Capitalocene vs. Anthropocene with Jason W. Moore and Joerg Rieger

In this episode, host Gabby Lisi talks with theologian Joerg Rieger and environmental historian Jason W. Moore about the Capitalocene—a way of understanding the climate crisis not as the fault of “humanity” in general, but as the result of capitalism, empire, extraction, and the cheapening of human and non-human life.Moore challenges the familiar idea of the Anthropocene, or “age of humans,” arguing that it hides the role of capitalism and imperial power in shaping the ecological crisis. Rieger brings this analysis into conversation with theology, labor, and faith communities, asking how religion can either reinforce systems of domination or help people build solidarity and alternatives.Together, they explore class struggle, labor, ecology, Christian nationalism, economic democracy, false idols, and the power of working people. They also ask what religious communities might contribute when they recognize themselves as part of the 99% who work, struggle, organize, and depend on one another.Key Points· The Anthropocene can make the climate crisis sound like the fault of all humans equally. The Capitalocene names capitalism, empire, and extraction as central causes.· Moore argues that capitalism is not only a world economy but a “world ecology” that organizes labor, nature, power, and profit together.· Rieger emphasizes that class and labor are often missing from theology, even though work shapes most people’s lives.· The conversation explores how race, gender, and class are used to divide working people, while solidarity can help communities recognize shared power.· Faith communities can reinforce domination, but they can also resist it by organizing around labor, ecology, justice, and economic democracy.· Rieger describes labor as an “ultimate concern” because life depends on work, including unpaid, reproductive, ecological, and care labor.· The guests discuss “God the worker” as an alternative to images of God modeled on rulers, CEOs, or managers.Guest BiosJoerg Rieger, PhD, is the Founding Director of the Wendland-Cook Program in Religion and Justice at Vanderbilt Divinity School. He is Distinguished Professor of Theology, Cal Turner Chancellor’s Chair of Wesleyan Studies, and Affiliate Faculty at the Turner Family Center for Social Ventures. His work brings theology into conversation with struggles for justice and liberation, especially around labor, economics, public life, and power.Jason W. Moore is Professor of Sociology at Binghamton University, where he coordinates the World-Ecology Research Collective. An environmental historian and historical geographer, Moore is known for his work on world-ecology and for developing the concept of the Capitalocene.Resources MentionedTheology in the Capitalocene by Joerg Riegerhttps://www.fortresspress.com/store/product/9781506431574/Theology-in-the-CapitaloceneCapitalism in the Web of Life by Jason W. Moorehttps://www.versobooks.com/products/2124-capitalism-in-the-web-of-lifeAnthropocene or Capitalocene? edited by Jason W. Moorehttps://pmpress.org/index.php?l=product_detail&p=779A History of the World in Seven Cheap Things by Raj Patel and Jason W. Moorehttps://www.ucpress.edu/books/a-history-of-the-world-in-seven-cheap-things/paperWorld-Ecology Research Collectivehttps://worldecologynetwork.comWendland-Cook Program in Religion and Justicehttps://www.religionandjustice.orgReligion and Justice Podcasthttps://religionandjustice.buzzsprout.comReligion and Justice on Substackhttps://religionandjustice.substack.comAbout Religion and Justice Religion and Justice is a podcast from the Wendland-Cook Program in Religion and Justice at Vanderbilt Divinity School. We explore the intersections of class, religion, labor, and ecology, uncovering how these forces shape the work of justice and solidarity. Each episode offers space for investigation, education, and organizing through conversations with scholars, organizers, and practitioners.Learn more at religionandjustice.orgThe show is currently produced by Peterson Toscano http://www.petersontoscano.com Religion and Justice on Substack: https://religionandjustice.substack.comFollow us: Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/religionandjustice Twitter/X — https://twitter.com/ReligionandJ Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/religionandjustice/