Objectives of the Course:
(01) To gain a detailed understanding of environment in relation to God;
(02) To analyze the inter-dependence of God, environment and human responsibility;
(03) To be critically aware of the dimension of environmental issues facing our nation and world at large; and
(04) To analyze the environmental issues from diverse Christian perspectives (Bible, Theology, Church History, Religions, Social Analysis, Missions and Ministry).
Union Biblical Seminary
Integrated Course (Master of Theology II)
Foundational Lectures:
(01) Biblical Perspectives on Creation, Ecology and Human Responsibility (Johnson Thomaskutty, “Creation, Ecology and Human Responsibility”, Mission Today VI, October-December 2004: 338-358)
(02) Theology of ‘The Land’: Biblical Perspectives in the Indian Context (Johnson Thomaskutty, “Theology of ‘The Land’: Biblical Perspectives in the Indian Context”, Bible Bhashyam, Vol. XXX, No. 1, March 2004: 61-78)
Paper Presentation Schedule:
(01) Environmental Theology of the Genesis Creation Narratives
(02) Jesus as the ‘Son of the Soil’: Environmental Perspectives of the Canonical Gospels
(03) Role of the Environment in the Worship of Israel
(04) Pauline Understanding of the Environment in Relation to God and the Humans
(05) Environmental Concerns in the Writings of Indian Christian Theologians
(06) “Ecological Mission”: Towards Redemption of All Creation
(07) Historical Developments of Environmental Thinking in the Mission and Ministry of the Church
(08) Environmental Concerns from the Pastoral Care and Counseling Approach
(09) Integrity of Creation in Contemporary Mission Movements
(10) Impact of the Environment in the Daily Life in Ancient Israel
(11) Environmental Theology of the Catholic Epistles
(12) The Role of Environment in the Exilic and Post-Exilic Conception of the Restoration of Israel
(13) Environmental Aspects of the Book of Revelation
(14) Environmental Reflections from the Tribal Perspectives
(15) Environmental Reflections from the Dalit Perspectives
(16) A Feminist Approach to the Environmental Issues
(17) Environmental Concerns of the World Council of Churches
(18) Missional Concern for the Right Relationship among God, Human & Nature
Final Lecture: Recapitulation of the Course
Evaluation:
(01) Methodology (Including Notes and Bibliography)
(02) Use of materials including the contemporary
(03) Individual contribution in composition
(04) The way of presentation of the paper
(05) Argumentation
(06) Analysis of the current issues pertinent to the topic
(07) Comprehensive treatment of the topic
(08) Implication