240528 SE Anthropology of religion, the environment and climate change (P4) (2016S)

This course is organised in two parts:

Part I starts with two lectures addressing environmental transformations and the ways in which interdisciplinary approaches and different perceptions of the environment shape human responses to perceived challenges: from the emergence of the Anthropocene concept and the way it calls into question conventional distinctions between social and natural sciences, to questions of evidence according to different disciplines and knowledge traditions. The following lecture, looking at specific ethnographic settings in the Himalaya and on the Tibetan Plateau, explores the ways in which different forms of environmental knowledge can interface (or not) in the understanding of the environment and the role they play in decision making and risk management. The first pro-seminar is dedicated to the debates that have shaped the COP 21 conference in Paris and the role that anthropology can play in understanding and shaping the processes involved. The second pro-seminar focuses on the ethical questions that emerge when environmental transformations are perceived as threats to local communities at different scales or the human species as a whole. Setting out from a range of readings from different religious and philosophical traditions the seminar discusses the ways in which they provide responses to environmental emergencies. Buddhism, Christianity, Shamanism and Pagan traditions, among others, draw on their values to define individual and collective priorities, visions and aspirations as ‘green’ , ‘sustainable’, ‘environmental friendly’, ‘in harmony with nature’ etc. This raises a number of questions:

To what an extent do they shape human action in relation to the environment?

Are they mutually compatible and translatable across different cultural settings?

Do they have an influence on global debates and negotiations?

This pro-seminar will offer an opportunity to explore the reasons behind the increasing involvement of religious communities in the climate change debate and to look in detail at some of their responses.

Part II sets out by focusing on key Buddhist notions and the way in which these have been deployed in 21st century debates. We are going to look at the reconstruction and reform of Buddhism in areas where this was banned as well at the ways in which diaspora communities have re-framed basic Buddhist tenets to adapt to new circumstances and global issues. We are also going to look at the ways in which innovations in communication technologies have been adopted in Buddhist societies: from manuscript to digital dharma. The first of the two pro-seminars will offer an opportunity to explore questions surrounding gender issues in Buddhist communities looking in particular at the life of historical women celebrated as spiritual exemplars and at the current debate on women’s’ access to full ordination. The second pro-seminar will offer the opportunity to review Buddhist environmental narratives, looking at both spiritual leaders’ statement to this effect and the rising number of Buddhist environmentalist groups.
Upon completion of the course students are expected to be able to:
* Engage with current debates on climate change using anthropological and interdisciplinary approaches;
* Engage with current debates within Buddhist societies and with the ways in which Buddhist spiritual leaders and communities draw on Buddhist notions to address global challenges;
* Write an academic text with clear references to the course literature (and, where possible and appropriate, to direct experience, research and news items)