Church of Deep Ecology

Recognizing nature as our guide, we encourage a more sustainable lifestyle based in exploring and celebrating the interconnectedness of all living things and the Earth.

WHAT IS DEEP ECOLOGY? Deep Ecology is the radical idea that all life has the right to exist, that no one species is more important than another. According to Judi Bari, "Nature does not exist to serve humans. Rather, humans are a part of nature, one species among many. All species have the right to exist for their own sake, regardless of their usefulness to humans". Biodiversity is essential for the continued existence of the living Earth. As part of this biodiversity, humans must learn to live within nature, according to nature's laws, and learn to accept our role as one among many. We embrace Deep Ecology because it gets back to our roots. Not our roots as humans living in a modern society, but as members of something much larger, with the knowledge that our every action affects those around us. We embrace Deep Ecology as a return to nature-based living, rather than the greed-based societies we have come to know. A BRIEF HISTORY OF DEEP ECOLOGY In 1972, at the Third World Futures conference in Bucharest, Norwegian philosopher Arne Naess presented a paper which first distinguished between shallow and deep ecology. The next year, Naess published, "The Shallow and the Deep, Long-Range Ecology Movements," in which he presented his philosophy to the world. He basically stated that there are two ecology movements which are competing for our attention. The first is concerned mostly with pollution, resource depletion and the usefulness of the Earth to humans (anthropocentrism). The second is concerned with the diversity, richness, and intrinsic value of all the Earth. This is the Deep Ecology movement. Naess and others spent years explaining and building the Deep Ecology movement around the world. In 1984, while camping in Death Valley, Naess and George Sessions conceived the eight guiding principles of Deep Ecology. These principles are not meant to be dogmatic, but rather a starting point for discussion and action on deep ecological matters. Anyone who broadly agrees with the principles will see the implications of them in their daily lives, and live accordingly. For a more complete discussion of the origins of Deep Ecology, read "Ecophilosophy, Ecosophy and The Deep Ecology Movement". OUR EIGHT PRINCIPLES OF DEEP ECOLOGY Based on those written by Arne Naess and George Sessions 1. The well-being and flourishing of human and non-human life on Earth have value in themselves. These values are independent of the usefulness of the non-human world for human purposes. 2. Richness and diversity of life forms contribute to the realization of these values and are also values in themselves. 3. Humans have no right to reduce this richness and diversity except to satisfy vital needs. 4. The flourishing of human life and cultures is compatible with a substantial decrease of the human population. The flourishing of non-human life requires such a decrease. 5. Present human interference with the non-human world is excessive, and the situation is rapidly worsening. 6. The dominant socio-political living situation must therefore end. This will affect basic economic, technological, and ideological structures. The resulting state of affairs will be deeply different from the present. 7. The ideological change is mainly that of appreciating quality (dwelling in situations of inherent worth) rather than adhering to an increasingly higher standard of living. There will be a profound awareness of the difference between big and great. 8. Those who subscribe to the foregoing points have an obligation directly or indirectly to participate in the attempt to implement the necessary changes. WHY A CHURCH OF DEEP ECOLOGY? What is a church, but a group of individuals gathered together to worship in a common way? The beliefs of Church of Deep Ecology members are deeply rooted. These beliefs are basic to our very nature. We come from various backgrounds -- both religiously and otherwise -- but have come to the realization that nature is the root of our spirituality. We have formed a church so as to have these convictions recognized as the sacred beliefs that they are. These beliefs are just as sacred to us as are the beliefs and teachings of other religions to their followers. In order to worship freely we needed to be recognized by state and federal governments. The Church of Deep Ecology was founded in 2001 in the state of Minnesota. The Church of Deep Ecology is registered with the Minnesota Office of the Secretary of State. Donations to the Church of Deep Ecology are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. Get your own copy of the Church of Deep Ecology Primer (pdf) Join the Church of Deep Ecology Yahoo Group to discuss Deep Ecology, Human's place in nature, living as if you were part of nature, etc...