Preface
Acknowledgements
Introduction: Economics and Environmental Religions
Part I: The False God of Economic Salvation
1. What Is “Economic Theology”?
2. Theologies of 9/11
3. How Much Is God Worth?
4. Sustainability, Efficiency, and God
5. All in the Name of Progress
Part II: Environmental Calvinism
6. Unoriginal Sin
7. Calvinism Minus God
Part III: Environmental Creationism
8. Ecological Science as a Creation Story
9. Environmental Creationism and Christian Creationism
10. Re-creating the Creation
11. Environmental Colonialism: “Saving” Africa from Africans
Part IV: Environmentalism and Libertarianism
12. Frank Knight and Economic Calvinism
13. Libertarian Environmentalism
Conclusion: Religious Challenges
Notes
Index
Praise for The New Holy Wars
“Nelson compellingly argues that religion is a powerful force in economic and social life, . . . even if that fact is seldom recognized by most academics and policy makers. The dominant religious influences are secularized versions of Catholicism and Protestantism, not because the leading scholars are piously trying to advance their faith by other means, but because their intellectual horizons have been shaped by worldviews that have framed their consciousness. He convinces me that unless these presuppositions are acknowledged, examined, broadened, and revised, the economic and ecological crises that the world now faces will not be understood or met at their deeper levels.”
—Max L. Stackhouse, Rimmer and Ruth de Vries Professor of Reformed Theology and Public Life, Princeton Theological Seminary
“A completely different framework for thinking about ways in which both politics and theology have affected thinking about climate change is found in The New Holy Wars: Economic Religion Versus Environmental Religion in Contemporary America by Robert H. Nelson. Nelson, an economist who worked in the Department of the Interior for 18 years and now teaches environmental policy at the University of Maryland, offers a provocative analysis of environmentalism and economics as two competing forms of secular religion in America.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Robert Nelson argues that environmentalism is a religion. . . . This provocative thesis raises hard and embarrassing questions about the bases of environmentalism that every serious student of the subject must confront.”
—Dan Tarlock, Director of the Program in Environmental and Energy Law, Chicago-Kent College of Law
“Robert H. Nelson’s new book is engaging, provocative, and occasionally vexing. The basic message is that economics and environmentalism have emerged as oppositional 'secular religions' in modern-day America—secular religions that owe a deep debt to, and now compete with, a set of American Christian traditions. Throughout the book, Nelson works to uncover and articulate underlying religious (read 'Christian') themes in American economic and environmental systems of thought. He does this on the assumption that greater intellectual coherence and maturity of policy will result from a deeper understanding of these secular religions’ largely Christian roots. Rich historical analysis is offered in support of this notion. . . . The struggle between economic and environmental religions will surely continue, but whether such a battle can be meaningfully resolved only by assigning ultimate authority to God is a question that remains open in The New Holy Wars.”
—Perspectives on Politics
“Anyone who wants to understand twenty-first century politics should begin with The New Holy Wars, which makes clear the fundamental conflict between how economists and environmentalists see the world.”
—Andrew P. Morriss, H. Ross and Helen Workman Professor of Law and Business, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
“Robert H. Nelson, one of the world’s leading natural resource economists, long has argued that the ideologies in economics are secularizations of traditional religion and that this concealment is ill advised. . . . He now also brands environmentalism as a secular religion whose roots need examination. This book postulates a war between that religion and the economic religion that he previously criticized. For decades claims of scientific objectivity in policy advice have been easy targets for charges of a ‘pretense of knowledge.’ Critics noted the obvious implicit value judgments and the hopeless incoherence of the concepts of scientific and objective. Substantial obstacles plague efforts to go further, and all efforts with which I am familiar are noble failures at best. Environmentalism is an even easier target. Many excellent refutations exist. Thus, Nelson has the challenge of adding something new. Nelson, in fact, provides a solid and unfamiliar argument. At best, environmentalists stress preserving natural conditions while ignoring billions of years of regular change in nature. At worst, they argue that the rise of homo sapiens is uniquely unnatural. . . . His religious approach very nicely skewers the intellectual incoherence of environmentalism. Its basic flaws are false claims. Humanity becomes an illegitimate species, and the environmentalists ignore billions of years of massive natural changes in the environment. Nelson is warning environmentalists that they must come to grips with the reality of scarcity. . . . The New Holy Wars combines devastating criticism of environmentalism.”
—Cato Journal
“Significant University Press Title for Undergraduates.”
—Choice
“The provocative premise of Robert Nelson’s The New Holy Wars is that the most important American “religions” today are not any of the world religions (nor the fundamentalist strands that populate the headlines), but actually two forms of “secular religion” that have emerged out of the Judeo-Christian traditions of Western civilization. First, economic religion, which Nelson argues is responsible for the modern centralized regulatory and welfare state, promotes a narrative that “human beings can produce an ideal world, or heaven on earth, by ending material poverty through productivity, efficiency, and scientific management”. Second, environmental religion proclaims that “[W]e once had an ideal world, or Eden, which was destroyed by progress, economic growth, and industry, and … we must repent and return, to Eden”. Environmental religion is in part a reaction against the perceived excesses and dominance of economic religion, and its influence is growing in the 21st century. And, Nelson argues, the conflict between these secular theologies is not only the foundation of our modern social debate, but will continue to have deep implications for how we order our society’s relationship with nature. . . . This ambitious book was awarded the Eric Hoffer Book Award Grand Prize and a Silver Medal from the Annual Independent Publisher Medal from the Annual Independent Publisher study, both for its rich treatment of the development of these so-called secular religions as well as for the implications the “holy wars” of economic religion and environmental religion have for contemporary policy debates. In tracing the development of the secular religions of economics and environmentalism, Nelson invites their adherents, as well as adherents of non-secular religions, to explore the theological roots of these seemingly “secular” frameworks and to identify common ground between them. In a time of deep disagreement about environmental issues, such as climate change and regulation of the oil industry, and a time of religious divisiveness, Nelson’s work is a timely invitation both to understand the roots of the struggle between environmentalists and economists, and to think more deeply about the relationship between society and nature that we envision.”
—The Review of Faith and International Affairs
“Nelson makes an overwhelmingly persuasive case that in our times the leading secular religion was once economics and is now environmentalism. . . . Out of that utterly original idea for scholarly crossovers—good Lord, an economist reading environmentalism and even economics itself as theology!—come scores of true and striking conclusions. . . . It’s a brilliant book, which anyone who cares about the economy or the environment or religion needs to read. That’s most of us.”
—Deirdre McCloskey, Distinguished Professor of Economics, History, English, and Communication, University of Illinois at Chicago
“The New Holy Wars is not so much a disquisition on the clash of religions as those have traditionally been identified, e.g., Catholicism, Protestantism, Orthodoxy, Judaism or Islam, but on the clash of the new, secular religions: ‘. . . the new holy wars are today being fought out—fortunately mostly with words—by two clashing secular religions grounded in the messages of economics and environmentalism.’ . . . The central contentions of The New Holy Wars are largely convincing. Its central thesis is incontrovertible. It should be required reading for orthodox religious believers so that they may know where the real challenges to their faiths lie. If such believers wanted to practice one of the spiritual works of mercy (counseling the ignorant) they could get copies of this book into the hands of those of their friends and neighbors who, perhaps unthinkingly, are adherents of the new religions.”
—Journal of Faith and the Academy
“In his most recent work, The New Holy Wars: Economic Religion vs. Environmental Religion, this non-theologian proves capable of out-theologizing many theologians. Nelson’s earlier volumes and articles position him as one paying sustained attention to key questions being ignored by many others. Apart from the gospel of prosperity and discredited liberation theology, how many meaningfully connect theology and economics? How many believers credibly use the term ‘God’ to understand the social, political, and economic—and not merely personal—dimensions of their lives? Nelson convincingly argues that economics and environmentalism are two new secular religions that require theological understanding. The novelty of Nelson’s approach, however, is not so much in the identification of these approaches as secular religions, but in his analysis of their conflicting values and articulation of their internal inconsistencies. . . . This book raises important questions that theologians, ethicists, and pastors should engage. Nelson defines economics and environmentalism as secular religions because they offer 'comprehensive worldviews and myths that provide humans beings with the deepest sense of meaning.' Insofar as that is true, Christian pastors and theologians have their work cut out for them. One strategy might be to follow Nelson’s analysis, and then offer theological rejoinder. . . . Nelson is required reading for theologians and pastors today. To engage issues he raises, they will need allot more time to reading sociology, economics, and theology and less time for psychology and spirituality. That might be thought of as the opportunity cost of doing God’s business in the early twenty-first century.”
—Christian Century
“Economists of the twentieth century looked upon the depravity surrounding them and pinpointed the source of this sin: material shortages. By promoting the development of financially profitable natural resources, progressive economists believed this sin could be erased. A century later, however, this economic religion is suffering and as Robert Nelson’s The New Holy Wars: Economic Religion vs. Environmental Religion argues, it may well be on its way out. . . . Nelson’s new book offers a fascinating interpretation of this dilemma. By examining the fundamental tenets of both economics and environmentalism The New Holy Wars provides a fresh perspective on one of the most debated issues of our time. The New Holy Wars proposes that at their cores, both environmentalism and Western economic theory are informed by Judeo-Christian beliefs. However, the theological underpinnings of these disciplines have been ‘remapped’ to form secular versions of Christianity. Taking this a step further, Nelson argues that the clash of these two competing secular religions represents the ‘most important religious controversy’ in America today. It is a startling proposition for which Nelson presents a convincing case. By framing the environmental debate in spiritual terms he makes sense of the intensity with which both sides promote their worldviews. At the same time The New Holy Wars digs beyond the rhetoric to unearth those presuppositions which are essential to understanding both sides of the debate. Perhaps most intriguing is Nelson’s treatment of environmentalism. Nelson argues what few practitioners are willing to admit—the environmentalist worldview is very much a religious one. . . . While The New Holy Wars does not offer a solution to the economic-environmental debate, it does provide significant insight into the issue. Nelson’s stimulating case for the role religion plays in the economic and environmental philosophies dominating current public policy is bound to challenge his readers. Those seeking to equip themselves for today’s challenges should pay heed to Robert Nelson’s work.”
—Family Research Council Blog
"In his excellent book, The New Holy Wars: Economic Religion vs. Environmental Religion in Contemporary America, Professor Robert H. Nelson likens the contemporary struggle between those two secular religions to John Calvin's struggle against the establishment of Catholicism 500 years ago. Nelson's book concludes: 'It is time to take secular religion seriously. It is real religion. In the twentieth century, it showed greater energy, won more converts, and had more impact on the western world than the traditional institutional forms of Christianity.'"
—Thomas P. Sheahen, former Senior Scientist, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy
“Robert H. Nelson’s book, The New Holy Wars: Economic Religion vs. Environmental Religion in Contemporary America, . . . aims to deconstruct modern economics and the environmental movement, purporting to reveal them as literal religions. . . . Robert Nelson has a relatively easy time of it pointing to the Calvinist roots of John Muir. David Brower, and other early environmentalists, highlighting the awe and inspiration they found in nature while jettisoning their Protestant, i.e., Calvinist or Presbyterian backgrounds. The same is true for the lapsed Baptist E. O. Wilson. Nelson quotes the contemporary environmental advocate on climate change, Bill McKibben, who has written that ‘many people, including me, have overcome it [crisis in belief] to a greater or lesser degree by locating God in nature.’ . . . Nelson links economics and religion, going back to the social gospel movement and its transformation into Progressivism, with its emphasis on scientific management, centralized government concentrated in Washington, and the control of nature.”
—The Environmental Forum
“It would be a mistake to view The New Holy Wars as about the narrower topic of religion and the environment. Nelson has much to say about important belief systems of contemporary society and research agendas of the social sciences. In his view, economics and environmentalism are competing faiths, constituted from modern secular assumptions. . . . Three novel contributions come from Nelson’s analysis. First, the argument about economics as fundamentally ‘religious’ provides details about its implicit assumptions and policing actions and perspectives on its exalted status and claims of rigour. . . . Second, Nelson draws on the American notion of the separation of religion and government to argue for a form of progressive libertarianism as the only legal status for government intervention in economic policy. The third contribution is the many examples of public policy built on the faith assumptions of either economics or environmentalism. . . . Nelson believes that the social sciences have been dismissive toward religion, which he depicts as ‘the disdain of one faith as expressed toward a religious competitor’.”
—Environmental Politics
“Robert Nelson argues that environmentalism and economics represent competing religious worldviews. Within this framework, debates over issues like global warming and acid rain become veiled theological disputes between these two 'secular religions.' Nelson paints with a broad, aggressive brush. This is both the strength and weakness of his book, as he conjures a world of epic battles between the economic faithful, who worship material progress, and the environmentally pious, who bemoan the corruption visited by humans upon the natural world. In each case, Nelson finds deeper historical and theological roots for current debates. . . . Nelson means to be provocative, and he succeeds. . . . Nelson teaches at a school of public policy, where students will learn much about economic analysis and organizational studies, but little about history and religion. If my own classroom is any measure, Nelson has interesting and provocative things to say to such students and to the broader public. And while professional historians may disagree with his analysis, we all need to think more about the metaphysical and religious foundations of ideas that seem, on their surface, merely technical.”
—Technology and Culture
“Forget the ‘Culture Wars” and the assault of Christianity. The real conflict in America is thoroughly secular—between environmental and economic ‘religions’—or so says Robert Nelson. He makes the argument. Long known to conservatives, that religion never really goes away. Modern secular religions, like these two, borrow from the Christian tradition. As such, they inherit the same theological language and ideas. Most importantly, they inherit age-old theological debates and animosities. . . . But the greatest similarity between these two secular religions is that both distort the traditional Christian idea of sacramentality, which sees the divine in all things—even the most ordinary.”
—Chronicles
“Nelson argues that, even if they are not aware of it, economic growth and environmental protection advocates in America both approach their advocacy positions with ‘religious convictions’ drawn from the influences of Judeo-Christian history and thought in the United States. . . . Nelson points out that both groups also tend to believe that one of the main barriers to achieving ideal economic or environmental states-of-the-world are people who just will not do the right thing because of their flawed characters (e.g., ‘they just don’t appreciate the environment enough’ or ‘they just don’t care enough about providing good jobs for everyone’). . . . The structure, organization, and style of the book are very clear and readable. . . . This book is a good read for economists of all backgrounds and persuasions, including Christian economists, for several reasons. First, the overall theme and theses of the book provide stimulating food for thought and insights into the possible ethical and philosophical drivers underlying the economic growth and environmental protection advocacy positions, movements, and policies in contemporary America. . . . Reading his book will provide everyone with very useful information and background on the history and development of both the progressive economic growth and well-being movement and the environmental protection and quality movement. . . . To the extent that religious or philosophical conflicts or ‘wars’ exist between people in these two movements, I believe reading the book may help both economists and environmentalists (including and perhaps especially those of the Christian faith) to better understand each other and perhaps reach common ground and complementary solutions to our pressing economic and environmental problems. . . . In his final chapter, Nelson also provides a discussion of challenges posed by various secular ‘religions’ and some personal reflections on this topic which Christian economists and others should find interesting.”
—Faith and Economics
“It is well know that churches, mosques, synagogues, and other religious organizations play a central role in the U.S. religious landscape. It is no surprise, then, that these institutionalized forms of religion also dominate the social scientific study of religion. More recently, however, scholars have been paying more attention to the noninstitutionalized shape of contemporary religion. Interesting questions begin to arise when we step outside of these institutional locales where we might not otherwise expect. In The New Holy Wars, Robert Nelson ventures on such a quest, and explores modern economics and the modern environmental movement as two competing modern religions, each of which, he argues, is a reembodied form of Christianity. Nelson, a trained economist and long-time analyst for the Department of the Interior, is particularly well suited to explore the ideological, or ‘religious,’ underpinnings of economics and environmentalism. Drawing from this experience, Nelson produces a book that is highly readable, well-researched, and for the most part, able to cash in on its provocative premise. . . . This book should be of interest to a wide variety of audiences, not only to scholars of religion, but also to economists, environmentalists, and the general public interested in religion. It is highly readable and touches on many relevant and controversial issues in contemporary society, and concludes (most likely to the chagrin of economists and environmentalists) that these are religions like any other. For the scholars of religion, it reminds us to reconsider the social movements of our time, and to devote more energy to uncovering and considering the implicit assumptions buried beneath these movements, many of which are not ‘secular’ at all, but are saturated with adapted versions of traditional religious beliefs and practices.”
—Journal of the Scientific Study of Religion
“In The New Holy Wars, former civil servant and current professor of public policy Robert H. Nelson argues that the main conflict in contemporary U.S. political life is between economic and environmental forms of secular religion, each with their own brand of theology rooted in the Western Christian heritage. . . . if Nelson’s central thesis about the theologies inherent in U.S. socio-political life is well founded, then the problem here is particularly pointed, especially if those who might be said to belong to economic religion and environmental religion, more often than not, fail to recognize the dogmatic nature of their respective secular religious beliefs. For Nelson, this phenomenon is compounded by the manner in which many social scientists and environmentalists are avowedly anti-religious and thus predisposed not to recognize the ‘theological’ quality to their beliefs.”
—Journal for the Study of Religion, Nature and Culture
About the Author
Robert H. Nelson is Senior Fellow at the Independent Institute and Professor of Environmental Policy at the School of Public Policy of the University of Maryland. Dr. Nelson is the author of many journal articles and seven books, including Reaching for Heaven on Earth: The Theological Meaning of Economics and Economics as Religion: From Samuelson to Chicago and Beyond.
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