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Climate Crisis and Religions/Spirituality
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Climate Crisis and Religions/Spirituality

A special issue of Religions (ISSN 2077-1444).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 January 2025) | Viewed by 5507

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Takeshi Kimura

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8577, Ibaraki, Japan
Interests: religion and nature; sustainability; indigenous religions

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The climate crisis is no longer a predicted future but is already an ongoing present in the Anthropocene era. As of this July, the UN said the era of global boiling was here. Witnessing the negative effects of global warming and environmental degradation, it is the right time to consider what kind of roles religious scholars could contribute to examining the impacts of the climate crisis on the present and future generations. Alternatively, it is an issue of intergenerational ethics. The younger generations will definitely face and need to deal with the influence of the climate crisis, the cause of which is not theirs. The unborn generation will also have to face the harsh reality of the climate crisis.  As the climate crisis, which is caused by human activities, is expected to influence all corners of the earth, it is also the right time to examine what questions and lessons are addressed in considering the implications of biodiversity degradation both on the land and in the ocean. Thus, various issues regarding the climate crisis need to be explored and examined from the perspective of religious studies. 

This Special Issue calls for contributions by scholars of religions from various fields who are engaged with the climate crisis in novel manners, thus contributing to the extant scholarly literature on religion and environment, religion/spirituality and nature, and religions/spirituality and sustainability. Philosophical, ethical, and anthropological inquiries from more scientific and human-scientific perspectives will be considered, and young scholars are welcome to contribute their papers to this Special Issue.

We request that, prior to submitting a manuscript, interested authors initially submit a proposed title and an abstract of 400–600 words summarizing their intended contribution. Please send it to the Religions editorial office (religions@mdpi.com). Abstracts will be reviewed by the guest editor for the purposes of ensuring a proper fit within the scope of the Special Issue. Full manuscripts will undergo double-blind peer review.  

Prof. Dr. Takeshi Kimura
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Religions is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • religion
  • spirituality
  • climate crisis
  • environment
  • sustainability
  • intergenerational ethics

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 1515 KiB  
Article
Religion and Ecology: A Study on the Religious Beliefs and Practices in Conserving Ecology and Adapting to Climate Change Among the Bishnois of the Thar Desert in Rajasthan, India
by Bikku Bikku
Religions 2025, 16(3), 380; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16030380 - 17 Mar 2025
Viewed by 793
Abstract
Climate change is a global issue with diverse regional impacts threatening the survival of both human and non-human species. While the academic discourse on climate change predominantly focuses on macro-level studies, it often neglects the vital role of local environmental practices and the [...] Read more.
Climate change is a global issue with diverse regional impacts threatening the survival of both human and non-human species. While the academic discourse on climate change predominantly focuses on macro-level studies, it often neglects the vital role of local environmental practices and the perspectives of affected communities. This paper presents insights from ethnographic fieldwork conducted among the Bishnoi community in Khejarli Village, Jodhpur, in the Thar Desert of India. This study utilizes participant observations, semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and case studies to explore local environmental knowledge and practices aimed at mitigating and adapting to climate change. Findings reveal the Bishnois’ deep-rooted relationship with nature and the pivotal role of religious beliefs in shaping their conservation efforts. Since the 15th century, the Bishnois have been committed to protecting local species, such as plants and animals, which has been crucial for sustaining the desert ecosystem and combating climate change. Moreover, their religious teachings and principles have helped conserve values among younger generations, ensuring a lasting culture of environmental stewardship. This paper supports integrating micro-level ethnographic studies into global climate change dialogues, urging the recognition of local knowledge as an essential resource for addressing contemporary environmental challenges. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Crisis and Religions/Spirituality)
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18 pages, 2085 KiB  
Article
Touching People with Gods: Droughts and Ritual Prayers in Southeastern China During the Eighth and Ninth Centuries
by Zejie Lin and Yanli Xie
Religions 2025, 16(3), 332; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16030332 - 6 Mar 2025
Viewed by 193
Abstract
Between the eighth and ninth centuries, the world entered a second period of strong winter monsoons, which precipitated a series of recurrent natural disasters, including reduced summer rainfall and prolonged droughts. The various types of droughts that occurred in southeastern China are documented [...] Read more.
Between the eighth and ninth centuries, the world entered a second period of strong winter monsoons, which precipitated a series of recurrent natural disasters, including reduced summer rainfall and prolonged droughts. The various types of droughts that occurred in southeastern China are documented in historical records, which also include the official-led ritual prayers to the local deities that were conducted during these challenging periods. As evidenced in these historical records, officials implemented a series of measures to provide solace to the populace, including the restoration of shrines and temples and the offering of sacrifices and prayers to the local deities, such as the Wutang God 吳塘神 and the Chutan God 儲潭神. These actions were intended to leverage the influence of the local deities to mobilise labour and financial resources for the implementation of public works, including the reclamation of barren land and the construction of dikes and ponds. These initiatives ultimately proved instrumental in enabling the populace to withstand the adverse effects of disasters. This approach represents a distinctive strategy for coping with drought in ancient China. It may provide insights into how governments and non-governmental organisations can utilise the influence of religious beliefs to unite people in addressing the climate crisis in the present era. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Crisis and Religions/Spirituality)
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10 pages, 229 KiB  
Article
Integrating Circular Economy and Laudato Si’: A Christian Framework for Sustainable Development and Environmental Stewardship
by Yong-Gil Lee
Religions 2025, 16(3), 326; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16030326 - 5 Mar 2025
Viewed by 280
Abstract
The circular economy and Laudato Si’ share a common vision for addressing environmental, ecological, and social challenges through sustainability, justice, and paradigm change. The circular economy moves beyond the linear “take-make-dispose” model by promoting resource efficiency, waste elimination, and the regeneration of natural [...] Read more.
The circular economy and Laudato Si’ share a common vision for addressing environmental, ecological, and social challenges through sustainability, justice, and paradigm change. The circular economy moves beyond the linear “take-make-dispose” model by promoting resource efficiency, waste elimination, and the regeneration of natural systems. Similarly, Laudato Si’ calls for integral ecology, recognizing the interconnectedness of environmental, social, economic, and cultural systems. Both emphasize practical actions, such as transitioning to renewable energy, promoting responsible waste management, and adopting regenerative agricultural practices to restore our ecosystems. Ethical consumption, simplicity, and moderation are central to both frameworks, encouraging shifts toward reuse, repair, and shared resources as common platforms to reduce overconsumption. Social justice remains a priority, with a focus on supporting marginalized populations unequally affected by ecological crises. Education and international cooperation are essential to achieving these goals, fostering ecological awareness, and coordinating policies to drive systemic change. The circular economy and Laudato Si’ provide a transformative pathway to restore harmony between humanity, nature, and society by promoting balance, equity, and sustainability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Crisis and Religions/Spirituality)
11 pages, 259 KiB  
Article
The Role of Catholic Life Formation in Fostering Sustainable Environmental Attitudes among Selected Filipino SHS Students
by Rito Baring, Peb Hinojales Villacrucis, Jake T. Barcenas, Noel Arsolon, Maria Antonette Dandan, Jojit Foronda, Milver Legitimas, Loreto Pancho, Josefina Bernados Ranara, Dwight Jimenez Ypanto and Jessica Magallon-Avenido
Religions 2024, 15(3), 287; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15030287 - 26 Feb 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3207
Abstract
A relevant Religious Education needs to confront the life-threatening global issues humanity faces today. The present study investigates how Catholic Life Formation (CLF) through religious instruction may predict environmental attitudes among students in Cebu City, Philippines. This study analyzes how the following variables [...] Read more.
A relevant Religious Education needs to confront the life-threatening global issues humanity faces today. The present study investigates how Catholic Life Formation (CLF) through religious instruction may predict environmental attitudes among students in Cebu City, Philippines. This study analyzes how the following variables may influence Christian environmentalism: students’ reception of CLF inputs, Catholic Social Teachings (CST) perceptions, and students’ beliefs and environmental responses (STB) from a sample of 491 Grade 12 SH students of a private university in Cebu, Philippines. This descriptive quantitative survey used ordinal logistic regression to test our model. We adopted a two-step procedure to gather data: First, an open-ended interview was used to tease the themes and viewpoints of students. Second, incorporating the qualitative output from the interviews, a survey was conducted using a researcher-made self-report paired with the Christian Environmentalism Scale (CES) to describe student attitudes toward the environment. The findings are discussed with respect to Religious Education and CLF environmental advocacy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Crisis and Religions/Spirituality)
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