Barth and 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.

The Sacramental Sea

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.

ENVIRONMENTAL THEOLOGY IN ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY (A study of the thoughts of Mujiyono Abdillah and Robert P. Borrong)

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.

Ecotheology and the theology of eating: controversies and convergencies

Environmental theology (or, ecotheology) developed slowly during the first half of the twentieth century and has become a major field of study since the late 1960s. While many of the issues discussed in ecotheological works have included consequences for food production and eating habits, these themes were often not explicitly discussed. The reasons for this are interesting and complex. Issues related to food have been culturally very sensitive and have manifold connections to religiosity. In regard to the discussion about the rights and value of animals, controversies have been seen to arise between ecotheology and ‘animal theology’. Recently, a new interest has arisen in the themes of food, eating, and Christian theology, which has resulted in a new field of literature which could be called the ‘theology of eating’. This article gives an overview of the relations between these fields, with an emphasis on both early ecotheology and new literature about the theology of eating.

TEOLOGI LINGKUNGAN HIDUP DALAM PERSPEKTIF ISLAM

TEOLOGI LINGKUNGAN HIDUPDALAM PERSPEKTIF ISLAMOleh :Muhammad Wahid Nur Tualeka *)Fakultas Agama Islam UniversitasMuhammadiyah SurabayaABSTRACTThe study discussed the God’s purpose for creation. Allah SWT creation, including universe,human, and environment, indicated human’s duty as the God’s Caliph to manage it for theirprosperity. Therefore, human was expected to preserve nature and environment despite the socialdynamics or changes possibly leading to the natural destruction. However, as the God’s Caliph,human’s effort was still considered far from the expectation; even, human initiated the destructionthemselves. Therefore, the values of environmental theology needed to be reconstructed to generatemore applicable definition or context of human duty as the God’s CaliphKeywords: Theology, Environment, IslamicPerspective