Talking about Faith, Science and Climate Change
When the Sacred Canopy Burns:
Edmontonians talk about Faith, Science and Climate Change
The Edmonton Interfaith Centre for Education and Action
December 2, 2015
Ashley Fischer and Randolph Haluza-DeLay
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The standard story about faith and science is that they are in conflict. That’s not the way Edmontonians
believed they operate. Climate change is a pressing issue of our day. It is mostly known through science.
Since 76% of Canadians espouse some sort of religious affiliation unpacking the relationship of religious
faiths to climate change and science may be worthwhile.
Climate change is often perceived as something happening up in the sky, the “canopy” that covers the
planet. Sociologist Peter Berger used the term “sacred canopy” to describe an overarching system that
helps a person or group understand reality in a meaning-full way. Nonreligious systems of thinking, like
secularism or scientism also provide this. In his recent encyclical on the environment, Pope Francis
described religion and science as “distinctive approaches to understanding reality” that can work
together and contribute to a broader understanding of our world and duties as human beings.
The research question for this study: How do various Edmontonians of diverse religious backgrounds
see climate change and how do their understandings of their faith and science combine on this issue?
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with fourteen Edmontonians of diverse faith perspectives.
Interviewees included two Muslims, two Jewish people, two Buddhists, and eight Christians of different
denominations. Analysis showed the following themes prevalent among these interviewees:
Science and Religion
 None of the participants thought faith and science conflicted, despite this being the most
prevalent manner by which the two are reported.
 Edmontonians had three ways of relating faith and science
1. Faith and science as complementary, where both can be present and even work together.
“I see science as a way to help us understand aspects of the creation… Realizing the expanse
of the universe…increases my faith in a creator God (An Edmonton Christian).
2. Faith and science as segregated, with different purposes that may or may not co-operate.
“The science helps me to understand the process of what is happening, the religion helps me
spiritually to understand that this is my duty” (An Edmonton Muslim).
3. Faith and science as intertwined, where the two merged into new understandings of the
world.
“Sometimes move past each other, they mix, they reinforce each other, they carry you away
sometimes, sometimes they contradict each other, but ultimately they are two currents in
the same stream” (An Edmonton Christian).
“You, as an individual, aren’t forced to take the teaching[s]... until you've really analyzed and
rationalized your way through them. At that point, you will become enlightened and there
will be no question [about how they relate to each other” (An Edmonton Buddhist).
Talking about Faith, Science and Climate Change
 Climate change was seen primarily through a scientific lens rather than as a religious matter.
“When I think about climate change, I try to keep my religious mentality out of it completely
and just think about it practically” (An Edmonton Christian).
Faith and Environment
 All participants agreed the environment is damaged
 They all desired to connect their faith and improving the environment.
 Causes and solutions of environmental degradation had some differences among the
Edmontonians of different faiths.
“Basically the reason [for environmental degradation] is sin…. And we have been given the full
freedom of choice. You know you can do bad things and you can do good things from a religious
point of view.” (An Edmonton Muslim).
“We look at the Buddhist teachings on just about anything – it’s about… reducing that
attachment, learning how that attachment arises, how we keep it going.” (An Edmonton
Buddhist).
 Most solutions focused on lifestyle choices that better fit faith principles and environmental
sustainability, rather than including social or cultural aspects of the environmental crisis
Religions have a role in Protecting the Environment
 They espouse respect and care for Creation/Nature
 They are a place to discuss ethics and morality
 They have influence for both adherents and in the wider social arena.
Clearly, reliance on and acceptance of climate science is the most important influence on perceiving
climate change as a real phenomenon, even for these faith-based individuals. However, moral
convictions are what will drive motivation to act in some way. Few of the interviewees reported climate
change being discussed in their faith communities. Therefore, despite a variety of ways that faith and
science were seen as interacting, on climate change religion and science are segregated, rather than
complementary or intertwined. Yet, increasingly, religious leaders are declaring climate change a moral,
humanitarian, theological and justice issue. Protecting the environment has increasingly become a
matter of interfaith partnerships.
Recommendations
1. Faith groups need to engage the issue of climate change at the grassroots level. The chief issue is
the lack of trickle-down to the mosques, temples, synagogues, gurdwaras and churches and
individual believers themselves
2. Faith groups should draw on the resources of their own traditions. Examples of climate resources
from different faith traditions are included in Appendix III.
3. Faith communities can pursue “greening their sacred spaces” through energy efficiency and other
means.
4. Governments should not ignore faith communities in their efforts to communicate and address the
changing climate, but should be aware that different faith communities will approach the issue in
different ways.