The global environment as a religious issue: A sociological analysis

The article examines the possible sociological import of recent environmental concern by various religious actors and organizations. It argues that the rise to dominance of instrumental systems such as the world economy and global system of states has brought about globalization and the global spread of values like equality and progress. The holistic style of religion prevents it from developing as a parallel instrumental system but also suits it for addressing resultant problems like vast inequalities and environmental degradation. Both of these raise questions of theodicy and the meaning of the whole. We should therefore expect the conjunction of liberal religious concern with social justice and ecological issues. There is, however, also ambiguity as progress towards social justice may contradict preservation of the natural environment.