For the Wild: Ritual and Commitment in Radical Eco-Activism - Tapa dura

"In a novel application of religious studies to the science of social movements, Sarah M. Pike emphasizes the vital role that emotion and ritual play in the making of protest. ... For the Wild will likely be of interest to scholars and students of social movements and environmental protest, but also for social change makers such as non-profits, community organizations, and grassroots activists seeking to better understand their own histories and motivations." * Social Movement Studies * "For the Wild is a timely book on a neglected area of inquiry in the emerging and increasingly significant field of religion and ecology." * Nova Religio * "Pike's For the Wild provides an essential and well-structured resource for scholars interested in the intersection between environmentalism and alternative spiritualities." * Reading Religion *

For the Wild explores the ways in which the commitments of radical environmental and animal-rights activists develop through powerful experiences with the more-than-human world during childhood and young adulthood. The book addresses the question of how and why activists come to value nonhuman animals and the natural world as worthy of protection. Emotions and memories of wonder, love, compassion, anger, and grief shape activists' protest practices and help us understand their deep-rooted commitments to the planet and its creatures. Drawing on analyses of activist art, music, and writings, as well as interviews and participant-observation in activist communities, Sarah M. Pike delves into the sacred duties of these often misunderstood and marginalized groups with openness and sensitivity.