Green Fire and Religious Spirit

Abstract

Spirituality is central to human experience. Spirituality, even within traditional religious practices, can be a source of motivation for environmentally aware lifestyles. To help this “green fire” burn well, experiential educators would do well to acknowledge religious beliefs and practices. Doing so would also avoid perpetuating the modern separation of the spiritual and the secular. Research in religious experience has tended to follow the categories of William James. This has value as James acknowledged the importance and experiential basis of spirituality and religion. However, both James and contemporary society tend to disassociate reason and religious experience. A “critical experientialism” is needed when it comes to considering spirituality. A summary of Christian activism and theology about environmental concerns is presented, in part to show the richness of one particular spiritual tradition in this area.