Theism, Pantheism, and Panentheism, Ecological Implications.: Journal of Vaishnava Studies

Abstract

Scholars such as Lynn White have argued for the influence of religious worldviews on ecology. According to their analysis, our current
ecological crisis has its roots in two teachings in traditional Western Christianity, namely, the emphasis on the transcendence of God, which removes His immanence from nature, and the anthropocentric view of the world which accords man stewardship over nature. In response to the argument, the exploration of alternative worldviews has begun. While some sought to reconstruct alternative, more ecologically conducive models within Christianity, others looked toward the traditions outside Christianity. The present paper is a preliminary attempt to join this exploration by examining three Vaishnava views on nature and their possible ecological implications.