Religion and Ecological Crisis Christian and Muslim Perspectives from John B. Cobb and Seyyed Hossein Nasr

Preface

Foreword

1 Introduction: Orientation, Research Methodology and Significances of the Study

2 The Relevance of Religions to Environmental Issues

3 John B. Cobb’s Christian Eco-theological Views and Environmental Issues

4 Seyyed Hossein Nasr’s Islamic Eco-religious Views and the Environmental Crisis

5 Comparison and Appraisal of the Eco-Religious Understanding of John B. Cobb and Seyyed Hossein Nasr

6 Conclusion: Summary of the Study and Recommendations

Biography

Md. Abu Sayem is an Associate Professor in World Religions and Culture at the University of Dhaka. His research interest includes religions and environmental issues, human responsibilities to nature, eco-religions, eco-theology, eco-spirituality, ecological equilibrium, moral traditions and environmental sustainability, ecological justice, eco-Islam, multifaith dialogue on ecological crisis, environmental ethics, multifaith initiatives for reducing environmental problems, religions and environmental problems in Bangladesh, etc.

"Religious voices must be included in the global response to the ongoing environmental crisis and impending climate catastrophe, which threaten all life on earth. People of faith, under the influence of certain theological dogma, have contributed to the current situation, but by reflecting on the human condition and sacredness of life and natural processes, religious devotees may also play a significant role in stemming the tide of ecological degradation and possibly reversing some destructive trends. This book invokes two prominent scholars – one Christian, one Muslim – who have been warning us about the doom we face if we do not change our ways, but whose admonitions have gone largely unheard by the general public and even the majority of their own respective co-religionists. Md. Abu Sayem’s ambitious yet well-intentioned effort to bring the views of John B. Cobb and Seyyed Hossein Nasr into dialogue on the most important problems of our time will not save the world by itself but may present a useful step in increasing awareness of the imminent need to act."

James D. Frankel, Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Director of the Centre for the Study of Islamic Culture, Chinese University of Hong Kong

"This book is an excellent study of two leading figures in the field of religion and ecology. Cobb and Nasr each made significant contributions from Christianity and Islam respectively. Md. Abu Sayem has created a valuable analysis of their thought that includes a wonderful balance of appreciation and critique." 

Mary Evelyn Tucker, Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology

"For more than a half century now scholars have been pointing out that the worsening environmental situation originates in a crisis not of technology but of values, of which religions remain the primary source. This book provides a sympathetic yet critical assessment comparing the contributions made by a pair of environmentalist thinkers representing the world's two largest religious traditions, Christianity and Islam. The author's choice to focus on the works of Christian theologian John B. Cobb and Muslim philosopher Seyyed Hossein Nasr not only highlights the seminal contributions of these two important individuals, but helps to illuminate more general issues pertaining to the problems and possibilities inherent in the project of deriving an ecological reading of the two religious frameworks that inform their thought." 

Richard Foltz, Professor of Religions and Cultures, Concordia University, Montréal, Canada

"This monograph is focused on a critical examination of the forces of economism and scientism that has subjected planet Earth to a triple crisis involving climate change, loss of biodiversity and all-consuming pollution. Abu Sayem has dug deep into John B. Cobb’s eco-theological vision and Seyyed Hossein Nasr’s eco-spiritual vision and helped us to make sense of the approaches, the former from a Christian perspective and the second from an Islamic, to get to grips with our current predicament. In this he has succeeded admirably and I commend this work not only to future budding researchers who may wish to engage with this subject but also to the lay public who may recognise in this approach the hope it can give to saving us from the emerging enormities." 

Fazlun Khalid, founder Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences

"Given the huge impact of religions on humanity across cultural spheres, the urgency of exploring eco-religious perspectives should be abundantly evident in the 21st century. In Religion and Ecological Crisis, Md. Abu Sayem faces the challenge head on in the case of two world religions, Christianity and Islam, and analyses John B. Cobb’s "ecological model" and Seyyed Hossein Nasr’s "sanctity of life" model, respectively. Furthermore, he discusses the pros and cons of these models in a comparative manner, illuminating their potential to make a difference both in the field of ecological sustainability and inter-religious dialogue. I would warmly recommend this book to anyone involved in either field of study, or both." 

Ville Päivänsalo, ThD, Senior Lecturer, Diaconia University of Applied Sciences (Diak), Helsinki

"Congratulations to Dr. Sayem for this important and much needed work, especially as the world is looking for different means to address the multitude of crises, we are living through including the triple planetary crisis of climate change, ecosystem degradation and pollution. What is important about this work is the repeated messages by both Cobb and Nasr that the root causes to our current challenges is an ethical, moral, and spiritual one. This has been the focus of recent work by the Faith for Earth Initiative of UNEP and has seen many conferences focusing on this issue. Dr. Sayem’s work is certainly valuable in providing much food for thought. What is also interesting in Dr. Sayem’s work is the conclusions that we are basically in one boat together regardless of our religious background. This has been demonstrated by the common conclusions of both Cobb and Nasr, although using two different approaches. While the work on religions and ecology has grown substantially over the past few years, it is notable that the voices of religions are still not too loud or not enough as opposed to secular ones, especially at international and intergovernmental fora. The work of Dr. Sayem is a substantive addition and contribution to making the case for inter and intra-faith dialogue and cooperation for the benefit of the people and the planet. Thank you for this important and rich monograph." 

Dr. Iyad Abu Moghli, the founder and director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Faith for Earth Initiative

"This valuable monograph compares the eco-theological approaches of the first pioneers of ecotheology in Christianity and Islam respectively which is to say the North American process theologian John B. Cobb, who taught at Claremont Colleges, California, and the Iranian Sufi philosopher Seyyed Hossein Nasr who taught at Harvard University. Professor Sayem provides a fascinating inter-religious profile of Cobb and Nasr which is both expository and helpfully critical in tone. There is no other study along these lines, the book is very readable, and I highly commend it." 

Michael Northcott, Professor Emeritus of Ethics at the University of Edinburgh

"Dr. Md. Abu Sayem’s present work is an excellent introduction to two world class thinkers, Seyyed Hossein Nasr from the Islamic tradition and John B. Cobb from the Christian tradition, as they understand the root causes of the ongoing environmental crisis and envision the ways out of it. People of all religions stand to benefit from the many profound perspectives of Nasr and Cobb shared in this scholarly work." 

Dr. Tarik M. Quadir, author of Traditional Islamic Environmentalism: The Vision of Seyyed Hossein Nasr