The New Holy Wars: Economic Religion versus Environmental Religion in Contemporary America
(University Park, PA: Penn State Press, 2010). Winner of the 2010 Grand Prize of the Eric Hoffer Book Award as the best book of the year by an independent publisher and of a silver medal in the category of “Finance, Investment, Economics” of the 2010 Independent Publisher Book Awards
(the “IPPYs”)
a. Book Description
The present debate raging over global warming exemplifies the clash between two competing public theologies. On one side, environmentalists warn of certain catastrophe if we do not take steps now to reduce the release of greenhouse gases; on the other side, economists are concerned with whether the benefits of actions to prevent higher temperatures will be worth the high costs. Questions of the true and proper relationship of human beings and nature are as old as religion. Today, environmentalists regard human actions to warm the climate as an immoral challenge to the natural order, while economists seek to put all of nature to maximum use for economic growth and other human benefits.
Robert Nelson interprets such contemporary struggles as battles between the competing secularized religions of economics and environmentalism. The outcome will have momentous consequences for us all. This book probes beneath the surface of the two movements rhetoric to uncover their fundamental theological commitments and visions.
Robert Nelson interprets such contemporary struggles as battles between the competing secularized religions of economics and environmentalism. The outcome will have momentous consequences for us all. This book probes beneath the surface of the two movements rhetoric to uncover their fundamental theological commitments and visions.
b. Amazon Editorial Review
"Robert H. Nelson's new book is engaging [and] provocative...[He] works to uncover and articulate underlying religious themes in American economic and environmental systems of thought...Rich historical analysis is offered to support this notion."
-Simon Nicholson, Perspectives on Politics
"This book should be of interest to a wide variety of audiences...scholars of religion, economists, environmentalists, and the general public interested in religions. It is highly readable and touches on many relevant and controversial issues in contemporary society."
- Justin Farrell, Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion
"In The New Holy Wars this nontheologian proves capable of out-theologizing many theologians...Nelson convincingly argues that economics and environmentalism are two new secular religions that require theological understanding."
- Stephen Healey, The Christian Century
"Forget the ‘culture wars’ and the assault on Christianity. The real conflict in America is thoroughly secular – between economic and environmental religions -- … says Robert Nelson. He makes the argument, long known to conservatives, that religion never really goes away.”
-Tobias Lanz, Chronicles
"Nelson has interesting and provocative things to say to students and to the broader public...we all need to think more about the metaphysical and religious foundations of ideas that seem, on their surface, merely technical."
- Andre Wakefield, Technology and Culture
Though one might quibble with details here and there, the central contentions of The New Holy Wars are largely convincing. Its central thesis is incontrovertible. It should be required reading for orthodox religious believers so that they may know where the real challenges to their faiths lie. --Gerard Casey, Journal of Faith and the Academy
“Robert H. Nelson, one of the world’s leading natural resource economists, long has argued that the ideologies in economics are secularizations of traditional religion and that this concealment is ill advised. … He now also brands environmentalism as a secular religion whose roots need examination.”
- Richard Gordon, Cato Journal
"Nelson has much to say about important belief systems of contemporary society and research agendas of the social sciences. In his view, economics and environmentalism are competing faiths ...Understanding [them]...should help in unpacking the deep conflicts over public policy."
- Randolph Haluza-Delay, Environmental Politics
"[Nelson] presents...insightful and incisive critiques of the shortcomings of both secular economism and environmentalism... An excellent explication of the contradictions and inconsistencies of the utopian or eschatological visions presented by these competing religions."
- Jordan J. Ballor, Calvin Theological Journal
"The New Holy Wars is grounded in questions, observations, and visions of reform that emerged out of policy making. Its theological discussions are peppered with somewhat more practical examinations of contemporary policy challenges...It is ripe for consideration and study."
- Marisa B. Van Saanen, Review of Faith and International Affairs
"[Nelson's] book is an excellent contribution that will help us better understand the intersections between economics, ethics, and theology...The theological approach Nelson adopts is illuminating, and he does a great service by pointing out how much of the materialist and environmentalist gospels are … derived from religion."
- Art Carden, The Freeman
“A good read...[that] provide[s] stimulating food for thought and insights into the possible ethical and philosophical drivers underlying the economic growth and environmental protection advocacy positions.”
- John Bergstrom, Faith and Economics
"Nelson has offered an exciting argument and revealed an important pattern... Both modern American economists and environmentalists have been engaged for over a century in creating new secular versions of American Christianity by replacing God with science.."
- Dennis C. Williams, Environmental History
-Simon Nicholson, Perspectives on Politics
"This book should be of interest to a wide variety of audiences...scholars of religion, economists, environmentalists, and the general public interested in religions. It is highly readable and touches on many relevant and controversial issues in contemporary society."
- Justin Farrell, Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion
"In The New Holy Wars this nontheologian proves capable of out-theologizing many theologians...Nelson convincingly argues that economics and environmentalism are two new secular religions that require theological understanding."
- Stephen Healey, The Christian Century
"Forget the ‘culture wars’ and the assault on Christianity. The real conflict in America is thoroughly secular – between economic and environmental religions -- … says Robert Nelson. He makes the argument, long known to conservatives, that religion never really goes away.”
-Tobias Lanz, Chronicles
"Nelson has interesting and provocative things to say to students and to the broader public...we all need to think more about the metaphysical and religious foundations of ideas that seem, on their surface, merely technical."
- Andre Wakefield, Technology and Culture
Though one might quibble with details here and there, the central contentions of The New Holy Wars are largely convincing. Its central thesis is incontrovertible. It should be required reading for orthodox religious believers so that they may know where the real challenges to their faiths lie. --Gerard Casey, Journal of Faith and the Academy
“Robert H. Nelson, one of the world’s leading natural resource economists, long has argued that the ideologies in economics are secularizations of traditional religion and that this concealment is ill advised. … He now also brands environmentalism as a secular religion whose roots need examination.”
- Richard Gordon, Cato Journal
"Nelson has much to say about important belief systems of contemporary society and research agendas of the social sciences. In his view, economics and environmentalism are competing faiths ...Understanding [them]...should help in unpacking the deep conflicts over public policy."
- Randolph Haluza-Delay, Environmental Politics
"[Nelson] presents...insightful and incisive critiques of the shortcomings of both secular economism and environmentalism... An excellent explication of the contradictions and inconsistencies of the utopian or eschatological visions presented by these competing religions."
- Jordan J. Ballor, Calvin Theological Journal
"The New Holy Wars is grounded in questions, observations, and visions of reform that emerged out of policy making. Its theological discussions are peppered with somewhat more practical examinations of contemporary policy challenges...It is ripe for consideration and study."
- Marisa B. Van Saanen, Review of Faith and International Affairs
"[Nelson's] book is an excellent contribution that will help us better understand the intersections between economics, ethics, and theology...The theological approach Nelson adopts is illuminating, and he does a great service by pointing out how much of the materialist and environmentalist gospels are … derived from religion."
- Art Carden, The Freeman
“A good read...[that] provide[s] stimulating food for thought and insights into the possible ethical and philosophical drivers underlying the economic growth and environmental protection advocacy positions.”
- John Bergstrom, Faith and Economics
"Nelson has offered an exciting argument and revealed an important pattern... Both modern American economists and environmentalists have been engaged for over a century in creating new secular versions of American Christianity by replacing God with science.."
- Dennis C. Williams, Environmental History
c. More Book Review
Please click here to read more book reviews of the New Holy Wars as of January 13th, 2013
d. Related Articles
"Economics and Environmentalism: Belief Systems at Odds," The Independent Review, Volume 17, Number 1, Summer 2012
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.