A Primer in Ecotheology

I have to be honest, I wasn’t aware there was such a thing or concept of ecotheology, which the author claims as her specialty. (my spell checker did not recognize the word) Apparently the concept has been around for 30 years or so.  Who knew?

This is a short book, 129 pages of script.  It also includes a glossary of terms and a very helpful list of organizations engaged in “environmental activism,” religious, secular, public, and academic.  It is not a book lending itself to a group study, but it does emphasize the role of religion, primarily Christianity, in addressing climate issues.  Each chapter has a brief summary of its content.  I will use them to introduce you to the book.

Chapter 1  “Introduction to Ecotheology:  a Map”  This chapter lays out the core methodological issues in approaching ecotheology, including key aspects of climate change and ecological science, the experience of ecological devestation at a local and global level, and a broad framework for a theological ecological ethics.

Chapter 2 “Ecological Biblical Hermeneutics”  This chapter gives insight into how to read the Bible ecologically from the perspective of the Earth, examines controversies over the legitimacy of such an approach, and provides a discussion of significant texts, including, for example, creation accounts from Genesis and the Wisdom literature.

Chapter 3 “New Ecotheologies of Liberation”  This chapter deals with the context of liberation theology and its engagement with global issues of poverty and how this impinges on environmental concern.  The work of Leonardo Boff will be discussed, and a comparison made with ecofeminist approaches from a range of perspectives.

Chapter 4  “Pope Francis”  This chapter will discuss the latest encyclical of Pope Francis, Laudato si’, and concentrate in particular on its theological elements and its significance for ecotheology more generally.

Chapter 5  “Deep Incarnation”  This chapter will discuss how to understand who Christ is in light of ecological concern through the notion of deep incarnation, as discussed by key authors such as Niels Gregersen and Elizabeth Johnson.

Chapter 6  “A new Anthropology for the Earth”  This chapter will cover new ways in which to conceive the significance of human beings made in the image of God in the light of current understandings of the entanglement between humans and other creatures and ecosystems.

Chapter 7  “Christian Ecological Ethics”  This chapter will discuss the specific contribution theology might make to a discussion of ecological ethics, including the economy, environmental sin, and ecological justice.

Each chapter concludes with thoughtful discussion questions to help digest the chapters contents. I hope the chapter titles and synopsis will peek your interest in how faith interacts with issues of ecology and creation care.

John Hanson