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Living With Other Creatures
Richard Bauckham offers a fresh approach to the relationship between humanity and creation and our responsibility before God to steward wisely. The Bible offers fresh and often innovative approaches to a wide range of the issues that arise in relating the Bible and Christian theology to the ecological concerns of our contemporary world. Clear, biblical teaching on ecologyEncourages readers to a more responsible relationship to the planetThose interested in ecology and Christianity in tandemAnyone concerned with a greener world. It aims to show that the subject than is commonly supposed. While focusing especially on biblical material, it also engages Francis of Assisi, modern nature poetry, Matthew Fox and the history of interpretation.
271 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2011
17 people are currently reading
284 people want to read
About the author
Richard Bauckham
93 books258 followersRichard Bauckham (PhD, University of Cambridge) is senior scholar at Ridley Hall, Cambridge University, in Cambridge, England, where he teaches for the Cambridge Federation of Theological Colleges. He is also a visiting professor at St. Mellitus College, London, and emeritus professor of New Testament at the University of St. Andrews. He is a Fellow of the British Academy and the author of numerous books.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 9, 2024
I'd include this collection of essays in a list of "most important books for 21st century Christians." Bauckham has two central theses that he defends with rigorous exegesis.
First, that most purportedly 'Christian' ideas about the natural world actually derive from the anthropocentricism of Greek philosophy, rather than the theocentricism of the Hebrew Bible.
Second, that Christians should recapture a theology of shared creaturliness with creation - we are fellow worshippers of God with them. This serves as an antidote to the secular hubris that rejects limits on human behavior and considers the individual a sort of demi-god, free to do what he pleases. (Much of today's church has a rigorous vocabulary for sexual limits, but lacks a comparable vocabulary for things like economic limits and boundaries on how we can treat the natural world. All these things have to do with our own well-being, the glory of God, and the good of our neighbor.)
I especially liked essay 1, on the human place in creation, essay 2, a historical account of the Church's theology of dominion, and essay 3, an explanation of creation mysticism contrasting Matthew Fox and Francis of Assissi.
First, that most purportedly 'Christian' ideas about the natural world actually derive from the anthropocentricism of Greek philosophy, rather than the theocentricism of the Hebrew Bible.
Second, that Christians should recapture a theology of shared creaturliness with creation - we are fellow worshippers of God with them. This serves as an antidote to the secular hubris that rejects limits on human behavior and considers the individual a sort of demi-god, free to do what he pleases. (Much of today's church has a rigorous vocabulary for sexual limits, but lacks a comparable vocabulary for things like economic limits and boundaries on how we can treat the natural world. All these things have to do with our own well-being, the glory of God, and the good of our neighbor.)
I especially liked essay 1, on the human place in creation, essay 2, a historical account of the Church's theology of dominion, and essay 3, an explanation of creation mysticism contrasting Matthew Fox and Francis of Assissi.
July 20, 2024
In this collection, Bauckham effectively proves his status as one of the best biblical ecotheologians of our day.
Here he provides much needed nuance to the conservative creation theology conversation by demonstrating that not only are we supposed to be stewards in dominion over nature, but that we too are a part of creation. The biblical emphasis in our relationship with creation is much more on our shared praise of our creator than on our dominion over it.
It is to my shame that I did not read this sooner. An absolute recommend for anyone looking into a biblically robust ecotheology
Here he provides much needed nuance to the conservative creation theology conversation by demonstrating that not only are we supposed to be stewards in dominion over nature, but that we too are a part of creation. The biblical emphasis in our relationship with creation is much more on our shared praise of our creator than on our dominion over it.
It is to my shame that I did not read this sooner. An absolute recommend for anyone looking into a biblically robust ecotheology
April 9, 2016
This book was a mixed bag for me. It started off good in chapter 1 by claiming that we must focus on all of scripture if we are to understand what it means to dwell as one of God’s creatures here on earth, and that we must think theologically not just in our vertical relationship, but our horizontal relations as well. There is great material on Genesis 2 that is presented here dwelling primarily on our connectedness with the rest of creation. Hierarchy/kingship gets good treatment and is presented as brotherhood/sisterhood among, rather than an authoritarian relationship over creation. For Bauckham (reflecting here on Job), a human is “a creature among other creatures and in a cosmos that has its own meaning and value independently of us.” This understanding becomes clear as we look at creation, independent of us, as worshipping it’s Creator.
Chapter 2 was a great analysis of the Christian understanding of dominion throughout history. This chapter is a challenge to Lynn White’s influential 1967 article “The Historical Roots of Our Ecologic Crisis.” Bauckham here writes on an often ignored part of the ecological understand in Christian history: the hermits. How quick we are to forget the Desert Mothers and Fathers, the Celtic saints, and the Franciscan’s, for example. Bauckham also challenges the dangerous thoughts put forth by Frances Bacon and René Descartes. This was a very informative section and was well balanced in acknowledging ways in which Christian tradition has, at times, led to dangerous anthropocentric thinking instead of a proper theocentric position (as in the aforementioned saints).
Chapter 3 is where things took a turn for me. There is some very interesting material here on ecology in the Synoptic gospels, particularly dealing with Mark 1:13. But this material is visited, sometimes verbatim, three times in the book. Chapter 5 is the most detailed exegesis of the text, but much of it is repeated material. The chapters are based on various lectures that Bauckham has given and it becomes clear that there is an overlap in material which makes the reading a bit cumbersome. Still, there is good worked to be gleaned from here as with his subsequent chapter on the sermon on the mount.
The end chapters in the book deal with the topic of “creation’s praise” in heaven and focus heavily on Revelation 4. While there is a strong exegesis of the text, I am not convinced by Bauckham's claim that it is arrogant to think of humanity in a priestly role. There is zero engagement here with the work of John Walton, for example, in his presentation of the earth as temple with humanity serving as it’s priests. Neither is the “kingdom of priests” dealt with sufficiently, in my estimation. I don’t necessarily disagree with all of the authors work here but I simply don’t see it as a sufficient argument against the priesthood of humanity. Is priesthood rightly seen as a hierarchal position of power in the first place?
There are some gems in this book and it is worth your time if you are interested in researching the topic, however it is repetitive and not convincing (to me) in it’s position against the priesthood of humanity.
Chapter 2 was a great analysis of the Christian understanding of dominion throughout history. This chapter is a challenge to Lynn White’s influential 1967 article “The Historical Roots of Our Ecologic Crisis.” Bauckham here writes on an often ignored part of the ecological understand in Christian history: the hermits. How quick we are to forget the Desert Mothers and Fathers, the Celtic saints, and the Franciscan’s, for example. Bauckham also challenges the dangerous thoughts put forth by Frances Bacon and René Descartes. This was a very informative section and was well balanced in acknowledging ways in which Christian tradition has, at times, led to dangerous anthropocentric thinking instead of a proper theocentric position (as in the aforementioned saints).
Chapter 3 is where things took a turn for me. There is some very interesting material here on ecology in the Synoptic gospels, particularly dealing with Mark 1:13. But this material is visited, sometimes verbatim, three times in the book. Chapter 5 is the most detailed exegesis of the text, but much of it is repeated material. The chapters are based on various lectures that Bauckham has given and it becomes clear that there is an overlap in material which makes the reading a bit cumbersome. Still, there is good worked to be gleaned from here as with his subsequent chapter on the sermon on the mount.
The end chapters in the book deal with the topic of “creation’s praise” in heaven and focus heavily on Revelation 4. While there is a strong exegesis of the text, I am not convinced by Bauckham's claim that it is arrogant to think of humanity in a priestly role. There is zero engagement here with the work of John Walton, for example, in his presentation of the earth as temple with humanity serving as it’s priests. Neither is the “kingdom of priests” dealt with sufficiently, in my estimation. I don’t necessarily disagree with all of the authors work here but I simply don’t see it as a sufficient argument against the priesthood of humanity. Is priesthood rightly seen as a hierarchal position of power in the first place?
There are some gems in this book and it is worth your time if you are interested in researching the topic, however it is repetitive and not convincing (to me) in it’s position against the priesthood of humanity.
March 1, 2016
A collection of essays by Bauckham that focus around green theology and exegesis. Some material is repeated due to these essays having been published separately in the past. So, pick and choose as you find necessary. One essay of particular importance is his opening essay where he locates the problem of modern ecology not in Christian theology, but in the bastardization of Christianity by being synthesized with a modern mechanistic view of science and a cosmically autonomous view of humanity inherited from the Renaissance. Another excellent essay is his thorough and substantive critique of Matthew Fox, author of 'The Cosmic Christ,' a former Dominican who was expelled from the order but who now resides in the Episcopal Church, and the leader of the 'Creation Spirituality' movement. Bauckham charitably read and digested Fox's work, but also profoundly disagrees with him. Further, Bauckham uses St. Francis as a model of creation spirituality, and uses Francis' own theology to critique Fox. On top of these essays, Bauckham also analyzes the Gospels from an ecological perspective. He considers Jesus' relationship with animals and also his pastoral context. Excellent stuff.
January 7, 2025
This book helped formalize my understanding of Christians relationship to and in creation. It’s been a few years since I read it so a reread might be helpful.
June 18, 2012
Bauckham produces another interesting work. One which, as far as I am aware, is an innovation unparalleled. A New Testament scholar considers ecology. He’s a welcome and informed voice concerned about creation and concerned about scriptural warrant for creation-care − a voice which recognizes the intricate and inseparable relation between creation and eschatology.
The essays are unified around a couple core commitments, most notably, that humans do not have hierarchical authority over living creatures. Humans are creatures among others. Their ‘dominion’ is one of ‘stewardship’ − they nurture and promote life, not destroy it towards their own ends. His case study for a proper theological appreciation of creation is St. Francis. Because all creation praises God, we are not to silent them, but join them in their praise. A frog singing, sings to it’s creator, just by being a frog.
The most interesting and exegetical insight is of Mark 1:13. Jesus was tempted by Satan and he was with the wild beasts. Bauckham argues this detail should not be ignored. It is Mark signaling the fulfillment of the eschatological expectation that the messianic age would bring peace between wild animals and humans (Isa 11:6-9). Therefore, wild animals have independent value for themselves and for God (Chapter 4). The chapter on Revelation is also very insightful.
It’s a fine and commendable work. One that has given me much to think through. My frustration when reading it, which may not be shared, was I found it highly repetitive. The essays overlapped a lot, which made reading it through somewhat tedious. I recognize that as a book of essays, coherence can hardly be expected.
The essays are unified around a couple core commitments, most notably, that humans do not have hierarchical authority over living creatures. Humans are creatures among others. Their ‘dominion’ is one of ‘stewardship’ − they nurture and promote life, not destroy it towards their own ends. His case study for a proper theological appreciation of creation is St. Francis. Because all creation praises God, we are not to silent them, but join them in their praise. A frog singing, sings to it’s creator, just by being a frog.
The most interesting and exegetical insight is of Mark 1:13. Jesus was tempted by Satan and he was with the wild beasts. Bauckham argues this detail should not be ignored. It is Mark signaling the fulfillment of the eschatological expectation that the messianic age would bring peace between wild animals and humans (Isa 11:6-9). Therefore, wild animals have independent value for themselves and for God (Chapter 4). The chapter on Revelation is also very insightful.
It’s a fine and commendable work. One that has given me much to think through. My frustration when reading it, which may not be shared, was I found it highly repetitive. The essays overlapped a lot, which made reading it through somewhat tedious. I recognize that as a book of essays, coherence can hardly be expected.
July 15, 2013
A great scholar writing about a theology that is centered on God, not man. This, and other works in a similar vein by Bauckham, should be mandatory reading by all those desiring the office of 'teacher/pastor' in the Christian faith. Even if you do not adopt 'green theology', it is good to know the arguments for it, especially in this age of ecological indifference, ignorance, and destruction.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews