Course Goals:
- To investigate the recent history of theological attention to the earth and its ecological systems, human impact on the environment, and biblical and spiritual resources for addressing the present crisis of global development and sustainability.
- To become acquainted with some prominent Christian theologians who are addressing environmental concerns
- To explore connections between theological reflection and ethical action
- To become better equipped to address environmental issues in a pastoral setting
Textbooks:
Hessel, Dieter T and Rosemary Radford Ruether, eds. Christianity and Ecology: Seeking the Well-Being of Earth and Humans. Harvard University Center for the Study of World Religions, 2000.
Articles on reserve in the library
Some Helpful Resources:
BOOKS
- The Austin Environmental Directory: A Guide to Environmental Products, Services and Organization. Austin, TX, 1995.
- Ball, Ian, Margaret Goodall, Clare Palmer and John Reader, eds. The Earth Beneath: A Critical Guide to Green Theology . London: SPCK, 1992.
- The Earth Bible . Sheffield Academic Press, 2001-
- Barkey, Michael B. Environmental Stewardship in the Judeo-Christian Tradition: Jewish, Catholic and Protestant Wisdom on the Environment . Washington, DC: Interfaith Council for Environmental Stewardship, 2000.
- Brueggemann, Walter. The Land: Place as Gift, Promise, and Challenge in Biblical Faith. 2d ed. Overtures to Biblical Theology. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2002.
- Fowler, Robert Booth. The Greening of Protestant Thought. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1995.
- Gebara, Ivone. Longing for Running Water: Ecofeminism and liberation. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1999.
- Granberg-Michaelson, Wesley. Redeeming the Creation: the Rio Earth Summit – Challenges for the Churches. Geneva: World Coucil of Churches, 1992.
- Hallman, David G., ed. Ecotheology: Voices from South and North. Maryknoll, N.Y: Orbis, 1994.
- Jung, Shannon. We Are Home: A Spirituality of the Environment. New York: Paulist Press, 1993.
- Mortensen, Viggo, ed. Concern for Creation: Voices on the Theology of Creation. Tro & Tanke 1995:5. Uppsala: Svenska kyrkans forskningsrad, 1995.
- Rasmussen, Larry L. Earth Community, Earth Ethics. Geneva: WCC Publications, 1996.
- Robbins, Paul, comp. and ed. The Austin Environmental Directory: A Guide to Environmental Products, Services and Organization.
- Santmire, H. Paul. Nature Reborn: The Ecological and Cosmic Promise of Christian Theology. Theology and Science Series. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2000.
PERIODICALS
- The Journal for the Study of Religion, Nature and Culture (until 2007, Ecotheology)
- WEBSITES [links to all these are available on course web site]
- National/international/ecumenical:
- ALTERNATIVES for Simple Living – began as offering alternatives to commercial Christmas https://www.simpleliving.org
- Eco-Justice Ministries – has useful list of links https://www.eco-justice.org
- Forum on Religion and Ecology – site for conference related to course textbook https://environment.harvard.edu/religion/religion/index.html
- Greenfaith: Interfaith Partners in Action for the Earth https://www.greenfaith.org
- National Religious Partnership for the Environment – ecumenical organization https://www.nrpe.org
- “Nature and Thou” – articles from the journal Cross Currents on ecotheology https://www.crosscurrents.org./nature.htm
- Network Alliance of Congregations Caring for the Earth – ecumenical organization https://nacce.org/
- Religious Thought about Animals – compiled by Dr. Ron Epstein https://online.sfsu.edu/~rone/Religion/religionanimals.html
- United Nations Environment Program – sponsoring the “Billion Tree Campaign” https://www.unep.org
- Web of Creation – a Lutheran-oriented site on faith and the environment https://www.webofcreation.org
LOCAL
- City of Austin Water Utility Center for Environmental Research at Hornsby Bend – home of “Dillo Dirt” https://www.ci.austin.tx.us/water/cer2.htm
- Ecology-Action – central Texas recycling effort https://www.ecology-action.org
- The Environmental Directory – information for Austin and Houston https://environmentaldirectory.info
- Environmental Science Institute, University of Texas at Austin – has some interesting “educational mini sites” https://www.esi.utexas.edu
Schedule:
Week 1: Introduction: History of theological concern for the earth
Week 2: Creation; Read: Christianity and Ecology, xxxiii-xlvii, 3-27; Mortensen, “From a Liberated to a Reconstructed Creation” and Bettenhausen, “Creation,” in Concern for Creation, 25-37, 97-101: Sittler, “Called to Unity”; White, “The Historical Roots of Our Ecologic Crisis”; Due: journal entry
Week 3: Hebrew perspectives – importance of land, commandments, Sabbath, jubilee; Read: Bruggeman, The Land, ch. 1; Due: journal entry and research proposal
Week 4: Christological perspectives – Incarnation and Redemption (salvation out of the world or salvation of the world, salvation of humans and other creatures); Read: Christianity and Ecology, 29-50; Westhelle, “Cross, Creation and Ecology,” in Concern for Creation, 159-167; Santmire, “Toward a Christology of Nature”; Due: journal entry
Week 5: Pneumatological perspectives – Spirit and Life; Read: Christianity and Ecology, 51-96; Due: journal entry
Week 6: Ecclesiological perspectives – earth as space for relationship; Read: Christianity and Ecology, 97-124, 127-154; Due: journal entry
Week 7: Ecumenical perspectives – justification and justice for the earth; Read: Christianity and Ecology, 155-182; Cardoso, “Empire and Religion”; Due: journal entry
Week 8: Human and other creatures – ecological systems and balance;Read: Christianity and Ecology, 227-361; Due: journal entry
Week 9: Eschatology – end of earth; Read: Christianity and Ecology, 183-224; Due: research paper (no journal entry due this week)
Week 10: Practical aspects – witness: ethics of global economy and sustainability; Read: Christianity and Ecology, 365-511; Due: journal entry
Week 11: Practical aspects – stewardship: use and conservation of resources; Read: Christianity and Ecology, 515-613; Due: journal entry
Week 12: Practical aspects – worship; Due: ministry project (no journal entry due this week)
RESERVE READINGS: EARTH THEOLOGY
- Brueggemann, Walter. The Land: Place as Gift, Promise, and Challenge in Biblical Faith. 2d ed. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2002. Pp. 1-13
- Cardoso, Nancy. “Empire and Religion: Gospel, Ecumenism and Prophecy for the 21 st Century.” Presentation at 9 th Assembly of World Council of Churches, Porto Alegre, Brazil, 14-23 February, 2006.
- Mortensen, Viggo, ed. Concern for Creation: Voices on the Theology of Creation. Uppsala: Svenska kyrkans forskningsråd, 1995. Pp. 25-37, 97-101, 159-167.
- Santmire, H. Paul. “Toward a Christology of Nature: Claiming the Legacty of Joseph Sittler and Karl Barth.” Dialog 34, no. 4 (Fall 1995): 270-280.
- Sittler, Joseph A. Sittler. “Called to Unity.” The Ecumenical Review 14 (January 1962): 177-87.
- White, Lynn Jr., “The Historical Roots of Our Ecologic Crisis.” Journal of the American Scientific Affiliation 21, no. 2 (1969): 42-46.
This syllabus pertains to when the course was offered in 2007