A New Religious Ecology Curriculum for Teenagers

A local interfaith advocacy group for ecological issues has created an educational tool for teenagers to develop their thoughts about God and their own participation in the environment:

GreenFaith and The Story of Stuff Project have teamed up to create, Let There Be ... Stuff?, a six-session curriculum for teenagers that explores the relationship between their consumption, their faith, and the health of the planet. GreenFaith and The Story of Stuff Project are offering free copies of the curriculum - a $35 value - to the first 1,000 houses of worship that register. Versions are available for Jewish and Christian teenagers.

To register to receive your free copy, click here now.

The curriculum is based on The Story of Stuff, a 20-minute web film that takes viewers on a provocative and eye-opening tour of the environmental and human costs of US consumer culture - tracking where our stuff comes from and where it goes when we throw it away. Over 10 million people worldwide have viewed the film, making it one of the most widely viewed environmental-themed short films ever. In May 2009, the film was featured on the front page of the New York Times, which called it a “sleeper hit in classrooms across the country.” Read the article or watch The Story of Stuff.

'“The Story of Stuff delivers a body blow to consumerism,” said the Rev. Fletcher Harper, GreenFaith's Executive Director. “For years, we've been bombarded with the message that we find fulfillment through consuming - a fundamentally anti-religious message. This film shows why this idea flunks, and the curriculum helps teens create a positive response.” “Annie Leonard is a modern-day prophet,” said Rabbi Lawrence Troster, GreenFaith's Rabbinic scholar. “People of all faiths need to hear her message and mobilize their congregations in response.”

“The Story of Stuff Project has received thousands of messages from religious groups since we released the film, revealing a deep resonance between their values and the message of The Story of Stuff,” said Annie Leonard, Director of the Project. “This curriculum will not only help young people explore what their faith asks of them, it will help them put their beliefs into action.”

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