Environmental engagement and spirituality in the context of religious disaffiliation

Abstract

The relationship between religion and environmental attitudes/behaviour has long been philosophically debated. One question receiving scholarly attention in quantitative social science is whether Judeo-Christian religions have an inherently negative effect on environmental concern, given their premise that humanity has dominion over nature, or conversely whether they stimulate environmental protection, given their ethic of stewardship. Empirical results are diverse and the relationship seems to vary in size and direction, depending on definitions and the method of investigation adopted. But an important phenomenon which has received far less attention (arguably because it is harder to measure) is that of spirituality, within/out the context of a religion. [excerpt]