Faith in Transition: Christian and Muslim Activist Networks Involved in the Climate Movement

Nita, Maria (2013). Faith in Transition: Christian and Muslim Activist Networks Involved in the Climate Movement. PhD thesis The Open University.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21954/ou.ro.0000faa7

Abstract

This thesis examines the involvement of Christian and Muslim activists with the Climate and Transition Towns Movements, in Britain. It employs a predominantly ethnographic approach and uses a mixed methodology to investigate a varied data (qualitative and quantitative, as well as additional secondary media) gathered during 2007 - 2010.

As the Climate and Transition Movements represent the macro level of this research field, this study more broadly profiles these two movements and enquires into how environmental networks organise and expand. It also investigates how the faith networks function alongside or as part of other networks in this field, and how processes of cross-fertilisation take place between them. At a micro level, this thesis is concerned with activists’ identity and with the functions of ecological ritual in the context of
my study. This thesis proposes that ecological rituals serve a role in the maintenance of a faith identity in faith networks as well as in creating a new planetary identity in participants. Finally my research shows that rituals and performances aim to engage activists and their audience (the media, society at large) affectively with Climate Change, whilst making these concerns personal to the individual.