Required Books:
- Connie Barlow, Green Space, Green Time: The Way of Science (Springer-Verlag, 1997).
- Ernest Callenbach, Ecology: A Pocket Guide (University of California, 1998).
- Dieter T. Hessel and Rosemary Radford Ruether, eds. Christianity and Ecology (Harvard University, 2000).
- Ursula King, ed. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (Orbis,1999).
- Alice Laffey, Appreciating God’s Creation through Scripture (Paulist, 1997).
- Joanna Macy and Molly Brown, Coming Back to Life: Practices to Reconnect Our Lives, Our World (New Society, 1998).
COURSE OUTLINE
Week 1: INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE
- Reading: Callenbach and Laffey, whole books- What is Ecology? Ecological Crisis as Spiritual Crisis
- Preliminary Survey of Ecospiritual Ideas
- Video: “The Unfolding Story”
- Barlow’s “Five Ways”
- Getting Started on “Practices”
- Introduction to “Spirituality of Place” re: Chicago/Hyde Park
Week 2: THE WAY OF SCIENCE
- Be sure to work regularly with your “Place Journals!”
- Plan consultation (in person or by telephone) re: your course project.
- Read in preparation: Barlow (whole book)
- Recommended in Hessel & Ruether: Maguire & Bratton; French
- Historical Perspective: The Dialogue of Science and Religion
- Video: “The Cosmic Voyage”
- The Present Earth Crisis
- Scientists’ Contributions to Ecospirituality:
- The Ecological Vision
- The Evolutionary Epic
- Gaia Theory and Its Implications
- “Old Story” and “New Story”: Challenges for Biblical Religion
Week 3: THE WAY OF REFORMING OUR OWN TRADITION
- Turn in practice journal for comments.
- Read: In Hessel & Ruether: Johnson; Cowdin; Keller; Knitter
- King anthology: whole book
- Basic Issues for Christian theology
- New Hermeneutical Principles for Christian Theology:
- “Recycling” Classical Traditions
- “Deep Ecumenicity”
- The Vision of Teilhard de Chardin
- Contemporary Theologians and Spiritual Writers
Week 4: PRACTICES FOR RECONCILIATION WITH THE EARTH
- Read: Macy (whole book)
- Other essays to be assigned
- Effects of Denial, Alienation, Trauma, and Grief
- Educating Ourselves and Others for the “Ecological Self”
- The Way of the Ancients: Indigenous Religions
- The Way of Transcendence: Eastern Religions
Week 5: CONVERSION TO THE EARTH
- Read: In Hessel & Ruether: Hiebert, Berry,Burton-Christie, Cobb, Rasmussen, Mische; Conclusion
- Where do we go from here?
- “Growing your own” Spirituality and Theology of Relationship with Nature.
- Prophetic Action and Civic Participation
- The Way of Immersion: Spirituality of Place Revisited
- Bioregional Spirituality
- Student Presentations