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xiii Preface Religion and Environmentalism: Exploring the Issues provides an intro- duction to religiously motivated environmentalism, the contemporary environmental issues addressed by religious and spiritual traditions, and relevant organizations, individuals, and initiatives. Major world religions, folk religions, Indigenous spiritual traditions, nature religions, and newly formed or revived religions have all become increasingly involved in envi- ronmental issues over the last several decades. During this time, individu- als and organizations motivated by their religious and spiritual beliefs have become involved in public discourse on environmental issues, have influenced environmental policies, and have launched diverse initiatives that protect and preserve the natural environment. Since their earliest cultures, humans have defined their connection to the natural environment through spiritual traditions, religions, and belief systems. In the natural environment there were unseen forces, physically apparent phenomena, and numerous creatures and living things that impacted the daily lives of all people. The earliest sacred stories and prac- tices around the world include explanations about the creation, existence, and purpose of all living things, natural landscapes, waterscapes, and skyscapes, and often the expansive cosmos. These stories and practices provide the foundation for most religiously motivated environmentalism, through new interpretations of ancient sacred texts, practices, beliefs and values, or recommitment to ancient spiritual knowledge. By exploring their roots, religious and spiritual traditions have redis- covered their connections to the natural environment and embraced a reli- giously motivated environmentalism. Followers of these traditions are now thinking about environmentalism and ecology in new and exciting ways. Religiously motivated environmentalists are increasingly collabo- rating with scholars, theorists, scientists, and activists, as well as govern- ments and politicians, on projects and campaigns that protect and preserve