“Food and faith” leader: Environmentalists shouldn’t fear religion

[cbayer]

http://www.salon.com/2013/08/07/food_and_faith_leader_environmentalists_shouldnt_fear_religion/

WEDNESDAY, AUG 7, 2013 7:21 PM UTC

“Food and faith” leader: Environmentalists shouldn’t fear religion
Community gardens are "non-threatening for someone who's not part of any faith," author Fred Bahnson tells Salon

BY LINDSAY ABRAMS


(Credit: J Chris Carmichael)

Gardens have had a place in the Judeo-Christian tradition from the very beginning, yet the organic food movement has more often been seen as a secular endeavor. Enter Fred Bahnson, “minister of the land,” a Duke Divinity School graduate turned organic farmer who spent four years leading a community garden through his North Carolina parish. In his book “Soil and Sacrament,” which came out this week, Bahnson explores the burgeoning “food and faith” movement, which approaches issues like organic agriculture, feeding the hungry and social justice from a spiritual perspective. “The command to care for soil is our first divinely appointed vocation,” he writes, “yet in our zeal to produce cheap, abundant food we have shunned it.”

Bahnson spoke with Salon about his book and the connection between what we eat and what we believe. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What would you say is the essence of the food and faith movement and what do you mean when you say it could change the food system?

I think the essence of the food and faith movement is about connection. It’s about reconnecting with the sources of our food, it’s about reconnecting with each other through community, and it’s about reconnecting with our faith.

Obviously that implies disconnection in all those areas. Speaking of the larger food movement, I think that sense of wanting that connection is also true. But I think the larger food movement stops short. Yes, we need to switch from industrial to organic agriculture; yes, we need healthy food access in food deserts; we need food sovereignty rather than a corporate-controlled food system. But what’s missing is a recognition that food is intimately connected to our spiritual wellbeing as well, and unless we acknowledge that, we’re going to end up having truncated conversations.

more at link

[TlalocW]

1. His emphasis on who should fear whom is misplaced

More often than not the attitude of evangelical Christians is that Jesus is due back anyday now so we can treat the Earth however we want to.

TlalocW

[cbayer]

2. There is actually a growing movement within some evangelical communities

that has taken another tack. They believe that the earth is a gift given to us by god and that it is our responsibility to care for it. Their environmental activism is a good thing.

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. Off-topic: is there a reason for Salon to use a photo taken as if the reader is falling over?

The man is standing upright, parallel to the trees. It's the kind of picture that makes it look like the photographer is unable to keep his balance.

[cbayer]

4. Lol!! I noticed that as well and found it a little disorienting.

I think it's just "fancy photography".

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. The irony is, that kind of thing used to get a patronising sticker on your developed photos

with something like "hint: keep your camera steady and align the horizon before taking your picture".

[cbayer]

6. Either before my time or it was a UK thing.

But I do remember taking in my film and waiting anxiously to get my pictures back, even if they were generally awful.

[okasha]

7. He also let all the highlights

blow out on whatever that stuff is behind the guy--to the point you can't tell whatever that stuff is, actually is.

Needs to go back to Photo 101.

[dimbear]

8. Religious folks have a mixed record on feeding the hungry, but on making sure there are plenty to

be hungry they score very high. Environmentalists who don't fear that aren't functioning very alertly in the real world.

[trotsky]

9. So, religious proselytizing is OK when done to promote environmentalism?

"what’s missing is a recognition that food is intimately connected to our spiritual wellbeing as well, and unless we acknowledge that, we’re going to end up having truncated conversations"

This guy believes organic food is good for his soul. Great. How is trying to convince others of that particular religious belief any different than going door to door with the Book of Mormon? Or legislating against abortion because of one's religious beliefs?