Returning to Eden: Toward a Faith-Based Framing of the Environmental Movement

Citation:

Chika O. Okafor. 2015. “Returning to Eden: Toward a Faith-Based Framing of the Environmental Movement.” Villanova Environmental Law Journal, 26, 215. Publisher's Version

Abstract:

This article proposes a major shift in the messaging of the mainstream environmental movement. Instead of relying on logic, the mainstream movement must also cultivate passion. Instead of only appealing to the mind, it must also tap into the heart. Instead of “convincing” people, it must also learn to inspire them. By synthesizing concepts from various academic disciplines, including sociology, economics, history, and theology, this article argues that what inspires people is a moral imperative. The best way for the environmental movement to create the essential moral imperative is through religious justifications.