Overview

This book is concerned with the argument that religious traditions are inherently environmentally friendly. Yet in a developing country such as India, the majority of people cannot afford to put the 'Earth first' regardless of the extent to which this idea can be supported by their religious traditions. Does this mean that the linking of religion and environmental concerns is a strategy more suited to contexts where people have a level of material security that enables them to think and act like environmentalists? This question is approached through a series of case studies from Britain and India. The book concludes that there is a tension between the 'romantic' ecological discourse common among many western activists and scholars, and a more pragmatic approach, which is often found in India. The adoption of environmental causes by the Hindu Right in India makes it difficult to distinguish genuine concern for the environment from the broader politics surrounding the idea of a Hindu rashtra (nation). This raises a further level of analysis, which has not been provided in other studies.

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9781138265158

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Reviews

'Biodivinity and Biodiversity is a critical exploration of religious environmentalism with reference to environmental practice. Covering underlying strands of thought, current discourses and situated acts in the United Kingdom and India, it will provide valuable food for thought for those working in the fields of ecology and religious studies.' Contemporary South Asia '[This book] includes important insights into the admittedly grim realities faced by environmental activists in India today.' Journal of Contemporary Religion

Author Information

Dr Emma Tomalin is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Leeds, UK.

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