God and Gaia: Science, Religion and Ethics on a Living Planet

God and Gaia explores the overlap between traditional religious cosmologies and the scientific Gaia theory of James Lovelock, arguing that a Gaian approach to the ecological crisis involves rebalancing human and more-than-human influences on Earth by reviving the ecological agency of local and indigenous human communities and nonhuman beings.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 22 December 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

God and Gaia delves into the fascinating intersection between traditional religious cosmologies and the scientific Gaia theory proposed by James Lovelock. It makes a compelling case that adopting a Gaian perspective is crucial in addressing the ecological crisis, emphasizing the need to rebalance human and more-than-human influences on Earth. This involves revitalizing the ecological agency of local and indigenous human communities, as well as recognizing the agency of nonhuman beings.

Since the dawn of the Scientific and Industrial Revolutions, when modern humans embraced a machine cosmology that portrays humans as the sole intelligent agents, human ecological impacts on Earth have been on a steady rise. This imbalance between human and Earthly agencies has led to the degradation of ecosystem species diversity, localized climate changes, and the potential destabilization of our planet as a whole system.

Spanning eight chapters, this ambitious text explores a wide range of traditional cosmologies, drawing from sources such as the Indian Vedas, classical Greece, Medieval Christianity, and Southeast Asia, Southern Africa, and Great Britain. It delves into concepts such as deep time, ancestral time, the ethical implications of genetic engineering of foods and viruses, and holistic ecological management.

At the heart of Northcott's argument is the notion of an ontological turn that recognizes the distinct agency of indigenous humans and other kinds. This turn draws upon sacred traditions and seeks to mend the destabilizing impacts of contemporary human activities on the Earth System and its constituent ecosystems.

This book holds immense interest for students and scholars engaged in the fields of environmental humanities, history, cultural and religious studies. It offers valuable insights into the interconnectedness of humanity and the natural world, paving the way for a more sustainable and harmonious relationship between the two.

Weight: 442g
Dimension: 156 x 235 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367627744