The responsibility of explaining nature has shifted to science in the 21st century, but it used to be a primary concern of religion for millennia.

• Scholars like Clarence Glacken (1967) discussed the intricate relationship between religion and nature.
• They identified two main views:
  • Organicist: sees nature as sacred with intrinsic value.
  • Mechanist: views Earth as a mere stop on the way to a heavenly realm.
• This highlights how religion can be both a problem and a solution in environmental issues.

Example: Consider climate change - while some religious beliefs may discourage responsible behavior (e.g., "the world is temporary, so why care?"), others promote stewardship of the Earth (e.g., "God created the Earth for us to care for, not to destroy.")

Lynn White (1967) suggested that Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) were harmful to the environment.

This led to a greater interest in non-Western religious traditions like Buddhism and Paganism, viewed as more environmentally sensitive.

However, Yi Fu Tuan (1968) disputed these claims, noting that environmental damage predates Christianity and happens worldwide, not just in Western civilization.

Some anthropologists, such as Julian Steward and Marvin Harris, view religions as sets of adaptations to specific environments, guiding towards successful adaptations - a concept dubbed "survival of the most sustainable".

This view, however, can oversimplify complex realities and ignore the negative environmental impact of certain cultural practices.

Example: The elephant population decline due to demand in some traditional medicine systems is a stark contradiction to the notion of "survival of the most sustainable".

Some religious and spiritual traditions like Animism, Paganism, and Pantheism have historically been more environmentally sensitive.

These were once seen as primitive or evil, but Romanticism and philosophers like Jean Jacques Rousseau, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe have offered a counter-perspective.

Example: Indigenous Peoples, often seen as nature-friendly, embody the "noble savage" concept - beings outside of civilization who embody humanity's innate goodness.

Paganism, often associated with nature reverence, has seen a revival, particularly with growing environmental concerns.

Neopagans aim to establish defined religions with nature-based spiritual paths, often focusing on a sacred feminine principle.

Example: Similar to Deep Ecology and Ecofeminism, Paganism advocates for a harmonious relationship with the Earth.