Why do some people feel guilty (I mean, really morally stained) if they don’t recycle? Why do others think that certain economic policies can save the world?
In my recent post “Do Environmentalists Want Us Dead?” I referred to a recent book by Robert Nelson called The New Holy Wars. Nelson argues that economics and environmentalism have become “secular religions” for many of their adherents because they rest on certain unexamined assumptions and are put forward as comprehensive solutions to many or all of the problems of life.
Earlier this month, the Independent Institute, which published Nelson’s book, hosted a forum titled “Economic Religion vs. Environmental Religion in America.” Panelists included Nelson, Steven Hayward of the American Enterprise Institute, and Max Stackhouse of Princeton Theological Seminary. Among other things, the panelists discussed the compatibility (or lack thereof) of these secular religions with Christianity.
You can find a transcript of the event, as well as links to audio and video archives, at this link. Enjoy!
Pingback: More on Environmental Religion | The Western Tradition