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2020 | Book

Religion and Urban Planning Read chapter Read first chapter

Theology and Urban Sustainability

Author: Dr. Zaheer Allam

Publisher: Springer International Publishing

Book Series : SpringerBriefs in Geography

Part of: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Technik" , Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

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About this book

Even though theology does provide interesting and important contributions to ethics that laid the foundation of our modern societies, this book looks at exploring how theology has impacted on urban morphology and has led to questionable unsustainable practices which impacts on both climate and societal living standards. This is seen as being accelerated with the impacts of climate change coupled with increasing urbanisation rates that stresses on contemporary notions and foundations, as initially sparked by religion. Through an argumentative style, the author sets forth to explore the ethics of religious dogmas in a rapidly urbanising world that is stressed by increasing consumption from a booming demographic.

Table of Contents

Frontmatter
Chapter 1. Religion and Urban Planning
Abstract
Religious influences on urbanism are not only manifested through how places of worship have shaped cities across time but also encompass sociological, cultural, and political dimensions. This is witnessed through the grand monuments that stood the test of time, or through how the relationship of religion and politics has had a long story. Even though modern society is more educated, the role of religion is still having an impact on contemporary urban form and on society at large. This chapter explores how this phenomenon occurs in the discourse of increasing urbanization coupled with the impacts of climate change. In view of the challenges faced by cities, this chapter further ponders if religious dogmas are still applicable and current, and thus serving society just as well as religious bodies.
Zaheer Allam
Chapter 2. Religious Matrimony, Urban Sprawl and Urban Morphology
Abstract
With an unprecedented increase in urbanization, urban sprawl is seen as arguably the single biggest threat to the biodiversity of cities and regions by supporting an increasingly high dependency on fossil fuel consumption. However, while the topic of urban sprawl has been widely documented through sciences such as urban planning, ecology, environment, infrastructure, and others, there have been little, to no literature on the correlation between urban morphology and the sociological and religious viewpoints of individual housing units; making the grounds for sprawl. This perspective chapter puts forth the argument that religious matrimony contributes largely to Urban Sprawl through the contemporary dogma of monogamy and nuclear family as being basic social units. In this essence, it highlights unsustainable a fundamental land-use policy fuelled largely by religious practices. While the author does not dispute religious claims, the chapter supports that the sustainability of cities need to be reviewed and questioned through equal terms in religious belief systems; which impact on both urban morphology and society. This chapter is aimed towards urban theorists, anthropologists, and sociologists.
Zaheer Allam
Chapter 3. Urban and Graveyard Sprawl: The Unsustainability of Death
Abstract
The subject of death can be difficult to deal with due to the varying number of religious practices and their difference in beliefs regarding afterlife. However, many of them converge towards the burying of the dead to help in the ascent towards a peaceful afterlife. This has been a practice led since time immemorial. This practice, however, while it brings positive emotional responses and helps in the way people may find closure with the deceased, can be argued to be unsustainable in the way that it consumes space. This is especially emphasized in the case of increasing population growth and that of urbanization leading to scarcity of land. To build this case, This chapter explores three cemetery cases and, explores through a review of literature, the contemporary discourse on ethics and morality as to the question who gains more importance, the living or the dead pertaining to the questions of increased urbanization and the problems it welcomes regarding land scarcity, gentrification, and housing unaffordability. This chapter further showcases how there are now emerging forces between urban and graveyard sprawl, which can cause social tensions and impact on property value, and hence; discourage residential areas around graveyards, even if those are in highly populated areas.
Zaheer Allam
Chapter 4. Theology, Sustainability and Big Data
Abstract
The subject of faith has been observed to emanate in view of uncertain dimensions that impact negatively on psychological and liveability levels of individuals or of collective societies. However, as the amount of data increases from contemporary urban planning concepts such as Smart Cities, there are increasing tools for forecasting and predictions based on machine learning and artificial intelligence that can provide precise and accurate information; thus, reducing unknowns and uncertainties. While those are seen to increase the efficiency and performance of urban fabrics, there is an equal understanding that those can be made to impact on faith, and consequently on the governance of cities; which are shown to be intricately linked with religious principles and ethos. The subject of faith, data and governance thus emerges and is shown to be of larger significance as the role of technology is made more pronounced in urban areas.
Zaheer Allam
Chapter 5. Theology, Spirituality, and Urban Objectivity
Abstract
The role of religion and urban planning need to be evaluated and explored from an objective standpoint. This must be done void of emotional connections usually accentuated by psychological bias. In this last chapter, the thematic of religion as a political tool is reiterated to support the argument that irrationality can often accompany the subject, and how it could, on the contrary, made to contribute to urbanism from a spiritual standpoint. The works of Christopher Alexander offer some perspective on the matter and further reiterates how design can undermine our innate connection to the universe and made to support religious and spiritual claims. Those are represented through his concept of wholeness, which is supported by other leaders in the field such as Nikos Salingaros. Finally, in the pursuit of objectivity, the thematic of religion and science is evoked and a clear delineation is made as to where each should stand when it comes to urban planning.
Zaheer Allam
Backmatter
Metadata
Title
Theology and Urban Sustainability
Author
Dr. Zaheer Allam
Copyright Year
2020
Electronic ISBN
978-3-030-29673-5
Print ISBN
978-3-030-29672-8
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29673-5