Religions' Future in the Anthropocene

When the present epoch is described as "Anthropocene" human choice is seen as essential to the planet's future. This essay accepts this presupposition of choice and demonstrates its consequences upon the religions of the world. It does this first by describing what human choices must be made in order to bring about a healthy planet; then provides a way of expanding the current definitions of "religion" so these new social realities will be recognized in the future. It describes in detail how religions have interfaced with planetary necessities in the past and present. Presupposing that the religions of the world have been a force of good as well as ill, it describes what must happen in both the classical as well the newer forms of religion to enable the future environmental changes to be for the good of humanity.