Religious Environmentalism and Secular Society

Abstract

Chapter 2 discusses the arguments on the opposing views of the secularists in terms of modern society and traditional religion regarding religion's involvement in the public realm. Secularists’ notable views on the involvement of religion in modern democracy is examined here. The chapter states that religion, in essence, is undemocratic and repressive. It also disucsses the idea that religious beliefs are irrational, and thus have no place in the organization of society; religious values are, at best, peripheral to environmentalism, which should be shaped by science not faith; an involvement in politics is bad for religion; and religion has become increasingly irrelevant to modern life. Religious environmentalism is one part of a global movement that seeks to integrate the most creative, humane, and hopeful parts of both secular society and religious tradition.