This story begins about five years ago. One day, Australian scientist Guy Lane was sailing along the coast when a bird lands on his boat. For a few minutes they both looked at each other and rested side by side under the same sun. Soon the bird flew away and disappeared into the vastness of the ocean. “I just had a spiritual and ecological epiphany,” Lane explains.
“I realized that all living things are part of the same biosphere and we are connected to nature,” he adds. This is where the scientist begins to outline the idea of a new religion focused on improving human empathy for the planet. “It’s called ‘Vita,’” Lane explains. This Sunday, we have our first talk about this new faith from the Dubai climate summit where he spoke twice.
“All religions believe in the existence of a supreme being. For us, that is the Earth”
This scientist, who has devoted the last twenty years of his career to raising awareness about the impact of the climate crisis on the world, comments, “All religions believe in the existence of a higher being. For us, it is the Earth.” Their faith is actually based on nine commandments, which include concepts such as the need to be in contact with nature and to understand it. “We are part of the same whole” and living sustainably.
“I don’t have a Bible, but I have a manifesto of about twelve pages containing all the spiritual principles. Everything else is scientific studies,” he adds.
Lane does not identify himself as the prophet of this new faith. Nor as a chosen one. “I’m just someone who puts the pieces together “and now he wants to speak out about this new religion focused on saving the planet,” he explains. His call at the final stage of the Dubai summit negotiations is clear. The world needs to divest from fossil fuels as soon as possible, greatly reducing greenhouse gas emissions and regenerating natural areas on the planet. This science “This is the only way to restore balance with nature,” comments the man, holding up a short pamphlet containing the spiritual guide of this new faith.
50 million believers
So how can this new religion save the planet? “We need mass enlightenment. An ecological enlightenment that allows us to understand the danger “What are the issues we are exposed to and the importance of making structural changes to sustain life on Earth,” Lane explains. His goal is to persuade approximately 50 million people worldwide. “Real change, especially those who have the power to promote it politically and economically,” he explains. “Only in this way can we move away from the trend towards the abyss into which the climate crisis is dragging us, and thus save humanity and all living things on the planet,” said this scientist.
“We need to enter a new ‘green age’ where all other living things on the planet can live in harmony.”
The purpose of this religion is nothing else. Promoting “attitudinal change in millions of people” and this encourages a more assertive fight against the climate crisis.
“We need to enter a new ‘green age’ in which humans and all other living things on the planet can live in harmony for millennia,” adds this environmentalist, whose far-from-esoteric propositions are based on many traditional teachings. The most important scientific reports and articles on ecology ever published. “Our assumptions are not abstract, based on studies. “We have no doubt about the importance of this fight,” he adds.
Currently, ‘Vita’ still does not have an official follower list. Also, there is no place of worship to go to. “I have been laying the foundations of this religion for the last three years. I have not yet started to spread it to make the world understand the importance of all this,” he comments. In this sense, Lane speaks of this new faith as a “philosophical and intellectual movement” called to mobilize consciences.
“You can be Christian, Muslim, Buddhist and atheist and still be a part of that religion.”, To add. “The important thing is that we are all in the same boat,” he adds hopefully from the corridors of the climate summit.