| abstract |
Although best known for his perceived critiques of Christianity in his 1967 article, "The Historical Roots of Our Ecologic Crisis," this dissertation draws upon Lynn
Townsend White, jr.'s lesser-known texts and unpublished archival materials to reassess White's work. I argue that depictions of White that rely solely on reductionistic
readings of "Historical Roots" obscure the theoretically rich and nuanced theoretical and methodological underpinnings of his work. The goal of this dissertation, then,
is to expand upon the intellectual legacy of White and to develop a deeper understanding of his ideas by exploring his larger body of work, examining his use of Max
Weber's social theory, and by highlighting his religious life and theological ideas, most notably his articulation of a "spiritual democracy of all God's creatures."
Since White's work is a primary shaper of much of the scholarship in the field of religion and ecology, I argue that scholars must not just look to White's critiques,
but also to the solutions he gives. This provides scholars a broader range of resources and ideas from which to draw as they explore the core issue of religion's
efficacy in addressing the environmental crisis. As a project of rehabilitation, this research provides a richer, more accurate portrayal of White's intellectual and
theological legacy and also attempts to address lacunae and misunderstandings present in the scholarship of those who have responded to, agreed with, and criticized
White. In doing so, this dissertation is an invitation to scholars to utilize these findings to rethink the way in which White's work is used in discussing the
relationship between religious ideas, values, and environmental attitudes and action. This dissertation is the first monograph length assessment of the life and
work of White.
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