Religion and Nature in North America: An Introduction

Featuring a range of scholars in the field of religion and ecology, over 95 images, and a glossary of key terms, this book provides a survey of the key topics and religious traditions in the study of religion and nature in the North American context. Students are introduced to the ways in which religions have shaped our thinking about the many dimensions of nature and affected the socio-political and ecological landscapes of North America.

This overview explores the impacts of European colonialism on indigenous peoples, and the enslaving of black peoples, that still reverberate in contemporary issues of environmental justice and climate change, and the breadth of intersectional environmentalisms that include race, class, gender, sexuality, disability, and place. Contributing authors also explore the range of religious and spiritual values and sentiments that shape human engagement with the more-than-human natural worlds.

With guidance for further reading accompanying each chapter, the book is divided into three parts: Traditions, Embodiments and Identities, and Themes and Issues. Individual chapters include topics such as animals and religion, indigenous language and ecology, Asian religions, petrocultures and Christianity, and globalization and ethics.

The chapters in this book were first published in the digital collection Bloomsbury Religion in North America. Covering North America’s diverse religious traditions, this digital collection provides reliable and peer-reviewed articles and ebooks for students and instructors. Learn more and get access for your library at http: //www.theologyandreligiononline.com/bloomsbury-religion-in-north-america

Whitney Bauman is Professsor of Religious Studies at Florida International University, USA. He teaches and lectures on science and religion, religion and nature, and religion and queer theory.

Laurel D. Kearns is Professor of Ecology, Society and Religion at Drew University, USA.