Abstract
Environmentalism has become an important contemporary part of many cultures, but the problematic foundations of this movement, including religion and race, must be explored to better understand the current movement. With emphasis on various indigenous cultures, European colonization, and the enslavement of Africans, including their various religions and nature-oriented perspectives, over the past half millennia, modern environmentalism can be better understood. By examining various histories, I have sought to synthesize various worldviews to gain a comprehensive understanding of environmental history. Wilderness has evolved from being perceived as satanic to sublime to necessary for human life. Likewise, conservation developed from essentially religious roots, where park creation, forest preservation, and agriculture improvement were paramount, to the modern environmental movement, where the implications have substantially grown. Unfortunately, much of the environmental movement is rooted in racism, as colonization and dominion led to manifest destiny. As the environmental crisis evolved, many solutions have been put forth, including homesteading, dark green religion, civil earth religion, and island civilizations. The future is uncertain, but history has shown an increasing care for the environment, life-sustaining systems, and cultural diversity.
Presenters
Avalon Jade TheisenPhD Student and Graduate Teaching Assistant, School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies, Arizona State University, Arizona, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Environmental Humanities, Religious Studies, Critical Race Studies, Indigenous, Environmental History
