Last month, dozens of religious leaders from around the world gathered to hold a Climate Repentance Ceremony and vow to adhere to the 10 Spiritual Principles for Climate Repentance during the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Sharm el – Sheikh.
Initially the gathering was to take place on Mount Sinai where the Ten Commandments were revealed to Moses.
Eastern Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, also known as the Green Patriarch, issued a statement ahead of the climate repentance ceremony and said that “The abuse of nature and the exploitation of its resources are a sin against God the Creator and the gift of creation.”
Many houses of worship around the world joined together on November 14, with prayer and study focused on climate action to protect our environment, organizers said. Among the dozens of leaders participated in the events: Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople (Istanbul), Swami Chidanand Saraswati from India, Imam Faisal Abdul Rauf (USA), Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg and more.
The Ten Principles for Climate Repentance (mini versions) are: We are stewards of this world; Creation manifests divinity; Everything in life is interconnected; Do no harm; Look after tomorrow; Rise above ego for our world; Change our inner climate; Repent and return; Every action matters and Use mind, open heart.
The event was put together by Yosef Abramowitz – green energy entrepreneur, CEO of Gigawatt Global, and is being implemented by Peace Department, the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development, the Elijah Interfaith Institute and the Adam Teva Va Din organization.
Susan is an author with a long-time interest in religion and science. She currently edits Covalence, the Lutheran Alliance for Faith, Science and Technology’s online magazine. She has written articles in The Lutheran and the Zygon Center for Religion and Science newsletter. Susan is a board member for the Center for Advanced Study of Religion and Science, the supporting organization for the Zygon Center and the Zygon Journal. She also co-wrote Our Bodies Are Selves with Dr. Philip Hefner and Dr. Ann Pederson.
