This book presents an ethnographic study of environmental Christian networks involved in the climate and transition towns movements. Maria Nita examines the ways in which green Christians engage with their communities and networks, as well as other activist networks in the broader green movement. The book interrogates key categories in the field of religious studies which intersect activist concerns, including spirituality, community, and ritual. In this sociological exploration the author uses existing research tools, such as discourse analysis, and proposes new theoretical models for the investigation of network expansion, religious identity, and relationality through ritual. Nita examines the mechanisms underlying the greening of religion and thus offers an in-depth analysis of prayers, rituals, and religious practices, such as praying through painting, fasting for the planet, and sharing the green Eucharist in or with nature.

Autorentext

Maria Nita is currently a tutor at the University of Wales Trinity St David, UK. She has lectured on religious studies at Bath Spa University, the University of Gloucestershire, and Oxford Brookes University, UK, where she continues to be an associate lecturer in the Department of History, Philosophy, and Religion.

Inhalt
Introduction.- 1. Christian Environmentalism: Mapping the Field of Green Christianity.- 2. Methods for the Investigation of Christian Environmentalist Networks.- 3. Theoretical Models for Studying Christian Environmental Networks.- 4. The Green Movement: Climate and Transition.- 5. Christian Environmental Networks.- 6. Profiling Green Christian Activists: Merging Green and Faith Identities.- 7. Spiritual Exercises and Community Building.- 8. Green Ritual: Moving Mountains and the Green Eucharist.- 9. Relating to the Planet: Green Prayer and Fasting for the Planet.- Conclusions.- Bibliography.