Monotheism and the Planetary Crisis: A Nuanced Inquiry

The provided text investigates the complex relationship between monotheism and environmental impact, challenging the notion that monotheistic religions are solely responsible for the modern ecological crisis. It begins by exploring pre-monotheistic worldviews, such as animism and polytheism, which often regarded nature as sacred, yet still engaged in significant environmental alterations, exemplified by the Roman Empire's degradation. The discussion then transitions to how monotheism, particularly Abrahamic faiths, introduced a transcendent God, potentially "disenchanting" nature and fostering an anthropocentric "dominion" over it. However, the text also presents a powerful counter-narrative of stewardship within these traditions, highlighting principles like Jewish bal tashchit (do not destroy), Christian "Creation Care," and Islamic khalifa (vicegerency) as mandates for responsible environmental interaction. Finally, it argues that modern factors like the Enlightenment's emphasis on human mastery and industrial capitalism's relentless growth are more direct and significant drivers of current environmental issues, suggesting that while monotheism set a permissive ideological stage, these later forces were the primary catalysts for large-scale destruction.

Research done with the help of artificial intelligence, and presented by two AI-generated hosts.