7. Environmental ethics and religion

Abstract

‘Environmental ethics and religion’ focuses on the impact of theistic religions and the related tradition of stewardship on environmental ethics. It is widely believed that Western forms of religion have fostered an anthropocentric attitude to nature, and with it a despotic and domineering approach. Lynn White’s (1967) influential attack on Judaeo-Christian attitudes to nature is discussed, which finds in them the roots of our ecological problems, and proceeds to expound and defend the stance of stewardship adopted by Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. The striking contributions of other religions of the world—including Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism—to the care of the environment are also considered.