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Religions beyond borders : the ambivalence and effectiveness of religious engagement in public and global affairsAbstract This article explores the evolving dynamics of religious engagement in public and global affairs, responding to the dual acknowledgment of religion’s significance by secular actors and the proactive involvement of religious leaders in broader societal contexts. Through critical review of existing literature, the paper highlights the complex conceptual and political frameworks and ambivalent understanding of religious engagement, probing on the one hand its intrinsic and generic relationship with interreligious dialogue and on the other the academic conversation about the public role of religion in postmodern societies. The article introduces two key concepts: religious social responsibility and pragmatic pluralism, to navigate, amid diverse cultural narratives, the ambivalence and avoid the instrumentalization of religious roles in public and global affairs. Through an interdisciplinary approach integrating theological and social sciences perspectives, the article addresses critical queries on the rightsizing of religious engagement, and proposes a new typology of faith actors that goes beyond the institutional religious realms and the western development narratives. Moreover, the article identifies key qualifications for effective partnerships, such as the autonomy of faith actors vis-à-vis the political power, their legitimacy and credibility towards their constituencies, their integrity, in addition to the mutual literacy required from them and political actors. Despite the ongoing risks of religious instrumentalization, radical secularism, proselytism, and ethno-religious nationalism, the article attests that religious engagement remains more than ever essential in addressing public and global development and peace challenges, and in enriching the humanitarian narrative with inclusive and fraternal values.
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الأخلاقیاّت المتعلقة بالمیاه وجھات نظر أخلاقیة بشأن الاستخدام والإدارة المستدامة والعادلة للموارد المائیة = Blue ethics : ethical perspectives on sustainable, fair water resources use and managementFor many policy makers, urban managers, water experts, technicians or activists, ethical perspectives in water management are not important or do not bring any added value. A debate seems to be locked between those stressing mainly the right of access to water for all and those who cannot go beyond economic realism. The sustainable use of a resource that becomes under growing pressure, in terms of extraction, allocation and recycling looks as a technical issue, not to say a technocratic one. This collective book claims the opposite. The many issues faced by the access to water as well as the sustainable use of the resource rely on open negotiations, settling conflicts, tariffs structure while expanding delivery and managing fairly water' scarcity in all these processes, ethical values do matter.
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Öko-theologische Ansätze zur Überwindung des 'herrschaftsbezogenen Anthropozentrismus' in der ökumenischen Bewegung : ein erster kurzer ÜberblickThe essay is providing an account of beginnings of eco-theological reflexions within the global ecumenical movement, mainly related to selected two out of several periods, mainly an early period of the 1960ies and a last period after the first decade of this century. It describes how the ecumenical discourse has reacted to major challenges presented by an essay from Lynn White from late sixties which was accusing Christianity to be the main culprit of environmental destruction. The essay culminates in identifying five major types of eco-theological discourses in the past two decades and identifies four major challenges at the end in which ecotheological work needs to move forward.
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Religious communities and ecological sustainability in Southern Africa and beyondClimate change and environmental degradation are threatening livelihoods in many parts of the world. To develop pathways into a sustainable future and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, fundamental socioecological transformations are needed. This process requires not only appropriate policies as well as scientific knowledge, but necessitates radical paradigm shifts and changed mindsets and behaviour. Religious communities are crucial stakeholders for achieving these paradigm shifts: religion shapes social imaginaries and people’s values, and religious communities have the ability to act as agents of socio-ecological transformation. This volume seeks to elucidate the role of religious communities for ecological sustainability with a focus on Southern Africa. The book provides resources for scholars and students of religion and ecological sustainability, religious communities and faith-based organizations as well as policymakers, practitioners and NGOs in the field of sustainable development. It thereby seeks to facilitate knowledge exchange and to spark further engagement on religion and ecological sustainability in Southern Africa and beyond.
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Al-Mizan : a covenant for the earthAl-Mizan: A Covenant for the Earth is a charter demonstrating how Islam can be a driving force for sustainable development and environmental care. Al-Mizan also highlights the importance of culture and religion in driving behavioural change, along with scientific, technical, and political solutions. "Al-Mizan: A Covenant for the Earth" is a significant and timely contribution to the discourse on environmental sustainability, particularly within the Islamic community. It successfully bridges the gap between Islamic teachings and contemporary environmental concerns, offering a unique and powerful perspective on how faith can inform and inspire action in the face of global ecological challenges. The document is a clarion call to Muslims and the broader global community, urging a united and proactive approach to restoring ecological balance and preserving the Earth for future generations. Through its comprehensive analysis, ethical framework, and practical guidelines, "Al-Mizan" is a vital resource for anyone seeking to understand and engage with environmental issues from an Islamic viewpoint. Drafted by a group of leading Islamic organizations and scholars, convened by UNEP's Faith for Earth Coalition, including: The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), the Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences (IFEES), Uskudar University in Istanbul, the Qur’anic Botanical Garden in Qatar, and the College of Islamic Studies at Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar.
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Öko-theologische Ansätze zur Überwindung des despotischen Anthropozentrismus in der ökumenischen BewegungThe essay is providing an account of beginnings of eco-theological reflexions within the global ecumenical movement, mainly related to selected two out of several periods, mainly an early period of the 1960ies and a last period after the first decade of this century. It describes how the ecumenical discourse has reacted to a major challenges presented by an essay from Lynn White from late 60is which was accusing Christianity to be the main culprit of environmental destruction. The essay culminates in identifying five major types of eco-theological discourses in the past two decades and identifies four major challenges at the end in which eco-theological work needs to move forward.
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La coopération pour un développement durable et inclusif : l’apport spécifique de l’approche basée sur les droits de l’hommeL’épuisement des ressources naturelles, la pandémie, le numérique et les désagrégations politiques se présentent comme défis communs pour les États et leurs enjeux de coopération. L’auteure avance l’hypothèse que la logique dominante de la coopération pour le développement durable ne suit pas toujours des pistes efficaces, adoptant une approche des besoins parfois formulée au mépris de certains droits fondamentaux des personnes. Par leur valeur transversale, en tant que fins et moyens, l’approche des droits humains permet une meilleure réalisation des objectifs du développement durable, tout en renforçant leur interdépendance. Pour garantir leur performance, une méthode originale d’évaluation systémique avec des indicateurs d’interconnexion est proposée.
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Indigenous statements for environmental justice : 2008-2023Environmental justice has always been on the agenda of Globethics. In 2014, the organisation decided to amplify religious voices in the sphere, advocating for a global and fair solution, by publishing the book: "Religions for Climate Justice: International Interfaith Statements 2008-2014". In 2023, Globethics became more actively engaged in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UN-FCCC) and the annual Conference of Parties (COP28) in Dubai, by organising a session entitled: "Listen to those who listen to the earth. A plea for an urgent ethical blue framework by indigenous populations and world religions." Moreover, Globethics is glad to support the ethical leadership of societal actors, especially indigenous and faith-based actors, by offering to policymakers and the global audience at COP28 and beyond, three open-access volumes including a selection of key messages and statements issued by a) interfaith initiatives, b) indigenous communities, and c) religious actors. In facing the climate crisis, which has become a life and future crisis, all voices are needed. A special attention to indigenous and religious voices is due, since they represent in many cases the voiceless yet most impacted populations, and are heirs of ethical and spiritual wisdom, able to reframe the issue beyond economic and political agendas.
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Interfaith statements for environmental justice 2008-2023Environmental justice has always been on the agenda of Globethics. In 2014, the organisation decided to amplify religious voices in the sphere, advocating for a global and fair solution, by publishing the book: "Religions for Climate Justice: International Interfaith Statements 2008-2014". In 2023, Globethics became more actively engaged in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UN-FCCC) and the annual Conference of Parties (COP28) in Dubai, by organising a session entitled: "Listen to those who listen to the earth. A plea for an urgent ethical blue framework by indigenous populations and world religions." Moreover, Globethics is glad to support the ethical leadership of societal actors, especially indigenous and faith-based actors, by offering to policymakers and the global audience at COP28 and beyond, three open-access volumes including a selection of key messages and statements issued by a) interfaith initiatives, b) indigenous communities, and c) religious actors. In facing the climate crisis, which has become a life and future crisis, all voices are needed. A special attention to indigenous and religious voices is due, since they represent in many cases the voiceless yet most impacted populations, and are heirs of ethical and spiritual wisdom, able to reframe the issue beyond economic and political agendas.
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أخلاقيّات المياه = Water ethics : principles and guidelinesيرى بعضهم أنّ ما من أهميّةٍ تذكر للآفاق الأخلاقيّة المتصلة بإدارة المياه أو أنّ لا قيمة مضافة لها. بيد أنّ هذا النّص، في تناوله لأخلاقيّات الماء، يدافعُ عن الأطروحة المضادة، ذلك أنّه يستحضرُ القيم والمبادئ الأخلاقية بغية التأثير في القضايا المتّصلة بالمياه وتقديم الحلول الّتي تزيدُ من فرص الأطراف المعنيّة في تحقيق نتائج إيجابيّة. وما من شكّ في أنّ الاعتبارات الأخلاقيّة تلعبُ دوراً هامّا، في طريقة إدارة المياه المتاحة وقيمتها السوقية، على سبيل المثال، بوصفهما مسألتان تتعلقان بالأخلاقيّات الاقتصادية والوصول العادل إلى المياه، أو في ما يتعلقّ بالابتكارات التقنية المتصلة باستخراج المياه ومعالجتها وتزويدها بوصفها جزءاً لا يتجزّأ من أخلاقيّات الابتكار أو في إدارة نزاعات المياه بوصفها مسألة ضرورية لأخلاقيّات السلام أو في تنظيم المياه وإدارتها بوصفها مسألة تتطلّب توفّر أخلاقيّات سياسية أو في طريقة التعاطي مع التقاليد والمعتقدات الدينية، وهو تعاطٍ لا يمكنُ، بأيّ حالٍ من الأحوال، أن يغفل الأخلاقيّات الدينية.
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Al-Ḥamdu li’llāhi Rabbi’l-ʿĀlamīn ‘Praise to God, Lord of the Worlds’ : an introduction to Qur’anic ecology and resonances with Laudato Si’An Introduction to Qur’anic Ecology and Resonances with Laudato Si’ presents Qur’an-based theological and ethical principles that are applicable to integral ecology. This study presents clear and strong Qur’anic guidelines that can be referred to by Muslims in addressing the ethical, ecological and environmental issues faced today. The study relates the central encyclical idea of integral ecology to several Islamic concepts, particularly the interconnected unity of all creation, the innate nature of God and humankind, and theQur’anic principles of mercy, balance, justice, and moderation. Key Muslim faith-based critiques of the human actions that have led to the current global predicament are also discussed. These critiques accord with aspects of Catholic social teaching. This study unpacks the Qur’anic resonances with the foundational themes presented in the preliminary section of Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si’: On Care for our Common Home published in 2015. It demonstrates that significant common ground exists betweenQur’anic and encyclical perspectives with regard to these themes, including perceptions of the natural world as a precious part of God’s creation; the interrelatedness of all creation; the understanding of humankind as the being in whom earth and spirit are conjoined; the need for divine guidance; and the need for people to manifest ethical care towards other humans, all living creatures and the earth itself. Conceptual overlaps such as these providea strong foundation for Catholic-Muslim interfaith partnerships, as we seek to care for our common home.
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Leading ethical leaders : higher education institutions, business schools and the sustainable development goalsThis volume provides unique and profound insights from within educational institutions in diverse regions of the world on how ‘learning outside’ and ‘learning inside’ can be holistically integrated, so that the sustainable development agenda does not remain static and programmatic, but a creative and permeable framework. The shared hope across the thirteen chapters, which constitute complete original essays on the theme, is to develop meaningful, interdisciplinary curricula and research projects which serve the human community as a whole. The aim of the editors is directed towards a similar United Nations’ valuable ideal: to advance knowledge in respect of the earth and the future generations who will inherit it.
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Every part of creation matters : a discussion paperThe text summarizes work of the thematic group on Economic and Ecological Justice and Sustainable Future of the Conference of European Churches. The group consists of theologians, experts in ecological and political science, as well as activists from churches across the continent. Caring for God’s creation is an integral part of the calling of the churches. In this publication the Conference of European Churches is asking how this can be done? The book offers a summary of studies and discussions among theologians from churches of different confessional families. A first theological section underlies key aspects of several theological traditions. In a second section, we learn about the European Green Deal aiming to transform the EU into a modern, resource-efficient, and competitive economy with no net greenhouse gases emissions by 2050. The text supports the main aim of the Green Deal, however, raises concerns related to some of its principal parts.
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Green Allies: Speculative Realism, Evangelical Christianity, and Political PluralismThis essay addresses the question of how to build political coalitions to address global warming. For speculative realists such as Levi Bryant, responding to climate change demands materialist ontologies that recognize the efficacy of things themselves, e.g. fossil fuels. And yet, I argue, Bryant does not sufficiently address the political assignment of building political coalitions with people who endorse different ontologies. To illuminate this possibility, I show how the American evangelical David Gushee arrives at similar conclusions by a different route. The essay encourages speculative realists to fold modesty into their political thinking for the sake of building coalitions with theists about matters of common concern.
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Economics and the Priority of EthicsThis essay suggests (1) that changes in economic practices which we associate with capitalism brought about deep changes in understandings of culture, and especially of Christianity; (2) that, given that capitalism is driving global warming, changes in the way in which we structure the economy, which for many of us have religious roots, will have to be adopted if we are going to survive; (3) that six priorities for an alternative economy may be identified.
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Addressing the Climate Change—Sustainable Development Nexus: The Role of Multistakeholder PartnershipsWhile calls are being made to deal with the linkages between climate change and sustainable development to arrive at an integrated policy, concrete steps in this direction have been very limited so far. One of the possible instruments through which both issues may be approached simultaneously is a multistakeholder partnership, a form of governance with the potential to address existing regulatory, participation, resource and learning gaps as it harnesses the strengths of private, public, and nonprofit partners. There is some insight into partnerships for climate change, but largely limited to developed countries, and those in developing countries most often do not involve companies. To help fill this gap, this article explores the role of multistakeholder partnerships in addressing climate change and sustainable development in developing-country settings. It elaborates on the governance function of partnerships, on actor involvement, the gaps addressed, as well as synergies and trade-offs in the climate change-sustainable development nexus and how partnerships may help address them. As the number of such partnerships is still limited, we discuss seven illustrative partnerships and draw conclusions as to further conceptualizations and implications for research and practice.
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Addressing the Climate Change—Sustainable Development NexusWhile calls are being made to deal with the linkages between climate change and sustainable development to arrive at an integrated policy, concrete steps in this direction have been very limited so far. One of the possible instruments through which both issues may be approached simultaneously is a multistakeholder partnership, a form of governance with the potential to address existing regulatory, participation, resource and learning gaps as it harnesses the strengths of private, public, and nonprofit partners. There is some insight into partnerships for climate change, but largely limited to developed countries, and those in developing countries most often do not involve companies. To help fill this gap, this article explores the role of multistakeholder partnerships in addressing climate change and sustainable development in developing-country settings. It elaborates on the governance function of partnerships, on actor involvement, the gaps addressed, as well as synergies and trade-offs in the climate change-sustainable development nexus and how partnerships may help address them. As the number of such partnerships is still limited, we discuss seven illustrative partnerships and draw conclusions as to further conceptualizations and implications for research and practice.
