Buddhism and Christianity as Partners for Overcoming Eco-Crisis

ABSTRACT

We propose the curative way to overcome eco-crisis through religions. The law of Dependent Origination in Buddhism provides the way to resolve dualism and anthropocentrism. Dependent Origination helps us to recognize that human beings and the other beings are linked as one entity. Dependent Origination is not only a view of wisdom, but it is also a view of compassion. It means that Buddhist enlightenment is completed through the practice of ‘One Body of Great Compassion.’ In this point of view, the idea of the Great Compassion based on the Dependent Origination, offers the possibility of solution to eco-crisis. However, there are a few limitations in Buddhism that could become detrimental to environmental ethics. They are: the problem of social practice, amorality, moral subject in respect of responsibility. How can we address these issues and overcome the problem of amorality and moral subject? We have an answer to these problems in the stewardship ethic of Christianity. This should not be mistaken for “superiority dimension” that humans can have dominion over nature; on the contrary, this involves the “responsibility dimension” that God has handed over to humans the responsibility to guard and protect nature. Human beings as stewards have been imposed with responsibility to take care of the world. So, human beings as collaborators with God are expected to work and care for world, in nature, with nature and through nature.