A Primer in Ecotheology: Theology for a Fragile Earth

by Celia Deane-Drummond

This book serves as an introduction to the burgeoning field of ecothology, illustrating both its variety and its commonality across different Christian theological divides. Some of the questions addressed in this short book include the following: How can the Bible still make sense in the context of climate change and biodiversity loss? Who on earth is Jesus Christ, and what does he mean for us in today's world? How can Christians be faithful to their traditions while responding to pressing calls to be engaged in environmental activism? What is the relationship between theory and practice, and local as well as global demands, and how is this relationship expressed in different ecclesial settings? How can we encourage each other to develop a sense of the earth as divine gift? Written in clear, accessible style, this book walks readers through difficult concepts and shows the way different sources in Christian theology have responded to one of the most significant cultural issues of our time.

Genres: Theology, Ecology

167 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2017

Reviews

[Ryan Denson · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Planetary boundaries and geological concepts that have escaped from their original usage in geological science such as the Anthropocene have a leveling out effect on human responsibility. In one sense it is true that all humans collectively are responsible for the damage that we have done. But at another level this is profoundly false, since there is a disproportionate impact of those that are consuming the most."

As far as introductions to theoretical perspectives go, this one is probably not the most accessible, being clotted with jargon and buzzwords throughout. Nevertheless, it does a tolerable decent job of introducing the concept of ecotheology as well as a scattering of its applications. This does take on some odd forms (not least because it seems to have been a hastily constructed out of a series of the author's previous publications on the subject), but still offers an interesting selection from Pope Francis' encyclical on the issue, case studies of animal-human relations, and intersections with liberation theology. Probably the best of the chapters is the one concerning ecological biblical hermeneutics, highlighting a good sampling of ecological interpretations of portions as with the interpretations of human stewardship of creation in the Genesis narrative. That chapter epitomizes what lies at the heart of ecotheology. It be can be expressed as being similar to, though a step beyond, mere ecocritical readings of Christian literature, obviously just leaning more towards theology as opposed to literary studies in its broader outlook and intentions.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy Cow (they don't emit greenhouse gases, I'm sure). There are some wild ideas out there. Ecotheology is a thing... and our planet's resources are not unlimited. Find out what people are thinking about and stretch your mind and heart a little.

[Lesley-Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful overview of some of the trends in ecotheology.

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very helpful primer, as advertised, that gives a clear overview of Christian eco theology and the literature about it. I would use this in my teaching.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very accessible, good 'primer' to a diverse field, could have been more clearly organized

[Christine van der Veer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Een heldere introductie!