Here are student summaries of fall 2024 MCJD dialogical surveys with members of the First A.M.E. Zion congregation. Click on any title for details, then return to see all titles.
Change in Environment: How Religion Shapes a View
Event: First AME ZionInterviewer: Elsa
Whom did you interview?
I had the pleasure of talking to Phillis, a lifelong member of the First AME Congregation. Phillis grew up here, with parents who moved from the South in the 1940s in the hope of a better future. Portland at the time was heavily segregated, redlined with housing, and home to many sundown towns. Racial segregation was less than in the South, but it was still very much a part of everyday life. Phillis has always been a member of a church, although, for a few years, she left First AME Zion. She shared that even when she travels, she always makes it a priority to find a church to attend for the duration of her vacation. Being a part of the congregation, she has always felt as if she found a family within her community, where religion provided a sense of home they could all share.
How did your EcoTypes and SDG priorities compare?Much to my surprise, the majority of our EcoType axes leaned similarly. I think the major difference I saw between us was a different prioritization of the human future. We felt similarly about the natural beauty and independence of nature, mostly talking about how humanity has disrupted the balance that nature inherently has. It was interesting to consider how she felt about the future of the environment since she has seen much more life than I have. It seems that she felt more strongly about creating a world where humanity can exist within nature without destroying it, one where we recognize the independence of natural ways. I think her view was more direct and pointed than mine, with much of her life in the church she wants that way of existence to persist. I think my view tends to have a larger scope, considering the existence of humanity in all senses. There was, of course, a difference on the Knowledge axis as well. Despite our differences, we both felt that it is important to spiritually consider environmental issues. I came from a less orthodox idea of this, focusing on the ideas of Paganism and the individual spirit within nature. She viewed this more from a religious standpoint, seeing beauty in God’s creation and the need to protect that. In the end, we both fell under Small Green Steps (O).
What larger MCJD lessons did you learn?This interaction was incredibly eye-opening. It is not often I have been able to have more civilized conversations with religious individuals, simply due to my history with religion. It seemed that the conversation with Phillis happened with an underlying knowledge that we felt differently about religion. This difference didn’t get in the way of our priorities and understanding of environmental change, we both felt strongly that change must happen to ensure any kind of future for humanity and the Earth combined. In past experiences, this hasn’t been true. I often struggle to talk to my religious family about environmental issues, as they often turn to deny their existence at all. It was refreshing to hear something different, where religion and scientific knowledge coexisted more. I think it is also incredibly important to look deeper at both of our priorities. I lean more towards the preservation of nature, looking more at the Half-Earth ideas would feel more in line with my opinions. Phillis more imagines a future of natural coexistence, where humanity isn’t entirely separate from nature and human preservation takes a high priority. Despite these very difference stances on human place, we agree that change is necessary with a priority on the environment.