HUMAN CENTERED

Humans are special. I'd say we have dominion over the natural world (some would say it’s God-given.) So I believe the natural environment should be used, developed, and enjoyed-- in short, nature should serve people. I am comfortable with the increasing commodification of everything and valuing things based on usefulness to humans. Creatively making land more to my liking and using its resources, wildlife, etc, is part of being human — not something I should apologize for or feel guilty about. (Note: some extend this in worshiping a Personal and Moralistic God and highly valuing their own ultimate salvation.)

RESPECT FOR NATURE

I believe humans are part of nature, not its rulers. I think animals and nature also have rights—even legal ones. People should cherish, revere, and stand in awe of natural beauty, not despoil it or threaten integrity of ecosystems. This interconnected unity should be valued without regard to usefulness to people. Feeling you belong to nature can come from living in wilderness, working the soil, and indigenous religion. Natural pantheists identify God with a self-organizing, ever evolving, perhaps self aware universe. Pantheists don’t recognize a Personal God, but typically equate God with the sum of all existence