I found Gardner's articles on religion and sustainability an interesting read. I grew up in a very religious family with both of my parents being first generation converts. This meant that I was raised believing religion is not only something you "believe", it is also something you do. As an adult this theoretical perspective has influenced the way I live on a daily basis because my actions are the truest manifestation of my beliefs.
Keeping a sabbath is a religious ritual that has a direct correlation to ecological sustainability. The biblical "Children of Israel" were for a time a vast agrarian society, and their laws included provisions to let the earth rest (let portions of their farms lie fallow) in much the same way as they themselves were encouraged to rest. Sabbatical years were also celebrated (once every seven years)during which debts were forgiven, slaves were freed, and many other practices aimed at enriching the land and community were followed.
These historical practices are important to me, especially from an ideological standpoint, because even though I don't personally keep the vast majority of sabbatical laws (there are a lot of them) my mind has been trained to view the earth as a community member and not only a tool for my personal sustenance.
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