"Faith in Nature: Environmentalism as Religious Quest" by Thomas R. Dunlap.Faith in Nature; Environmentalism environmentalism, movement to protect the quality and continuity of life through conservation of natural resources, prevention of pollution, and control of land use. as Religious Quest by Thomas R. Dunlap. $24.95 cloth. Weyerhaeuser Environmental Books/University of Washington Press, 2004. Some books simply do not lend themselves to a brief review. This is one. It defies review because it is a review of the writings, thinkers, and doers of the American environmental movement. Dunlap weaves a seamless philosophical trail, from the Enlightenment of the 17th century through Romanticism romanticism, term loosely applied to literary and artistic movements of the late 18th and 19th cent. Characteristics of Romanticism Resulting in part from the libertarian and egalitarian ideals of the French Revolution, the romantic movements had as interpreted by Emerson, to set the stage for all who were to later shape the modern environmental movement. All the actors are present--from Thoreau and Muir to Rachael Carson, Aldo Leopold Aldo Leopold (January 11, 1887 - April 21, 1948) was a United States ecologist, forester, and environmentalist. He was influential in the development of modern environmental ethics and in the movement for wilderness preservation. , Barry Commoner Barry Commoner (born May 28 1917) is an American biologist, college professor, and eco-socialist. He ran for president of the United States in the 1980 U.S. presidential election on the Citizens Party ticket. Commoner was born in Brooklyn. , and Edward Abbey--to mention only a few of many Dunlop casts in his quest to understand "environmentalism as an expression of the human impulse toward religion." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] But Dunlap is more than a historian of environmental philosophy. He is a clear-eyed and practical critic of the institutions that environmentalism has spawned, succinctly suc·cinct adj. suc·cinct·er, suc·cinct·est 1. Characterized by clear, precise expression in few words; concise and terse: a succinct reply; a succinct style. 2. describing their roles in defining the diverse perspectives of American culture toward nature. This is an important book for the times in which we live. It offers something for everyone to disdain, especially those demanding a specific way to salvation, be it pure wilderness or the end of consumerism consumerism Movement or policies aimed at regulating the products, services, methods, and standards of manufacturers, sellers, and advertisers in the interests of the buyer. . Nor does he claim many victories for the movement in its crusade to change the World. But no one can deny Dunlop's faith that "environmentalism has embarked on a great enterprise," one that "seeks dreams large enough to inspire individuals and wise enough to guide humanity, dreams that speak to our lives and the wonderful world in which we live them." Book reviews editor Carl Reidel is "retiring" after 11 years: We wish him the best. |
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