Contribution short abstract:

Drawing on the example of the German interfaith group Faith Bridge, this paper explores the role of materiality in the highly affective and conflictual mobilisation processes of spiritual climate activists.

Contribution long abstract:

In September 2024, the German interfaith subgroup of Extinction Rebellion, Faith-Bridge, introduced a new element of mobilisation to the wider movement: Gaia, a three-and-a-half-meter tall, bright blue puppet symbolises the Earth. For the Faith Bridge activists, Gaia embodies manifold meanings ranging from Greek mythology to the Gaia hypothesis, thus merging scientific and spiritual appeal. While for the religiously oriented activists, Gaia is not merely a symbol but has an effectiveness to it that goes beyond mere representation or mobilization, what was first emphasized vis-a-vis the wider secular movement were the figure’s more scientific connotations. At its first use in Berlin, Gaia attracted significant attention and created a vibrant atmosphere reminiscent of XR’s peak days. Some secular activists, however, expressed concerns about the figure’s spiritual dimension that, though not immediately apparent, was still tangibly present as part of the figure’s affective arrangement. As spirituality and religion are generally viewed with suspicion within the predominantly secular XR movement, practices and views that are interpreted as religious are often delegitimized. This creates uncertainty and anxiety, for members of groups such as Faith-Bridge, but it could reflect wider social dynamics, as climate activist groups in general face attempts of delegitimization and fear that the open inclusion of spiritual elements could harm their cause. In this sense, the paper argues, that these highly charged dynamics triggered by Gaia’s material presence are not primarily strategic, but rather affective, reflecting a wider political atmosphere.