Angela wrote: Although, I think you touched on something important here - can we view each other as individuals not separate but together on this Earth working towards common goals such as gender equity and restoring Ecosystems helping animals, etc. when we have different spiritual beliefs? I think we can - we have to! We just have to keep finding common ground and keep it - I read somewhere that caring for the Earth will bring more people from different cultural backgrounds and religious beliefs together - I agree - Now we have to do more together besides try to convert each other - our sisters need us - the animals need us - the Earth needs us - Maybe we should start focusing on understanding and accepting each other more as unique and different spirits- not separate/just unique and different and see that we can all have something to contribute no matter what we believe! ++Angela, there is a slight problem with consideration of your idea. Religion and Christianity go far beyond "different spiritual beliefs". Religion embraces dogmatic principles whereby the majority of followers of each religion embrace, condone or ratify the dogma involved. Many different religions avoid addressing Environmental responsibility. Some religions imply of the human race "multiply and be prosperous" (at the expense of the animals and the environment) and so we see overpopulation, land clearance on massive scales, pollution,intensive farming, extreme cruelty etc. All condoned by a religion that encourages humans to breed. Not only does the Earth suffer here but humans suffer. Such religious dogma leads to poor mothers in poor countries combing rubbish tips for food because contraception is discouraged. Other religions ask for "ritual slaughter" of animals while some cultures see anything as edible. Lately humans have started to fish at lower depths of the sea as we deplete the fish at higher levels. Fish that we would not have considered eating before are now the new targets. What is the answer? In my opinion a global acceptance (over time) of a one or two children limit on children per family and enforcement of recycling through controling manufacturers outputs and that everyone turns vegetarian/vegan (no more intensively farmed animals). The radical steps necessary to save what is left of the earth will be fought by many religions and capitalists and therefore it will be very hard to reconcile religious beliefs and Ecofeminism (in my view). Cheers, Marguerite
