On the seventh day God rested and thus completed his creation. Likewise man should rest on
the seventh day and every seven years leave the fields fallow to rest. If you like a divine
economic and environmental programme is encountered here. Subdue the earth is not to be
misunderstood as a mandate to subjugate and exploit but on the contrary as a call to preserve
God's very good creation. Its current explosiveness illustrates precisely this fundamental
relationship. Even secular circles now speak of the integrity of creation as a matter of
course. And in Muslim countries scholars and activists are preparing to launch a green Islam
based of course on Quranic principles. At the same time faith communities and churches with
their commitment to nature and to a just world of work are moving into the concrete focus of
public attention and are serious players in the current discourse. Reason enough then to get
to the bottom of the concept of environment in the world religions. How do religions position
themselves on the ecological question? What are the foundations of their decisions? And can
they make a significant contribution to the current problem and to the enquiries of many
people?
