Environmental Theology

It is an undeniable fact that environmental crisis take place everywhere. It causes environmental damage in various spheres This crisis demands some awareness from the society. Therefore, it is not surprising that many activists of environment create concepts, both secular and religious nuance, to reduce the crisis. In the last few years, concept of theology of environment started to appear. This concept is relevant to be discussed, as it could bridge the secular and theological theory of environment. This research aims to look what is the environmental theology ideas of Mujiyono Abdillah and Robert P. Borrong. Also, this research identifies the similarities and differences between Abdillah’s and Borrong’s thoughts as well as how their theories could contribute to solve the environmental crisis. This is a library research and the primary source of this study is a book entitled Agama Ramah Lingkungan - Perspektif Al-Qur’an (Eco-Friendly Religion - Perspective of the Qur'an) by Mujiyono Abdillah work and Borrong’s work entitled Etika Bumi Baru (Neo-Eco Ethics). The data is analyzed by the hermeneutic theory of Hans-Georg Gadamer. The research found out that environmental theology of Abdillah includes proportional theology and meta-social-system theory. While Borrong also constructs two theories of environmental theology: theocentric inclusive theology and new earth ethic. Through these theological theories, Abdillah and Borrong expect to awaken people minds so that they could restructure their relationship with the environment. Both of the authors employ different methods. While Abdillah only utilize theology as the basis of his argument, Borrong benefits from both theology as well as biblical ethics. These theories provide an invaluable contribution to be part of the solution to the environmental crisis as they could be the alternative environmental theory which change the attitude of the community in treating the environment.

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Barth and Environmental Theology

The Oxford Handbook of Karl Barth ◽

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199689781.013.38 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 593-608

Author(s):

Willis Jenkins

Keyword(s):

Critical Reception ◽

Karl Barth ◽

Environmental Thought ◽

Environmental Legacy ◽

First Moment ◽

Environmental Theology

This chapter explains the critical reception of Karl Barth by scholars of ecotheology and the challenges that his theology presents to environmental thought. Then, working along lines of critical reconsideration in environmental thought, it develops lines of possibility for reconsidering the environmental legacy of Barth. It argues that Barth silences nature and that his searing critique of modernity unwittingly reproduces its fundamental ecological illusion, the sundering of humanity from nature. Yet the silencing of nature is the first moment in a dialectic that anticipates a recovery of creation in which one may listen to other creatures. With an ecological imagination informing Barth’s logic, his system could constructively be developed to support an unusual stewardship ethic.

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Contextualising environmental theology at Unisa and in African society

Religion and Theology ◽

10.1163/157430195x00069 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 87-110

Author(s):

M.L. Daneel

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Executive Director ◽

Feasibility Studies ◽

Systematic Theology ◽

African Society ◽

Environmental Initiatives ◽

Wide Range ◽

Ecological Conservation ◽

The University ◽

Environmental Theology

AbstractThis article* sets out the main objectives of a new chair and related centre or institute at the University of South Africa for Religious Research and Environmental Reform which Professor Daneel has envisaged for several years. The objectives of: teaching environmental theology at various levels (including contextualised courses for African Initiated Churches at the grassroots of African society); initiating empirical research projects (as feasibility studies for new environmental projects, studies for monitoring project implementation, the gauging of societal response to environmental initiatives, etc; and introducing a wide range of field operations through the motivation and empowerment of religious or other communities, are closely related to the religio-ecological models already developed by the Zimbabwean Institute of Religious Research and Ecological Conservation (ZIRRCON) in Zimbabwe. These objectives also correspond with the threefold mission of Unisa. It is worthy of note that a substantial grant of R2,3 million was made by Goldfields, South Africa, early in December 1994 towards the realisation of the goals set out in this paper. These goals were later modified, in consultation with Professor Daneel, by Reverend David Olivier, environmental theologian in the Department of Systematic Theology at Unisa. Reverend Olivier will be the first executive director, with Professor Daneel acting as senior consultant, of what initially will be called the Goldfields Project of Faith and Earthkeeping at Unisa.

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The Sacramental Sea

Anglican Theological Review ◽

10.1177/000332861810000107 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 100 (1) ◽

pp. 43-60

Author(s):

Edmund Newell

Keyword(s):

Religious Experience ◽

Natural Theology ◽

The Bible ◽

Positive Attitudes ◽

Ambivalent Attitude ◽

Environmental Theology

This article contributes to environmental theology by exploring our ambivalent attitude toward the sea. It begins by examining the largely negative references to the sea in the Bible, arguing that this is due primarily to the sea's association with the precreation state of chaos. As such, the sea plays an important role in the biblical salvation narrative, the goal of which is a perfected creation in which “the sea was no more” (Rev. 21:1). It then looks at positive attitudes to the sea related to exploration, religious experience, and the development of natural theology. It concludes that this ambivalent theological attitude gives the sea a highly sacramental nature that speaks to both the contrasting apophatic and kataphatic traditions in theology, which highlight, respectively, God's revelation and unfathomable nature.

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