Rev. Paul John Roach is Senior Minister of Unity Church of Fort Worth. He submitted this blog response in conversation with Amanda's "Why Interfaith? Discuss" article.
Traditionally, interfaith work has been based around social action in one form or another. For example, the homeless, HIV/AIDS, hunger projects, Habitat for Humanity, etc. A lot of these initiatives have been effective and successful.
However, one of the greatest challenges in our world is environmental degradation and global warming. Although the need is great, interfaith involvement has been rudimentary. Why? I believe it is because most faith communities are centered around the theology of the social gospel. The natural world is seen as a backdrop or a resource. It will take more than communities agreeing to work together, it will take a shift in seminary training, in how churches and temples do business and how scripture is interpreted.
I believe that the greatest initiatives in terms of the environment are taking place outside of traditional faith communities, by often spiritual but not religious writers and activists.
As long as heaven is seen as a future reward and not as a present possibility, indeed, a palpable reality, we cannot hope to truly have a positive impact.
So who is going to bring about that change in outlook and attitude?
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The opinions expressed in this blog response do not necessarily reflect those of Texas Interfaith Power & Light or Texas Impact.