Kiara Jorgenson - Ecotheology: A Christian Conversation

What happens when a biblical scholar, a virtue ethicist, an ecofeminist, and a theologian of science sit together to talk ecology? You get a lively discussion that proves to be nothing short of transformative. This volume is no mere introduction to ecotheology. It is a model for conversation that reaches toward a multivalent ecological ethic drawing from the rich resources of Scripture, science, theology, Christology, ethics, and experience. This dialogical exploration offers the wisdom that is needed for people of faith to address the greatest crisis facing planetary life in human history.

William P. Brown

Columbia Theological Seminary

Regarding ecotheology as a marginal subdiscipline of Christian doctrine appears fatal for the deep understanding of faith. Four respected voices in North American theology enrich this long-standing field with discussions about climate justice, love, virtue ethics, earthkeeping (rather than stewardship), and eschatology and hope. The editors and authors profound and eloquent chapters and comments make obvious how the environmental agenda challenges and transforms long-established doctrines in theology. Their work enables faith communities and theologians to draw on their own spiritual sources and contribute new practical wisdom and wonder to the environmental movement.

Sigurd Bergmann

founder of the European Forum for the Study of Religion and the Environment

Ecotheology: A Christian Conversation is genuinely a conversation, a theological-moral dialogue set amidst creation in crisis for the purpose of framing, generating, and guiding Christian faith-based action. It succeeds splendidly! Each of the authors of the four essays evokes probing responses from the other three authors. The result is deepened theological substance and critical, constructive response. Were I teaching any course on Christianity and our planetary emergency, this would be my lead text.

Larry Rasmussen

Union Theological Seminary, New York City

Ecotheology is an exceptional contribution to religious thinking on human responsibilities in, with, for, and to creation. In this book, creation is viewed not as a single event-moment from millennia ago, but as an ongoing process within and upon which humans reflect on their world together with other members of the community of creation. This is an important work: it should stimulate Christiansand othersreflections on and concrete community commitments to address Earths and Earths creatures endangerment and extinction at the hands of homo sapiens.

John Hart

Boston University School of Theology editor of The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Religion and Ecology

In concise and accessible style, this book lets us listen in as four leading ecotheologians set forth their distinctive visions for Christianity and ecologyand then respond to each other in robust and charitable dialogue. It is illuminating to see where the authors disagree and challenge each other, but most encouraging are the remarkable convergences and shared commitments that emerge in the conversations opened up here. This will serve as a very useful introduction for students and be of interest to everyone in the field.

Jonathan A. Moo

Whitworth University

Too many students remain unconvinced that Christian theology has anything serious to say about a deeper ecological awareness. This book corrects that bad impression by introducing students to ecotheology with theological sophistication and ecological insight. This company of excellent scholars has given us a textbook that advances the crucial task of showing why the environment matters for theology and for a helpful Christian witness.

Willie James Jennings

Yale Divinity School

The editors of this book can be congratulated for drawing together some classic but still vital ethically relevant strands in ecotheology, focusing on the key ideas worked out by four renowned scholars in biblical studies, ecological ethics, and systematic theology. This book will be perfect for students and researchers who are newcomers to ecotheology, introducing not just core discussions, but also providing exemplars on how to think theologically in the context of a changing climate. It also helps the reader by opening up a discussion among authors, with each using the analytical tools of their speciality.

Celia Deane-Drummond

University of Oxford

Jorgenson and Padgett have accomplished something breath-taking herea conversation of some of the brightest minds about caring for creation as Christians in this world. Drawing from the deep well of brilliance from some of the most notable ecotheological luminaries, this exquisite volume makes huge strides forward in assisting Christians formulate a biblical, theological, practical, and sustainable expression of discipleship that takes Earth-care seriously in the twenty-first century. A tour de force, indeed. Highly recommended.

A. J. Swoboda

Bushnell University, Oregon

Join a scientist, two ethicists, and a biblical scholar as they draw us into a wonderful conversation on Gods love for the earth, the ecological crisis, and the community of creation. Creation itself joins the conversation, as a resilient creation once spoken into being still speaks. This book asks: will we Christians listen to creations voice?

Barbara Rossing

Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

A fine exercise in ecumenical dialogue with insightful biblical exegesis. This is a work of advocacy, in places passionate and prophetic, and an exploration of ecological virtues of both personal character and social transformation. Its eschatology is focused on the redemption of all things and built on hope in Gods faithfulness. This is a book rooted in narratives, designed to stimulate the growing importance of ecotheological conversations in our churches and, more importantly, to provoke urgent action in earthkeeping and sustained responsible care for Gods earth.

David Atkinson

author of Renewing the Face of the Earth: A Theological and Pastoral Response to Climate Change

Ecotheology is a rare example of critical and meaningful dialogue among scholars. Its vision, that the whole creation and each creature has a meaningful place in the purposes of God, offers a powerful and potent reimagination of the Christian tradition. This is the type of work desperately needed to restore hope in the face of ecological violence and to motivate the church to concretely and decisively embrace a love of earth.

Matthew Eaton

Kings College, Pennsylvania

Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

4035 Park East Court SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546

www.eerdmans.com

2020 Kiara A. Jorgenson and Alan G. Padgett

All rights reserved

Published 2020

Printed in the United States of America

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ISBN 978-0-8028-7441-2

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Jorgenson, Kiara A., 1979 editor. | Padgett, Alan G., 1955 editor.

Title: Ecotheology : a Christian conversation / edited by Kiara A. Jorgenson, Alan G. Padgett.

Description: Grand Rapids, Michigan : William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2020. | Includes bibliographical references and index. | Summary: Theocentric scholarly dialogues on creation careProvided by publisher.

Identifiers: LCCN 2020012146 | ISBN 9780802874412 (paperback)

Subjects: LCSH: Ecotheology.

Classification: LCC BT695.5 .E326 2020 | DDC 261.8/8dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020012146

To our students and the growing generation of ecotheologians