Religion, Politics, and the Earth: The New Materialism

In this review the authors Clayton Crockett and Jeffrey W. Robbins present a provocative blend of contemporary philosophy and theology aimed at readers interested in political resistance and ecological critique. The book argues for a new theological materialism that reconceives Being as energy, offering a sustained attack on corporate capitalism and proposing a metaphysical basis for ecological and political action. The writing draws on postmodern and postmetaphysical thinkers and is best appreciated by readers prepared for dense theoretical argumentation and strong political conviction.

Key Features

• Theoretical framework: The book synthesizes postmodern and postmetaphysical thought to offer a coherent foundation for a new theological materialism that links ontology with political resistance.
• Political focus: It foregrounds corporate capitalism as the principal antagonist and outlines why a reactivated politics of resistance is necessary for ecological survival.
• Ecological insight: The authors connect metaphysical claims about Being as energy to practical concerns about ecological, energy, and financial crises.
• Intellectual lineage: Drawing on thinkers like Vattimo and Badiou, the book locates itself in contemporary continental debates while proposing a distinct theological turn.
• Accessible endorsements: The text includes strong endorsements that highlight its timeliness and usefulness for graduate-level philosophical study.

Who It's For

This book is best for graduate students, scholars, and informed readers in philosophy, theology, and political theory who want a dense, conceptually ambitious account linking ontology, ecology, and political resistance. It suits those prepared to engage with continental thinkers and theoretical reconstruction rather than step-by-step policy proposals.

Readers seeking a straightforward handbook on environmental activism, a light or popular introduction to ecology, or a nontechnical policy manual should look elsewhere; this volume is primarily a scholarly intervention intended to shift theoretical foundations rather than provide prescriptive campaign tactics.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Ambitious theoretical synthesis that offers a new way to think about Being and energy in relation to politics.
• Clear political commitment that connects metaphysical claims to contemporary ecological and financial crises.
• Useful for graduate coursework, as noted by academic endorsements, making it a valuable classroom text.

Cons

• The dense, theoretical style may be challenging for readers not already familiar with postmodern or continental philosophy.
• It focuses on foundational critique more than on concrete policy or step-by-step activism guidance.

Specifications

Title	Religion, Politics, and the Earth: The New Materialism
Series	Radical Theologies
Authors	Clayton Crockett and Jeffrey W. Robbins
Subject areas	Religion, Politics & State; Philosophy; Ecology
Academic use	Graduate coursework and scholarly study
Main themes	Theological materialism, critique of corporate capitalism, ontology as energy

Our Verdict

Religion, Politics, and the Earth: The New Materialism is a substantial scholarly intervention that rewards readers who want theoretical rigor and a principled critique of corporate capitalism tied to ecological concerns. It is good value for graduate students and scholars seeking a reassessment of ontology and political theology, though those wanting practical activism guides should supplement it with more applied texts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this book suitable for undergraduates?
The book is primarily aimed at graduate-level readers and scholars; advanced undergraduates with strong background in continental philosophy may benefit but should expect dense argumentation.

Does it offer practical environmental policy advice?
No, the focus is theoretical: the authors propose a new metaphysical framework rather than step-by-step policy prescriptions.

Which thinkers influence the arguments?
The text explicitly engages with postmodern and postmetaphysical thinkers such as Vattimo and Badiou to build its case for theological materialism.