istanbul 17th bienal

1. A GREEN GOD?
RELIGION and ENVIRONMENT

2. A Thought Experiment
The world today is more turbulent, more polarized,
and more at-risk than in decades. This is evident from
the ongoing pandemic, the harshening Climate Crisis,
the active war in Ukraine, Yemen, and Ethiopia, and
the dominance of xenophobic authoritarianism.
The many existential threats to our universe—natural
and manmade—require global collaboration if we
have any chance of success.
What do we need to do to create a more collective
vision of the world that will lead to a greater
commitment to our mutual responsibilities?

3. An unlikely candidate?
Religions  Social Movements
Only exceptions:
Nationalism
Marxism

4. Religions and the End of
the World (meaning, us)
The Judgment Day, The Second Coming of
Christ, Qiyamah, etc.
The story of the apocalypse is a common
narrative that arises in moments of social and
political crisis, as people try to process
unprecedented or shocking events.
Increasing materialism and evil, moral collapse
that leads to a surge in violence, bloodshed,
anarchy, and sexual immorality, natural disasters,
and worldwide pandemics.

5. The Four Horsemen

7. The End of the World Now

10. A Charismatic Leader and
the Fecundity of the
Message
Historically speaking, and continues to be the
case today, people tend to respond to men
(middle-aged, with unquestionable authority and
pedigree)
Scientific and technological innovations as
modern day miracles.
The message: clear, concise, and powerful; what
to do/what not to do; and why
Sticks and carrots/punishments and rewards

11. (Unfortunately) Not Her..

12. A Fourfold Typology of
World Religions
Inner-Worldly/Other-Worldly
Asceticism/Mysticism

13. A Fourfold Typology of
World Religions
Other-worldly stances provide no leverage upon
socio-economic (in our case, environmental)
problems.
Inner-worldly mystics attach no significance to
the material world surrounding them.
Inner-worldly ascetic act within the institutions of
the world, while being opposed to them.
The world appears to the religious virtuoso as his
responsibility.

14. Inner-Worldly Asceticism
Asceticism (askesis): severe self-discipline and
avoiding of all forms of indulgence, typically for
religious reasons.
Not for the sake of, or in preparation for the
ethereal world to come; but for this world.
To perform day to day actions, behavior (big or
small, important or trivial), in such a way, as if
God himself is watching you do them; watching,
judging, evaluating.

15. Example of IW Asceticism
Protestantism: For Max Weber, the worldly
ascetic is a rationalist. He rationalizes his own
conduct but also rejects conduct which is
specifically irrational, esthetic, or dependent
upon his own emotional reactions to the world.
Inner-worldly asceticism, including above all
Protestantism, taught the fulfillment of obligations
in the world as the sole method of proving
religious merit.

18. A Post-Modern Inner-
Worldly Asceticism?
Minimalism
The language within which the movement is
couched: promise of freedom and increased
focus, productivity; the use of formerly religious
terminology (dopamine fasting)