Dark Green Religion: Nature Spirituality and the Planetary Future

Bron Taylor

Published by University of California Press 2009

Dark Green Religion

Nature Spirituality and the Planetary Future

Bron Taylor

https://doi.org/10.1525/9780520944459

Overview
Contents

About this book

In this innovative and deeply felt work, Bron Taylor examines the evolution of "green religions" in North America and beyond: spiritual practices that hold nature as sacred and have in many cases replaced traditional religions. Tracing a wide range of groups—radical environmental activists, lifestyle-focused bioregionalists, surfers, new-agers involved in "ecopsychology," and groups that hold scientific narratives as sacred—Taylor addresses a central theoretical question: How can environmentally oriented, spiritually motivated individuals and movements be understood as religious when many of them reject religious and supernatural worldviews? The "dark" of the title further expands this idea by emphasizing the depth of believers' passion and also suggesting a potential shadow side: besides uplifting and inspiring, such religion might mislead, deceive, or in some cases precipitate violence. This book provides a fascinating global tour of the green religious phenomenon, enabling readers to evaluate its worldwide emergence and to assess its role in a critically important religious revolution.

Author / Editor information

TaylorBron:

Bron Taylor is Professor of Religion and Nature at the University of Florida. He is Editor-in-Chief of the multi-volume Encyclopedia of Religion and Nature and the Journal for the Study of Religion, Nature and Culture, and Editor of Ecological Resistance Movements: The Global Emergence of Radical and Popular Environmentalism.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
Preface Publicly Available Download PDF	ix
Readers’ Guide Publicly Available Download PDF	xiii
Chapter 1. Introducing Religion and Dark Green Religion Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
Chapter 2. Dark Green Religion Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	13
Chapter 3. Dark Green Religion in North America Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	42
Chapter 4. Radical Environmentalism Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	71
Chapter 5. Surfing Spirituality Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	103
Chapter 6. Globalization with Predators and Moving Pictures Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	127
Chapter 7. Globalization in Arts, Sciences, and Letters Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	155
Chapter 8. Terrapolitan Earth Religion Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	180
Chapter 9. Conclusion: Dark Green Religion and the Planetary Future Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	200
Afterword on Terminology Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	223
Acknowledgments Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	225
Appendix: Excerpts with Commentary on the Writings of Henry David Thoreau Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	227
Notes Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	249
Bibliography Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	299
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	323