The Bloomsbury Handbook of Religion and Nature

Hemispheric, religious, and philosophical diversity are desirable in any useful interdisciplinary anthology and these collected authors deliver a fresh, rigorous, and provocatively arranged treatment of the material. The result is a thoughtful and opportune contribution to this increasingly important area of scholarship. * Mark C.E. Peterson, Professor of Philosophy, University of Wisconsin Colleges, USA *
The editors are excellent, gifted scholars, and this book offers a unique slant of theorizing the category of the “four elements”. It gives expansive, provocative meanings to some fundamental categories that most humans take for granted as we go about our daily lives. * Carol Wayne White, Professor of the Philosophy of Religion, Bucknell University, USA *
The editors' elemental approach allows for a fresh take on the intersection of religion and nature, breathing new air into the field with a collection of essays spanning disciplines and traditions; the result will advance the conversation for years to come with its thoughtful, insightful, and challenging contributions. * Richard Bohannon, Instructor in the Department of Geography and Planning at St. Cloud State University, USA *
Some religion and nature scholars seek to understand the ways that religious beliefs and practices emerge from environmental systems, shape social systems, and then transform those environmental systems, and continue to do so, in the long, reciprocal process of bicultural evolution. Other urge new ways of thinking, feeling, acting within and toward these systems, hoping to deepen or evoke perceptions of the world as sacred and worthy of reverent care. Taking more the latter than the former approach, the contributors to this valuable volume provide new paths to consider when exploring the religion and nature field. * Bron Taylor, Professor of Religion, Nature and Environmental Ethics at The University of Florida, USA, and author of Dark Green Religion, Nature Spirituality and the Planetary Future and editor of Encyclopedia of Religion and Nature (Bloomsbury) and Journal for the Study of Religion, Nature and Culture. *
This fine contribution to the ongoing struggle to transform society towards environmental rationality and care is a serious collection of intelligent, thoughtful, and well written essays. * Roger S. Gottlieb, Professor of Philosophy, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, USA, and author Spirituality: What it Is and Why it Matters and Engaging Voices: Tales of Morality and Meaning in an Age of Global Warming *
This anthology provides a rich and varied source of readings, which would be a helpful addition to the resources for any course on religion and the natural world. As a collection it does serve well to stimulate thought about how we do – and could – relate meaningfully with the natural world. -- Claire Wanless * Journal for the Study of Religion, Nature and Culture *