- November 20, 2015
Why should the world’s population be a concern of the world’s religions?
By: Beth Blattenberger
Because we care about our children, and their children, and all future generations.
We want everyone to have healthy food, clean water, shelter, health care, personal safety and other essentials. Today, although there is enough food for everyone, it is not being produced sustainably and is often not healthy.
Because we understand that we live on a finite planet, and that not living within our collective means can lead to conflict and many forms of hardship. While a more equitable distribution of resources is an important goal, it will not by itself allow us to live adequately and sustainably with today’s population.
Because we care about the diversity of life on this planet, and we believe we need to be stewards of all life.
Largely because of human activities, the world is undergoing the biggest mass extinction since 66 million years ago when the dinosaurs disappeared along with countless other species. All life is interconnected, and other forms of life benefit our lives in ways we may not understand.
Because we care about the lives of women and girls.
Girls who marry and have children at a young age have a difficult time continuing their education and doing work outside the home that may interest them and benefit others. Frequent pregnancy is not healthy. Many women are encouraged or even forced to have children they do not want by governments, societies, families and churches. Many pregnancies today are unplanned or unwanted by women who would prefer to have fewer or no children.
Because we care about indigenous peoples and their knowledge and ways of life.
As the world’s population grows, indigenous peoples and their languages and ways of life are dying out as other people and industries displace them. Their knowledge of medicinal plants, local climate, lives of local animals and much other knowledge is disappearing with them.
