Ecotheologies, Environmental Virtues, and the Common Good

This book considers why and how diverse faith communities in the Abrahamic traditions should encourage, foster, and nourish environmental virtues for the common good. It focuses on the theological and environmental virtues of faith, hope and love as bases for understanding the common good. The collection provides theological frameworks for these virtues which extend the common good in many contrasting ways beyond humans to non-human others, offering a transformative vision. Taking a pluralist approach, Anglican, Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Humanist, Jewish, Muslim, Reformed and Swedenborgian theologies, philosophies and spiritualities are all considered. The book also examines the ethical and political consequences of such a view, and presents examples of how they work out practically in our relation to the land, such as in Jewish farming communities or sustainable practices in contemporary Islam. The volume is relevant to scholars and advanced students of theology, religious studies, philosophy and ethics with an interest in ecotheology, environmental ethics, community and the common good.