Caring for Creation: An Ecumenical Approach to the Environmental CrisisMany environmentalists believe that religion has been a major contributor to our ecological crisis, for Judeo-Christians have been taught that they have dominion over the earth and so do not consider themselves part of a biotic community. In this book a philosopher of environmental ethics acknowledges that religion may contribute to environmental problems but argues that religion can also play an important role in solving these problems--that religion can provide an ethical context that will help people to become sensitive to the environment and to elect leaders who are genuinely responsive to the ecological crisis. Examining a broad range of Western religious traditions--from conservative Christianity and orthodox Judaism to Goddess feminism and nature religion--Max Oelschlaeger provides a sociolinguistic analysis of their creation stories and finds environmentally positive aspects in each of them. He asserts that religious discourse in the public arena can offer a way for such environmental issues as biodiversity, pollution, and population to be addressed outside the realm of special-interest politics. And he urges local churches to make "caring for creation" a theme for worship in their services; the majority of Americans, says Oelschlaeger, will discover an environmental ethic only through their religious faith. |
Contents
Ecocrisis | 19 |
Religion and the Politics | 52 |
Religion | 84 |
The Spectrum | 118 |
The Role of the Church | 184 |
The Significance of Sacred Story | 216 |
Notes | 239 |
Other editions - View all
Caring for Creation: An Ecumenical Approach to the Environmental Crisis Max Oelschlaeger No preview available - 1994 |
Common terms and phrases
American argues argument behavior believe Bellah Bible biblical tradition biodiversity caring for creation chapter Christian citizens civil religion claims to ultimate climate heating CO₂ Cobb conservative context corporate cosmic created creation stories culture deep ecology democracy democratic diversity divine E. O. Wilson ecocatastrophe ecocrisis ecological crisis economic growth ecosystems ecotheology environment environmental agenda environmental crisis environmental ethic environmental ethicists environmental issues environmentalists evolutionary example existence global God's green politics human humankind institutions interest interpretation Judeo Judeo-Christian language of utilitarian legitimating narrative liberal lives manage planet Earth meaning memes metaphor of caring metaphysical modern moral movement nature Paehlke paradigm paradox of environmentalism philosophical pollution possibility problem public church public policy reality relation religious discourse role Rorty sacred canopy scientific scientists secular social sociobiology sociolinguistic solidarity solution species theology theory tion traditions of faith truth ultimate knowledge utilitarian individualism values voters Western Wilson