246
soon. The threat of a global crisis has not passed
yet to which attention was called by Meadows
et al. (1972) already 50 years ago. Stopping population growth and then decrease of population,
even if at a very small rate could contribute to
avoiding the global crisis indirectly (fewer people mean less production) or at least reduce its
impact. Great care should be taken to advance
environmentally sound construction and careful
planning of land use in order to protect natural
wildlife and to create a liveable environment for
humans.
6.6
SDG: Making Peace
Among Different Religious
and Cultural Civilisations.
Possible?
We have seen so far, how many problems have to
be solved if humans want to live a sustainable life
on the planet.
The authors think that solving the problem
indicated in the chapter title will be the hardest
for the human society. Probably nothing has
deeper roots among human characteristics than a
faith in a transcendent being, and it is generally
typical that faith overcomes sense in most cases.
Somewhat similar feelings can be associated
with the bonds to a given culture. Cultural habits,
national traditions, folk customs and beliefs are
very diverse. Since most people feel these characteristics and traditions as part of their own
identity, they feel it very hard to change them,
and most often do not want to change them at all.
Fighting civilisations according to Huntington
(1996) and conflicts threatening with repeated
fights were discussed before. Here only the question is raised: is making peace among civilisations (culture) really that hopeless? If the answer
is yes, sustainable development of the human
society will never be realised on this planet.
In theory, religions themselves could take
effective measures for making peace among different religious-cultural civilisations. The highest
leaders of major religions have a special influence on followers, and their views are decisive in
bringing their views close. Important common
elements could be found in the doctrines of religions like the love of nature, acknowledged by
many religions—however, in different ways.
Buddhism calls for forbearance of living beings
(mainly animals), most Buddhists are vegetarian.
Hindus believe that divine of Brahma is present
in every person, living being and the whole
nature. According to Islam, Allah is the creator of
every form of life therefore life has to be respected
and killing animals for pleasure is prohibited
(e.g., collecting trophies of large game is prohibited). Respect for nature and living beings can be
read in the “Green Bible” containing also the fundamental doctrines of Christianity and Judaism.
Selected content elements of basic works regarding the relationship of religion and nature are
summarised in Table 6.4.
Social messages of religions are much more
extensive. The requisition of “love your fellowhuman as yourself” appears in all major religions,
however, in different forms. This could be the
basis of peaceful living together from neighbours
to peoples living next to or together with each
other.
Religions also consider the support of poor
people and those in low spirits important. Jesus
and his disciples showed example with voluntary
indigence, and Jesus also set an example by healing sick people. In Islam, one of the five pillars of
religion is public contributions (zakat) when
2.5% of the savings of individuals have to be
given away to poor people. Buddhism teaches
that all sufferings in life are caused by greed
(e.g., consumer society) therefore people have to
overcome this bad quality.
The above show that religious doctrines support several elements of the sustainable development of the society. How followers keep to the
doctrines is a different question so is the interpretation of the doctrines by religious leaders. Islam
for example proclaims peace and complete devotion to serving the one God; however, it also
teaches followers to persuade other to become
followers of Islam (Jihad), and many believe that
the best solution of the problems of the world
would be a global Islamic state. This leads to violence that is against both peace and the respect of
life. Although the majority of Islam followers
6 Steps Towards Realising Global Sustainable Development
soon. The threat of a global crisis has not passed
yet to which attention was called by Meadows
et al. (1972) already 50 years ago. Stopping population growth and then decrease of population,
even if at a very small rate could contribute to
avoiding the global crisis indirectly (fewer people mean less production) or at least reduce its
impact. Great care should be taken to advance
environmentally sound construction and careful
planning of land use in order to protect natural
wildlife and to create a liveable environment for
humans.
6.6
SDG: Making Peace
Among Different Religious
and Cultural Civilisations.
Possible?
We have seen so far, how many problems have to
be solved if humans want to live a sustainable life
on the planet.
The authors think that solving the problem
indicated in the chapter title will be the hardest
for the human society. Probably nothing has
deeper roots among human characteristics than a
faith in a transcendent being, and it is generally
typical that faith overcomes sense in most cases.
Somewhat similar feelings can be associated
with the bonds to a given culture. Cultural habits,
national traditions, folk customs and beliefs are
very diverse. Since most people feel these characteristics and traditions as part of their own
identity, they feel it very hard to change them,
and most often do not want to change them at all.
Fighting civilisations according to Huntington
(1996) and conflicts threatening with repeated
fights were discussed before. Here only the question is raised: is making peace among civilisations (culture) really that hopeless? If the answer
is yes, sustainable development of the human
society will never be realised on this planet.
In theory, religions themselves could take
effective measures for making peace among different religious-cultural civilisations. The highest
leaders of major religions have a special influence on followers, and their views are decisive in
bringing their views close. Important common
elements could be found in the doctrines of religions like the love of nature, acknowledged by
many religions—however, in different ways.
Buddhism calls for forbearance of living beings
(mainly animals), most Buddhists are vegetarian.
Hindus believe that divine of Brahma is present
in every person, living being and the whole
nature. According to Islam, Allah is the creator of
every form of life therefore life has to be respected
and killing animals for pleasure is prohibited
(e.g., collecting trophies of large game is prohibited). Respect for nature and living beings can be
read in the “Green Bible” containing also the fundamental doctrines of Christianity and Judaism.
Selected content elements of basic works regarding the relationship of religion and nature are
summarised in Table 6.4.
Social messages of religions are much more
extensive. The requisition of “love your fellowhuman as yourself” appears in all major religions,
however, in different forms. This could be the
basis of peaceful living together from neighbours
to peoples living next to or together with each
other.
Religions also consider the support of poor
people and those in low spirits important. Jesus
and his disciples showed example with voluntary
indigence, and Jesus also set an example by healing sick people. In Islam, one of the five pillars of
religion is public contributions (zakat) when
2.5% of the savings of individuals have to be
given away to poor people. Buddhism teaches
that all sufferings in life are caused by greed
(e.g., consumer society) therefore people have to
overcome this bad quality.
The above show that religious doctrines support several elements of the sustainable development of the society. How followers keep to the
doctrines is a different question so is the interpretation of the doctrines by religious leaders. Islam
for example proclaims peace and complete devotion to serving the one God; however, it also
teaches followers to persuade other to become
followers of Islam (Jihad), and many believe that
the best solution of the problems of the world
would be a global Islamic state. This leads to violence that is against both peace and the respect of
life. Although the majority of Islam followers
6 Steps Towards Realising Global Sustainable Development