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Introduction
Various cultural observers have noted in recent years a heightened sensitivity and renewed commitment to social action in American society, including conservative North American Christianity.1 This increased social consciousness-what we are calling here the "social justice turn"-seems to have emerged instep with increased environmental concern, animal rights advocacy, conservationism, and so on. No doubt there is a complex set of sociological factors that provides some sort of explanation of what has transpired when it comes to this important cultural movement.2 And to the degree that this increased social/ global awareness contributes to an increase in human flourishing and creation care, the sociological factors that have influenced this change deserve to be understood, if only to ensure that the mindset continues to be engendered.
This is particularly vital when it comes to the renewed commitment to social justice amongst conservative Christians/ This is because followers of Jesus need to be about social justice in season and out of season, both when it is popular and trendy and when it is cliché and forgotten. Adam Taylor writes, "The challenge facing the church is how to make social justice more than simply an extracurricular activity within the body of Christ but part and parcel to discipleship."4 The worry is that if the same sociological conditions that provide momentum to the ONE Campaign (www.one.org), for instance, also provide the impetus for the church in its social justice efforts, then the church will likely move on to other priorities when those sociological conditions fade.5
Alongside the influence of sociological factors, there is also the question of the unique psychological forces that motivate individuals and groups to be involved in justice-work. In many ways, these psychological forces are more fundamental. They can be triggered and shaped in significant ways by the social context, but they are ultimately the more direct source of energy for human effort. In other words, humans expend energy (for example, make choices, commit time, give money, and so on) in line with what they are moved to do. Motivations are complex psychological structures made up of beliefs, reasons, values, desires, and character traits.6 If one is psychologically motivated to help bring about a more just society, then in principle that commitment will be unmoved by shifts...