Garrett Dalton-Sikhism and Ecology

People acquire their values and beliefs from many different sources. Religion is one of the most common places in which one can find the origins of cultural beliefs. Few religions explicitly express any notions of how the environment is supposed to be treated. Christians, for the most part, accept nature as a part of God's creation just like humanity. However, Christianity portrays humans as superior to nature in all ways. Man is after all created in God's image. Like Christianity, Sikhism explains that God created both humans and nature. Unlike Christianity, Sikhism also explains that all of God's creations are equal in the eyes of God because they are part of God. As such, human beings have the responsibility to live in harmony with nature and to find ways in which to preserve the environment. Unlike many religions, care for the environment is a major tenant in the Sikh faith. Ecology is bound to suffering not only in nature but among humans. By finding solutions to the problems found within humanity, humans can come to understand the problems facing nature.