Recent research from the US shows two significant changes for children - the first is that they are spending less time in the outdoors and more time inside and online. The second is more surreptious, children's books are depicting less and less animals and nature-related stories.
Why is this relevant to media, culture and religion?
Techno-philia, or online-philia is replacing outdoors experiences for many young people. Children's stories are now mainly set in the built environment and, according to Williams et al. (2012), accompanying this shift indoors are fewer books containing images of nature or animals, especially wild animals, and fewer images and stories than in the past about people interacting with the natural envrionment or with animals.
Perhaps more concerning are not the direct implications of this research study, but the indirect social and political perspectives surrounding the study.. In the US (and perhaps Australia), support for the environment movement dropped during the 2000s decade, while environmental issues also ranked low in the American public's mind. Importantly however, note the authors, research on the significance of nature connection shows a relationship between 'experience in natural environments, and understanding, concern, and action with respect to environmental problems.' (Williams et al. 2012). So the more time you spend in nature, the more aware of the natural world you become, the more meaningful nature experiences are. The more understanding you have about nature, especially through the frequent and meaningful encounters in the outdoors, the more concern you're likely to show towards nature - and the ecological crisis.
In 2006, when Al Gore produced his Inconvenient Truth, he stated that climate change was a 'moral issue'. 'Make no mistake, this is not just a political issue, not just a market issue, not just a national security issue, not just a jobs issue. It is a moral issue.'
Since then (and before then too), a great many books have been written in the field of religion and ecology and environment issues have been at the forefront of much recent religion and spiritual discourse and practice. For instance, the Vatican has installed solar power across its ancient rooftops; Muslim associations like the environmental IFEES in the UK produced a 'green guide' for Muslim living; Buddhists in the US have worked with local people in Mongolia to establish an inspirational ecology centre and program to protect local fish habitats and species; Muslims at the Al Ghazzali Centre in Sydney's south have revegetated river banks; the Jewish Ecological Coalition in Melbourne have published a sustainability guide; while Brisbane's multi-faith community have held prayer meetings and other interfaith-based services. Religious organisations are installing green energy, developing ecological programs and policies, reviewing scripture, writing nature-inspired liturgies and even a Green Bible has been produced.
Last week I watched the trailer for a documentary called Play Again, where techno-focused children and teens were taken into wild nature to 'play again'. It shows their transformation from techno-connected to enjoying adventures in the outdoors. Life slows, observation grows, passion for nature (hopefully) is ignited because - if we don't know nature, how can we learn to love it, and if we don't love nature or know nature, why would we know it needs protecting?
Nature teaches us to watch, slowly and see the beauty emerge in its stillness. It encourages us to play. And act.
Questions:
- Can films about nature and religion replace engagement with God's creation or creation care?
- Why are religious organisations so concerned about environmental issues?
- How important is the outdoors in your life - and your spirirtual life?
Reference
Williams Jr, A., C. Podeschi, N. Palmer, P. Schwadel, and D. Meyler.2012. The Human-Environment Dialog in Award-winning Children’s Picture Books. Sociological Inquiry 82(1):145-159.
