Religion and Environmentalism Ecology Paper

The Challenge:

Dr. Tia Kolbaba of Rutgers University offers the following challenge to students in her religion and globalization course:

“Everywhere you look, religions—and religious controversies—are shaping our world. A powerful source of beliefs, moral claims, and cultural practices, religions profoundly influence our contemporary world. For some, religion is held up as the key solution to various social ills such as poverty and racial tension. For others, religion is a major part of the problem. Religion generates critiques of inequality and capitalism while others invoke it to celebrate the free market and individual wealth. And, religious concerns shape views on policy issues as diverse as samesex marriage, climate change, and government-sponsored healthcare. From challenges to evolution to debates on stem-cell research, religions juxtapose faith and modern science. Religions likewise factor prominently in various military conflicts around the globe and in the long-running debates over the proper relationship between religion and the state.”

This essay asks you to consider Dr. Kolbaba’s assessment and to reflect on the problems and solutions associated with religion in the 21st century using the following topic:

Topic: Religion and Environmentalism/Ecology These two articles offer different approaches to how religion can make a positive contribution to the climate crisis. Which argument would you claim is the better approach and why? You must create your own thesis statement in support of this position, and this means providing rational and academic arguments to support your thesis. You must include Young in your support.

Required Sources:

1. William A. Young, The World’s Religions: Worldviews and Contemporary Issues, Chapter 15, “The Ecological and Economic Crises—Humans and Resources.”

2. Article 1: posted separately on eClass under Final Exam Mon Aug 8

3. Article 2: posted separately on eClass under Final Exam Mon Aug 8

The assigned articles offer you arguments and assertions to weigh, analyze and critique. William Young offers a thoughtful commentary to help you ground your analysis, and the articles provide some disagreement for you to evaluate regarding the question of how religion can make a positive contribution to the climate crisis. Consider the theses and supporting arguments of your authors and formulate your own argument using strong and appropriate evidence with proper documentation. Remember: as outlined in Essay Requirements above, you may not use external sources of any kind. Please use the editions provided by the course on eClass.