Date of Award
7-10-2008
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Religious Studies
First Advisor
Dr Jonathan Herman - Chair
Second Advisor
Kathryn McClymond
Third Advisor
Tim Renick
Abstract
As the global population continues to increase at an alarming rate, the world, as a whole, now faces the issue of overpopulation. If the world’s natural resource consumption and environmental pollution/destruction continue at their current pace, then the earth will eventually no longer be able to sustain all of its inhabitants. Social change is the only way to prevent this. The world’s religious traditions possess particular motivational qualities with respect to people’s worldviews and behaviors. All of the world’s religious traditions are responding, in some way, to overpopulation. Traditions in isolation, however, do not address the complexities of the current ecological crisis. Overpopulation requires a broader approach that unites the respective responses. This thesis examines the value of responses to overpopulation from certain Buddhist intellectuals in the contemporary religion and ecology discourse concerning overpopulation while also underscoring instances of resonance between those responses and ones from modern Christian thinkers.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.57709/1062077
Recommended Citation
Hitchcock, James H., "The Value of Buddhist Responses to Issues of Overpopulation, Overconsumption, and Environmental Degradation." Thesis, Georgia State University, 2008.
doi: https://doi.org/10.57709/1062077