Bron Taylor Questions - Introduction to Religion and Nature Encyclopedia

1. On page 10 of the introduction, Taylor defines three words for us that allows him to move safely in the religion vs. nature debate with what he calls "open operational definition[s]." Look over his "self-consciously vague" definitions for religion, nature and nature religion decide whether or not you would agree with these definitions.  Is it a true platform for diving into discussion concerning religion and nature? 

2. What are the four generalizations that Taylor makes of human perspectives between nature and religion (pg 14)?  How do these generalizations apply to the major religions of the world today?   

3.  What do you believe has the most influence on the other, nature or religion (pg 16)?  

4.  At the bottom of page 16, where Taylor discusses how religious beliefs become intertwined with ecological knowledge, he brings up whether or not indigenous people were environmentally sustainable.  What are the two opposing camps and given our last weeks reading by Hatley, do you think close proximity to the environment is still key in fixing ecological insensitivity? 

5.  Paganism, mountaineering, gardening, satanism, (dolphins?), the New Age movement has defined itself in opposition to major religions that can be seen as indifferent to environmental issues.  What are your thoughts on instituting or re-instituting religions for the betterment of the environment?  Could it work?  How does Taylor's vague description of religion validate it?  How is this manifestation of religion different from the one we know? 

6.  Pg 19  Look over Taylor's discussion of "survival value" and environmental values being gained through human adaption to environment.  What psychological and cognitive arguments were made to prove that religion is, in part, influenced by survival strategies?   

7.  "Such views, that religion could be both a cause and a solution to environmental decline, precipitated much of the ferment over religion and nature throughout the environmental age." pg 20 

     Do you believe that religion will be the solution? Do you think it's the problem? What does the new religion look like?  

Note:  Taylor divides his discussion of  "The Evolution of Interest in Religion and Nature" into several categories:

a. "Religion and Nature in the American Conservation Movement" (starting on p. x)

b. "Religion and Nature from Seventeenth Century Europe to the Environmental Age" (starting on xii)

c. Religion and Nature  in the Environmental Age (starting on xiv)

d.  World Religions and Environmentalism

e.  Nature Religions and Environmentalism

f.  Theories on the Natural Origins and Persistence of Religion

What are the important persons and issues he covers for each?