Question #3: Conclusion chapter

         In the conclusion of Devoted to Nature, Berry is reiterating what he has been saying throughout the entire book, that the discourse of American environmentalism can be derived from religious teachings and practices of human nature. He even states that relationship between human beings and the environment is very important in today’s society when he says, “the potency of soteriological rhetoric in environmental discourse seems as prevalent today as it was in the Progressive Era, and before that, among the romantics” (178). Berry basically claims that its still important for Americans to see where religion fits into the broader cultural sphere of the world, how its influenced the American environmental imagination, and provide us an opportunity to reevaluate it nowadays. His recommendation in the conclusion chapter is for environmental thinkers and activists to consider all environmental issues from a more theological and ethical perspective for an ideal human flourishing. He gives three lessons in support of this recommendation, which are religiously and ethically influenced. First is accepting that nature cannot be restored to its original condition and we should take responsibility for some of the negative changes and make more positive impacts on nature that we can be proud of. Second is for humans to turn away from the theological claims that our influence on nature is sinful by advocating for a relationship with nature that is both reciprocal and mutual as well as just. Lastly, environmentalists should be more inclusive towards the needs of others in nature instead of focusing primarily on personal transformation or one’s own naturalness.

            I can see Berry’s reasoning and justification for his recommendation of more theological and ethical strides in environmentalism, but I think it is going to be hard for Americans to do this right now because of all the political and economic turmoil happening. In my personal opinion, people are too set in their political ways that they cannot see past them on any other issue besides what the media presents to us on the news. I cannot even have normal conversations about these main stream issues with my friends or family because there are some that would shove their strongly-held beliefs down my throat. I think it is going to take a lot of time and effort for environmentalists to get on board for a more theological and ethical approach to American environmental imagination. An example of environmentalists taking more theological and ethical actions toward helping out in nature is the efforts of Pope Francis. One of his main goals in his papacy is saving the environment and that is should not just be for Catholics to take on, but the whole human race, since we are the one who are destroying it at the moment. He is shooting for a more religiously and ethically sound environmental stewardship that all humans should embrace.