Abstract:

Ideas from the life sciences and the physical sciences, particularly the ideas that ecosystems, the planet itself, and eventhecosmosareinterconnectedand ‘organismic’, have influenced the development of sustainability discourse.Sustainability advocates strategically deploy such scientific concepts through subtly spiritualized language and metaphors to advance their arguments. Even when the language of sustainability advocacy is not explicitly religious, it reflects core values and deep beliefs of particular individuals, communities, or groups. In such cases, sustainability movements derive their power by following a neo-religious narrative, and when deployed in the public sphere, such narratives are performing religious work.

Author: Lucas F. Johnston