Environmentalism in the Religious Field

Abstract

The chapter compares the engagement of different religious groups in Switzerland in terms of their environmental commitment. The author argues that the differences in the commitment of these groups results mainly from their position in the religious field. Within the religious field, the established groups hold a privileged position. By contrast, the non-established groups seek to overtake this position and, therefore, struggle with the established religious actors about different types of symbolic capital and over the lay audience to whom it is marketed. The chapter discusses the distinction of established and non-established religious groups based on empirical data from Switzerland. In doing so, it draws on interview material with representatives of religious groups of different traditions (congregations and denominations). The chapter focuses on structural and formal aspects. First, the chapter explores whether there are differences in environmental commitment between established and non-established groups. Second, it analyzes to what extent this commitment can be explained by employing this distinction. Finally, it discusses whether environmental commitment serves as a symbolic capital and plays a role in the competition within the religious field.