The New Holy Wars: Economic Religion Versus Environmental Religion in Contemporary America

by Robert H. Nelson

The present debate raging over global warming exemplifies the clash between two competing public theologies. On one side, environmentalists warn of certain catastrophe if we do not take steps now to reduce the release of greenhouse gases; on the other side, economists are concerned with whether the benefits of actions to prevent higher temperatures will be worth the high costs. Questions of the true and proper relationship of human beings and nature are as old as religion. Today, environmentalists regard human actions to warm the climate as an immoral challenge to the natural order, while economists seek to put all of nature to maximum use for economic growth and other human benefits.

Robert Nelson interprets such contemporary struggles as battles between the competing secularized religions of economics and environmentalism. The outcome will have momentous consequences for us all. This book probes beneath the surface of the two movements' rhetoric to uncover their fundamental theological commitments and visions.

Genres: Religion

416 pages, Hardcover

First published December 11, 2009

About the author

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There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name

Reviews

[Daniel Barrows · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating book. 3 stars for readability. Nelson uses "Protestant" vs. "Catholic" and similar terms as ideal types painted with a broad brush, which sometimes means the historical realities were contorted somewhat to fit neatly into his schema, as well discussed by Jordan Ballor in Calvin Theological Journal . However, this book raises fascinating questions and concepts that make it well worth reading. After reading this book, every ideology seems like a secularized religious tradition. This perspective on social discourse is fascinating and useful.

Some useful links:

* Official book website
* Article by the author making similar points to this book in more concise fashion: "Economics and Environmentalism: Belief Systems at Odds," The Independent Review, Volume 17, Number 1, Summer 2012

[Shauli Chaudhuri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stimulating insight into the possible ethical and philosophical drivers underlying the economic growth and environmental protection advocacy positions in America.

[Matt Warren · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book has very interesting subject matter. I wish the professor that wrote it had turned his outline over to a professional writer, one that cared as much or more about the reader as he did about the subject matter. It reads like what I imagine a doctoral thesis would read like. If the professor's conversation style is the same as his writing style I doubt he's ever invited to parties. After reading a sentence that employed the word "thus" twice I was tempted to read on to see if he worked 3 or more into a sentence.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a bit difficult to read, though filled with a lot of good information related to how economics and environmentalism are competing religions in this day and age. There is a lot of technical jargon and it can be a bit circuitous, but worth the trudge through it. I liked the asides where he looked at Africa, the spotted owl, and other issues in closer detail. This book really makes you think about your own thought processes and why you believe things are the way they are.

[Annie Clapp · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read this book and met the author. He focuses mostly on environmentalism instead of economics and it was extremely boring to me.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent commentary on the ways in which environmentalist and economic pursuits are intertwined. Strangely, both can co-exist and become symbiotic. Upon Author Nelson's suggestion I'll be reading William Cronon, ed., Uncommon Ground: Rethinking the Human Place in Nature next.

[Jordan Ballor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just sent a review of this to Calvin Theological Journal for the Fall issue of this year. In general a helpful book, but it has some shortcomings.