A Primer in Ecotheology

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. ""A Primer in Ecotheology offers far more than its modest title suggests. Celia Deane-Drummond is a leading scholar in ecotheology, and while she certainly offers her readers a user-friendly introduction to the field, she also invites them into a deep engagement with a wide range of urgent theological questions. This is a book that will be widely used in courses on ecological theology."" --Denis Edwards, Professorial Fellow at Australian Catholic University ""Regarding human-induced dangerous environmental-and-climatic change as fake or simply a technically soluble problem seems to be a perilous undertaking both for societies and nature. Regarding ecotheology as a marginal subdiscipline of Christian doctrine appears as likewise fatal for the deep understanding of faith. This experienced and merited author offers an elaborated survey of the field, diving into the integral ecology of Pope Francis and our surprising proximity and coevolution with hyenas, elephants, and apes. In a context of life-threatening environmental injustice, this book encourages practical commitment as well as deliberateness, reasonability, and responsibility."" --Sigurd Bergmann, Professor of Religious Studies at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology ""Here finally is an accessible, deeply engaging introduction to ecological theology for undergraduate and graduate students of different levels of familiarity with Christianity. Written by one of today's leading ecological theologians, the book maps the field of ecological theology with great skill and precision. While recognizing the important work of ecological theologies of creation, this book is much more comprehensive in its discussion of eco-theology. It traces the significance of science for ecological theology, provocatively charts emerging trends in the fields of ecological biblical hermeneutics, eco-feminist theology and eco-Christology, and provides a very rich reading of Pope Francis' Encyclical Laudato Si'. This is essential reading for everyone interested in putting Christian theology to work towards a just and sustainable community of life on our fragile planet."" --Hilda P. Koster, Associate Professor of Religion at Concordia College Celia Deane-Drummond is Professor of Theology at the University of Notre Dame and Director of the Center for Theology, Science and Human Flourishing. She is Chair of the European Forum for the Study of Religion and Environment. She is author of Eco-theology (2008) and coeditor of Religion in the Anthropocene (Cascade Books, 2017).