Conceptualizing Roles of Religion in Sustainability Transitions

A bourgeoning academic debate is tackling the role of religion in sustainability transitions (STs), namely, the ecology and religion debate (ERD). However, ERD lacks a social theory that conceptualizes potential roles of religion in STs in the context of non religious social spheres. Based on social differentiation theory, this article develops such a theoretical approach. Focusing on the role of organized actors, the framework supposes that religion in STs basically becomes manifest in two ways: (a) religious actors acting as “service providers” for STs, contributing with specific functions to these processes (e.g. public lobbying, value dissemination); or (b) “non-religious” actors involved in STs employing religion in their communication, there by creating “green religions.”The ways in which they can participate in STs depends on how the boundaries between the “religious” and “non-religious” are drawn in the given socio-geographical context. This approach orders existinginsights on religion in STs and suggests potential avenues of research.