.
ReplyDeleteThis is a surprising move for China. Though, the thing I'm worried about is how the people would react. Are the people really okay with converting to Buddhism? I would agree with Erica on this. There should be other ways on handling the situation rather than converting to Buddhism. I would be surprise if this actually worked on the long run.
ReplyDeleteI honestly have to agree with Erica as well that its not about being Buddhist or being a certain religion in order to be good stewards of God's creation. No matter what your religious affiliation you can still make a difference on the world around you.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how to respond to this current event. It's weird how people in China are trying to convert people to Buddhism to help save the environment. I think people who believe its because the population of atheist living are just trying to compare 2 irrelevant stats to make them believe that their belief is correct. I don't believe that this event is caused by people not in buddhism but its more than religion its how the government and people's life that controls it.
ReplyDeleteI feel that because china is trying to convert people to Buddhism, that is not how the religion is truly practiced. People should want to go on their own, and reach nirvana by themselves. Not being forced to want to go somewhere. I do understand that they do want people to breath cleaner air and have cleaner water, but they need to do that without interfering with religion.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure how converting the entire country of China to Buddhism would help change or save the environment. I believe there are other easier and more useful ways than this to save China's pollution infested environment. Even if it did work, it doesn't mean that everyone is going to want to help. That is just not how Buddhism works.
ReplyDeleteChina doesn't really need to convert people to Buddhism to help clean the environment. People can help whether they're very religious or not. It's not the responsibility of Buddhist to help the environment, it's the responsibility of everybody. People in general should help the environment because it just keeps getting worse and no body whats to live in pollution.
ReplyDeleteI don't think China should convert people into Buddhism to save the crisis of the environment because even all people in different religions can save the environment, including athiests. Using the noble eightfold path to save the environment will bring everyone a too much energy to deal with, as well as converting other religions into the Buddhism shows that Chinese people show too much stubborn and pride in their religion.
ReplyDeleteNo one should need to be converted but they can still apply Buddist ideology when it comes to regulation and general views towards keeping the enviorment pristine. Regardless of religion people are stil responsible to be a steward to the one earth we have. It shouldnt be limited to individuals but also major corperation and factories that put out most of the polutants.
ReplyDeleteWhile I am in agreement with Erica on the point that atheists may still be environmentalists, I must point out that stewardship of the ecosystem is a big part of Buddhism. This is not to say that only Buddhists care for the earth, but rather that a practicing Buddhist is almost certain to care for the earth. However, I do stand against the idea of forced conversion.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to see how natural events can be connected to religion. People think that because they have no religion, they have no respect for nature. It's assumed that converting to Buddhism will bring an awareness for the environment they previously did not have. Personally, I don't think it's necessary to have to be religious to be aware, but if this is what China needs to improve their environment, then so be it.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea that the Chinese government is attempting to solve their pollution problem by promoting good religious values. However, I don't think that it is necessary for them to try to solve their pollution problem through religion. They could easily have just put forth programs such as the CCC during the great depression in order to promote environmental awareness. Despite obvious flaws in their plan for religious conversion to buddhism, this is a step in the right direction for China for conserving their environment and protecting their citizens by doing so.
ReplyDeleteIt is admirable that more and more Chinese people are starting to become aware of and sensitive to the climate issues that their country faces, but I don't know if this is the best way to go about things. If Chinese people are converting to Buddhism to become more spiritually satisfied, that's one thing, but it shouldn't take that conversion for them to do these things in their communities.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of Buddhism will help stopping the pollution and protect the environment. Religion is not only practicing belief and serving God, but it is to love and co-work with nature in order to achieve the true human nature.
ReplyDeletePeople could be anywhere and start practicing Buddhism but in the Chinese Government, people trying to find a solution to their problem. Its spiritual.
ReplyDeletePeople don't have to convert into Buddhism can change the pollution in the air. Helping the environment isn't just for religion, you can be atheist or be part of a violent religion, but either way, you need to need to respect the world you live in. Needing to remind that this is the world that you grow older in age and where your family and your children's family will grow up in. So they need to think about the future for not everyone, and not just for self interest of entering into a religion with false hopes of saving yourself.
ReplyDeleteIts crazy how in china are trying to convert people to Buddhism to help and save the enviroment. You don't even need to be religious to help the enviroment so it doesn't really make sense
ReplyDeleteI don't think that people should have to convert to Buddhism to care about the state of their environment. The fact that their environment is in such bad shape should be a good enough reason for them to try to do things to help. And even if a large part of the Chinese population converted to Buddhism there is still a chance that a lot of them might not care enough about the conditions of the world around them to begin to do things to help.
ReplyDeleteWhile its a good thing that Buddhists are so concerned about the environment it's sad that the only way people are willing to care is through religion.
ReplyDeleteReligion should not be used like a tool. The people should go off on their own and have their own beliefs.
ReplyDelete